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Genesee County Interagency Council

Applications available for Interagency Council $1K scholarships

By Press Release

Press release:

The Genesee County Interagency Council is pleased to announce that we will be offering a $1,000.00 scholarship for the Fall 2023 semester.  Those eligible will be High School Seniors living in and attending high school in Genesee County, in good academic standing, and majoring in Human Services, Social Work, Sociology or Psychology ONLY. 

Because the goal of this scholarship is to support those students who have a strong drive to contribute to the field of Human Services, special consideration will be given to those students who have already demonstrated a commitment to the field through their employment, volunteer, academic, and/or extracurricular pursuits. 

The deadline for applications is Friday, May 5.  The awardee will be notified by June 1. The award will either be presented at our June 21 picnic meeting, or the check will be mailed directly to the individual if the in-person meeting does not occur.

Applications:

Esther Leadley receives life-time achievement award

By Press Release

Press release:

The Genesee County Interagency Council, Inc. honored Esther Leadley at their monthly meeting on Nov. 16 with their first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award.  The council recognized Esther with a plaque citing “outstanding service and commitment” to the council for 26-plus years.

Leadley began her career in Genesee County in 1985 with Genesee Community College working with displaced homemakers.  From there, Leadley worked as a member of the Genesee County Legislature and the EOP in Geneseo, as well as served on many area boards and councils.  Leadley is currently a board member of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, as well as a Community Advocate.

Interagency Council begins 2022-23 with meeting on Sept. 21

By Press Release

Press release:

Genesee County Interagency Council, Inc. will start our 2022-2023 year on Sept. 21.  Membership in this Council consists of representatives of various agencies/organizations, social interest groups, or others including: representation of religious faiths, schools, youth agencies, health groups, special agencies, professional societies, and community volunteers interested in the well-being of Genesee County residents, and all types of human service related agencies/organizations.

We welcome new members and visitors into our council.  Meetings are held at noon on the third Wednesday of each month (September through June), at Literacy West CORE building, 1 Mill Street in Batavia. 

Our Council objectives are

  • To help develop, strengthen, and support the networking of various agencies in the Council.
  • To provide a means of understanding and exchange of experience between the agencies concerned, to provide reporting time for agencies at Council meetings; and to encourage members to report Council activities back to their agencies.
  • To help identify existing community issues and encourage the development of resolutions.
  • To create fellowship and understanding among agencies.
  • To include activities and training that will increase the interest, understanding, and knowledge of the members in community service.

Interagency Council Membership Benefits are:

  • Network with more than 50 organization representatives
  • Collaborate with other organizations that serve Genesee County residents
  • Professional development and educational programs
  • Information and resource sharing

For more information, please contact Lisa Smith (President) at Lisa.Smith@co.genesee.ny.us or David Dodge (Vice President) at ddodge@caoginc.org. Visit Genesee County Interagency on Facebook.

Interagency Council presents $1K scholarship to Batavia student

By Press Release

Press release:

On June 15, 2022 at their annual picnic at DeWitt Park, the Genesee County Interagency Council presented a $1,000 educational scholarship to Esperanza Hernandez. Esperanza plans to study Social Work at SUNY Brockport this fall.

Scholarship applications were accepted from all Genesee County High Schools and applicants were required to be in good academic standing, and majoring in the fields of Human Services, Social Work, Sociology, or Psychology.

Esperanza (pictured 2nd from right) standing with (from left) scholarship committee members Kari Heideman, Lisa Smith, Sheila Best (Esperanza’s Mother) and Julie Wasilewski (Batavia City School District Social Worker)

The mission of Genesee County Interagency Council is to create fellowship and understanding among community human service agencies. The council helps to identify community issues and encourages development of resolutions.

For more information about Genesee County Interagency Council please contact Incoming President Lisa Smith at (585) 344-2042 ext. 4237 or Text: (585) 483-1046 Lisa.Smith@co.genesee.ny.us 

$1K scholarship for students intending to work in Human Services, Social Work, Sociology or Psychology

By Press Release

Press release:

REMINDER: The Genesee County Interagency Council is pleased to be offering a $1,000 scholarship for the Fall 2021-2022 semester for Genesee Community College students and high school seniors.

Those eligible will be students living in Genesee County and attending Genesee Community College or high school seniors; in good academic standing, and majoring in or intending to major in Human Services, Social Work, Sociology or Psychology ONLY.  

