Every Child Deserves a Seat at the Table 

At the Johnston dinner table, foster mom Monique has a tradition: before the food makes its way around, each child shares something about their day. It’s a small ritual—born from a family therapy session—that has transformed their home into a place of healing. 

• Jazmine, 9, proudly shares that she bought a new book with points she earned for meeting her behavioral goals. 

• Jae, 16, is one step closer to independence after polishing up a first-ever resume with help from an employment coach. 

• Carter, 14, quietly works on homework assigned by his clinician, pausing to apologize for a fight with his sister earlier in the week. 

• Renee, 11, recently adopted, beams as she explains why she chose a new name. “Renee means reborn,” she tells her mom. 

Four kids. Four stories of resilience, growth, and new beginnings. Just a glimpse of the more than 19,000 lives transformed each year through the work of Northern Rivers Family of Services and our affiliates, Parsons and Northeast. 

You Make Stories Like This Possible 

Your generosity fuels programs that provide: 

• Mental health services 
• Foster care and adoption support 
• Residential treatment 
• Special education 
• Community-based care 

When you give to Northern Rivers, you don’t just make a donation—you become part of the story. You help children heal, families grow stronger, and young people discover hope for their future. 

Join Us 

Every child deserves a chance at a new beginning. With your gift, you help make that possible—one story, one family, one life at a time. 

Proceeds to benefit Northern Rivers Family of Services. A copy of Northern Rivers’ latest financial report may be obtained, or requested, by contacting Northern Rivers Family of Services, 60 Academy Rd, Albany, NY 12208, or the from the NYS Attorney General’s Charity Bureau, 120 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10271.

Clothing Bin Locations

There are 75 clothing bins throughout the Capital Region (and beyond!) where you can donate your clothes and support the work we do!

Internships for Social Workers and Mental Health Counselors

Intern today. Employee tomorrow.

We are currently accepting internship applications from students pursuing master's degrees in social work and mental health counseling (MSWs and MHCs).

Being an unpaid intern with us is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in real-life situations, gaining great experience for a future career in human services. Our internships provide you with the opportunity to learn new things and get a better feel for your chosen career in social work or mental health counseling.

Requirements

• Seeking a master’s degree in social work or mental health counseling
• Internships must be for a full academic year or, at a minimum, two semesters
• Availability must be during traditional business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

How to Apply

1. Please email your resume to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 
2. If accepted, you will need to successfully complete a background check and will be responsible for any associated costs (typically $80-$100). This background process generally takes 2 to 4 weeks.

Become a foster parent

Give hope a home.

Be a foster parent.

For a weekend. For a year. For a lifetime.

Open your door and help children and families restore hope for a better future.

Have you wanted to learn more about how being a foster parent can help families, but it was never the right time? One phone call today to 844-855-CARE can help start you on your way to help transform a family's future. Or provide your information below, and we'll contact you.

Levels of Involvement

There are choices for your level of involvement. You can be a respite parent where you care for a child on a limited basis such as weekends, a full-time foster parent, or adopt a child for a lifetime. Regardless, you will help a child.

Your options include:

• Therapeutic Foster Care serves children in need of out of home placement.  These children have been removed from their caregivers as a result of abuse/neglect or PINS petitions. Foster parents receive at least weekly home visits from the clinical case manager assigned to each child.  These children usually have a high level of behavioral and emotional needs which requires well trained and supported foster parents.  Foster parents also receive respite when needed.

• Specialized Foster Care is similar to Therapeutic Foster Care although the needs of the children are lower and foster parents receive less contact and support from the program. These children are usually in the process of returning home to their parents or relatives.  There are times that Foster Parents are open to adopting children if they do not have a permanency resource.  Some teens decide to remain in Foster Care and work on Independent Living Skills.

• Overnight Respite Services are provided by foster parents when children need overnight respite.  These children may be in the foster care program or home with their birth families.  This respite can be offered on a recurring weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis.

• Hourly Respite Services are provided by per diem employees.  These respite providers work with children in the home or community and base their activities on the childs treatment goals and individual interests.

• Bridge Families provide twice a month respite for youths placed in residential care.  These young people often have limited access to normative family experiences and need assistance in becoming successful in family settings.  Bridge families offer them hope, a model of family life, a viable adult resource and emotional support.

