Unveiling a New Partnership

Goshen, N.Y. - The Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH), along with County Executive Steve Neuhaus, are proud to announce the launch of a family center in partnership with the Newburgh Armory Unity Center.

The new center, which will be run by the OCDOH, and at the Armory located at 321 S. William Street, Newburgh, is a place for young children 0 to 5 years old and their families to play, learn, and connect. The goal is to support parents in the work they're already doing, nurture a strong foundation for children's development, and create a space for community connection.

"Our younger population is most vulnerable and needs the most care during this critical time of development," said County Executive Steve Neuhaus. "I am thankful to partner with my friend Bill Kaplan and the Newburgh Armory Unity Center, along with the great men and women from the Orange County Department of Health, as we expand services."

The family center will be used to hold regular parent-child groups, conduct developmental screenings, connect families with local resources, and host fun family-friendly events. It's designed to be a welcoming space for all, and input from families helps determine what activities and resources are offered. All events are free, but registration is required.

"Families reached out wanting to meet other families and connect with their children in a fun way," said OCDOH Commissioner Alicia Pointer. "There are over 26,000 children between the ages 0 and 5 in Orange County. This is an amazing opportunity to partner with families at a crucial period in their children's development."

The first event, held back in July, was sensory story time. Local author Susan Swiat read her book Grandpa's Garden. After the reading, families planted seeds to take home, created food-based art, and made play dough pizzas. The second event, set for August 13^th, will be themed "Get Ready for School," and author Sandy Bastien will be reading Is It Saturday Yet? to the children.

Regular weekly programming will commence in the fall. Follow the Orange County Department of Health on Facebook for ongoing updates.

"Educational enrichment and community engagement are at the core of the Newburgh Armory Unity Center mission," said founder Mr. William Kaplan. "Through this collaboration with the OCDOH, we are excited to support children's learning and development before they start kindergarten."

For more information or to find out about upcoming events at the Family Center, call the Orange County Department of Health at 845-360-6600 or check out their Facebook page at OCNYDOH.

For more information, contact Rebecca Sheehan, Assistant to the County Executive, Director of Public Information and Media Relations, at 845.291.2700 or [email protected].

To learn more about what County Executive Neuhaus is doing for Orange County, follow Orange County Government and Steven M. Neuhaus on Facebook, @Orange County NY Govt and @steve.neuhaus on Instagram, and @OCGovNY and @SNeuhausOC on X. You can also watch or listen to Neuhaus' NeuCast podcasts and Leadership Speaker Series on YouTube or Spotify.

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