Because the goal of this scholarship is to support those students who have a strong drive to contribute to the field of Human Services, special consideration will be given to those students who have already demonstrated a commitment to the field through their employment, volunteer, academic, or extracurricular pursuits.  

Completed applications must be received by Friday, May 7.

Here are the PDF links to download / print out / complete / mail in / or scan in and email:

The awardee will be notified by June 1 and presented at our June 17th picnic meeting. However, if the picnic is cancelled due to COVID-19, we will acknowledge the awardee in another way and the check will be mailed directly to the individual.

We look forward to having the opportunity to support a Genesee Community College student in their pursuit of a degree in the field of Human Services. 

Please feel free to phone David Dodge at (585) 343-1611 if you have any questions.

The mission of the Genesee County Interagency Council is to create fellowship and understanding among community human services agencies. The council helps to identify community issues and encourages development of resolutions.

Genesee County Interagency Council Inc.

P.O. Box 1619

Batavia, NY 14021

GC Interagency Council announces $1K scholarship for GCC students and high school seniors

By Press Release

Press release:

The Genesee County Interagency Council is pleased to announce that we will be offering a $1,000 scholarship for the Fall 2021-2022 semester for Genesee Community College students and high school seniors.

Those eligible will be students living in Genesee County and attending Genesee Community College or high school seniors; in good academic standing, and majoring in or intending to major in Human Services, Social Work, Sociology or Psychology ONLY.

Because the goal of this scholarship is to support those students who have a strong drive to contribute to the field of Human Services, special consideration will be given to those students who have already demonstrated a commitment to the field through their employment, volunteer, academic, or extracurricular pursuits.  

Completed applications must be received by Friday, May 7. (See PDF links below to print out, fill out, and mail in. One is for high school students; the other is for GCC students.)

The awardee will be notified by June 1 and presented at our June 17th picnic meeting. However, if the picnic is cancelled due to COVID-19, we will acknowledge the awardee in another way and the check will be mailed directly to the individual.

We look forward to having the opportunity to support a Genesee Community College student in their pursuit of a degree in the field of Human Services.  Please feel free to contact me at (585) 343-1611 if you have any questions.

The mission of the Genesee County Interagency Council is to create fellowship and understanding among community human services agencies. The council helps to identify community issues and encourages development of resolutions.

Genesee County Interagency Council Inc.

P.O. Box 1619

Batavia, NY 14021

Two Batavia seniors each get $1,000 scholarship from GC Interagency Council

By Billie Owens

Submitted photos and press release:

The Genesee County Interagency Council awarded two $1,000 scholarships to local seniors.

The goal of the scholarship is to support students who have a strong drive to contribute to the field of Human Services. The Council was seeking applications from high school students as well as college students who were pursuing their education in a Human Services major.

The Genesee County Interagency Council awarded $1,000 to Ariana Green (photo left).

Green is a Notre Dame High School senior and will be attending Niagara University in the fall to study Social Work. Her long term goal is get her Doctorate Degree in Social Work and then become a Psychiatric Social Worker where one day she hopes to have her own private practice to focus on mental health disorders. 

The Genesee County Interagency Council awarded $1,000 to Jacob Humes (photo below right).

Humes is a senior at Batavia High School and will be attending Onondaga Community College in the fall to study Psychology. His goal is to become a Child Life Specialist as the work he has done with children has shown him that there is a need for more support outside of the home for many children.

Applicants had to be in a good academic standing, majoring in Human Services, Social Work, Sociology, or Psychology. Applicants needed two letters of recommendation from a guidance counselor, teacher, or other professional person. 

They also had to describe why they were deserving of this scholarship.

The mission of the Genesee County Interagency Council is to create fellowship and understanding among community human services agencies.

The council helps to identify community issues and encourages development of resolutions. 

The Council is happy to have been able to award such deserving candidates and wishes them nothing but success for their future!

GC Interagency Council raises more than $600 for scholarships for Human Services studies

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Genesee County Interagency Council met for its December meeting on Wednesday (Dec. 18th). At the meeting as part of a coffee sale fundraiser, members raised $631.75 toward scholarships that will go to students living in Genesee County interested in going into the field of Human Services. 

In celebration of the holidays, members wore ugly sweaters, on purpose of course, and other festive attire. Presents were given to the best dressed and to some other lucky winners as well.

The fun did not stop there -- students from Batavia Flute Duet, Batavia Beautyshop Ensemble, Batavia High School Saxophone Ensemble, and BHS Carolers played music for attendees.