• TFCO (Therapeutic Foster Care of Oregon) is a highly structured program that offers a family setting for youths ages 12-19 in jeopardy of placement in secure detention, group or residential placement.  Foster parents provide 6-12 month long placements to youths transitioning to more permanent living arrangements.  Foster parents receive daily phone check ins with foster care staff, have multiple supportive providers in their home, and attend a weekly clinical meeting.

You're an important part that makes it all possible. So make the call. And open your door.

1.844.855.CARE

Volunteer

Find your purpose. Volunteer.

We’re grateful for your interest in volunteering for Northern Rivers and offer a wide range of options to fit your interests and abilities.

Volunteer groups join Northern Rivers each year, assisting us in supporting children and families as they create their futures. We couldn’t do this important work without you. Please consider sharing your time, talent, and treasures with the children we serve. We have many opportunities available that will meet your schedule and interests.

We currently have a need for "done in a day" group volunteer projects. These projects include grounds clean-up or painting in our schools or residential buildings when our clients are not in session. Groups can be anywhere from 8-20 people and are great for all ages! Our Spring Clean-Up day will be held on Friday, May 2nd from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm with projects available at our Albany and Schenectady campuses. 

If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact kimberley.belleville@northernrivers.org

Ways to Give

Monetary Donations

To make an online donation, click here.

Checks payable to Northern Rivers Family of Services can be mailed to:
Northern Rivers Family of Services
Development Department
PO Box 8899
Albany, NY 12208

Northern Rivers Family of Services Tax ID 46-0759782 
Northeast Parent & Child Society Tax ID 14-1646198 
Parsons Child and Family Center Tax ID 14-1347440 
Address – 60 Academy Road Albany, NY 12208 

Bequest- Begin Your Legacy with Us

To help you get started on your plans and legacy, you can use FreeWill, an online tool that guides you through the process of creating your will or trust. It’s easy to use, accessible online, and can be completed in 20 minutes. You can use this resource on its own, or use it to document your wishes before finalizing your plans with an attorney. 

Gift Intent Form- Report your gift

Have you already included a gift in your will or trust? Please fill out this form to let us know! We would love to thank you for your generosity.  

Beneficiaries- Non-probate assets

Do you have an IRA, 401(k), life-insurance policy, or any other assets not included in your will? If so, these are called non-probate assets and you must plan your beneficiaries for them separately. Use this online tool to make your plans and designate us as a beneficiary of one or more of these assets.

Donor Advised Funds

Maximize your impact and simplify your charitable giving by contributing through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). A DAF allows you to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants from the fund over time to support our mission of providing vital services to those in need. 

To learn more about how to contribute via a Donor Advised Fund, please contact our Chief Advancement Officer Whitney Philippi at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 518-426-2600 x1762 

In-Kind Donations

We are not currently accepting donations of used items such as clothing, toys, or household items.

We are pleased to be members of the Capital Region Furniture Bank. If you have gently used furniture to donate, call (518) 612-2265. Tell them Northern Rivers referred you!

Host a Fundraiser

Whether you set up a Facebook fundraiser in honor of your birthday or coordinate a neighborhood garage sale to benefit Northern Rivers, there are countless ways you can raise much-needed funds for our programs. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn more. 

Donation Bins

Northern Rivers and our affiliates partner with American Clothing on year-round fundraising through blue donation binsplaced throughout the capital region. Items donated in these bins are reused throughout the US and abroad, and Northern Rivers benefits from the proceeds. Acceptable items include men’s, ladies & children’s clothing, handbags, belts, paired shoes & sneakers, household linens, material, stuffed animals, hats and scarves. Click here to find a donation bin near you. 

Shop Online

Our Amazon wish lists are updated often to reflect the year-round needs of the children, adults, and families we serve. Multiply your impact by choosing Northern Rivers as your Amazon Smile beneficiary! 

Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Get involved

From interning and volunteering to making a donation and becoming a Foster Parent, there are a myriad of ways to get involved with Northern Rivers.

Your participation will help us have a tremendous impact on our communities and the lives of those we serve. Keeping our children safe and secure. Ensuring our students are prepared for bright futures. Supporting adults, families and children in times of stress and crisis. And guiding families and individuals toward achieving their goals.