The purpose of the Genesee County Interagency Council is to provide a place where people interested in the positive growth of Genesee County residents to network and share updates.

Members are also part of an online LISTSERV by which if a member has a client with a need the membership can provide them with resources. 

New members are always welcome and our membership is diverse from human service agencies to health insurance companies as well as other community advocates.

General membership meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at 12 p.m. at the Arc Community Building at 38 Woodrow Road, Batavia.

Two GCC students awarded scholarships from GC Interagency Council

By Billie Owens

Pictured from left are members of the scholarship committee and the 2019 recipients: Karen Hall, Hannah Kujawski, Peg Patterson-Case, Melissa Vinyard, Chelsea Elliott, Todd Rapp, Amy Swanson, Kari Heidemann and Melinda Rodriguez.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Genesee County Interagency Council awarded two $1,000 scholarships at their annual picnic last month at the DeWitt Recreation Area.

This year’s recipients are Melinda Rogriguez and Melissa Vinyard.

Special Thanks to the Red Osier Landmark Restaurant in Stafford for catering such a wonderful meal for our council, scholarship recipients and their guests.

The goal of the scholarship is to support students who have a strong drive to contribute to the field of Human Services. The Council was seeking applicants who were pursing their education in a Human Services major.

The mission of the Genesee County Interagency Council is to create fellowship and understanding among community human services agencies. The council helps to identify community issues and encourages development of resolutions.

The Council is happy to have been able to award such deserving candidates and wishes them nothing but success for their future!

About the Scholarship Winners

  • Melinda Rodriguez, of Bergen, is a mom of five kids, a full-time student at Genesee Community College and a dean's list honoree. Her goals are to earn a degree in Social Work with a focus in the medical field. We look forward to seeing her develop her skills in the Human Services fields and joining our council in the future as a colleague.
  • Melissa Vinyard, of Batavia, is a second semester student at Genesee Community College majoring in Human Services with a focus on alcohol and substance abuse. Her goals are to help those in sobriety find support by being a counselor. We look forward to her joining the Interagency council some day at a colleague.

GC Interagency Council has two $1,000 scholarships to offer, deadline to apply is May 1

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Genesee County Interagency Council is pleased to announce that we will be offering two $1,000 scholarships. 

The first scholarship will be for a high school senior living in and attending high school in Genesee County, in good academic standing, and majoring in Human Services, Social Work, Sociology or Psychology (at any college). 

The second scholarship will be for a student currently attending Genesee Community College, in good academic standing  and majoring in Human Services, Sociology or Psychology.

Because the goal of this scholarship is to support those students who have a strong drive to contribute to the field of Human Services, special consideration will be given to those students who have already demonstrated a commitment to the field through their employment, volunteer, academic, or extracurricular pursuits. 

The deadline for applications is Wednesday, May 1. The awardee will be notified by June 1 and presented at our June 19th picnic meeting.

Our last year’s scholarship recipient was from Batavia High School and prior to that, Byron-Bergen!

If you have any questions, or to obtain an application, please contact your area high school guidance counselor or contact Amy Swanson at Amy.Swanson@co.genesee.ny.us

Genesee County Interagency Council awards two $1,000 scholarships

By Billie Owens

Press release and submitted photo:

The Genesee County Interagency Council awarded two scholarships at their annual picnic on June 20 at DeWitt Recreation Area.

The goal of the scholarship is to support students who have a strong drive to contribute to the field of Human Services. The Council was seeking applications from high school students as well as college students who were pursing their education in a Human Services major.

The Genesee County Interagency Council awarded $1,000 to Parise Ricks. Ricks is a Batavia High School graduate and will be attending Ithaca College in the fall to study Psychology. Her long term goal is to earn a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

The Genesee County Interagency Council awarded $1,000 to Eva Graham. Graham is a wife, a mother of three, and will graduate with a degree in Human Services from Genesee Community College in December with a focus in Gerontology. She plans to continue her education at SUNY Brockport to study Social Work next spring.

Applicants had to be in a good academic standing, majoring in Human Services, Social Work, Sociology, or Psychology. Applicants needed two letters of recommendation from a guidance counselor, teacher, or other professional person. They also had to describe why they were deserving of this scholarship.

The mission of the Genesee County Interagency Council is to create fellowship and understanding among community human services agencies. The council helps to identify community issues and encourages development of resolutions. The Council is happy to have been able to award such deserving candidates and wishes them nothing but success for their future!

(Photo: GC Interagency Council scholarship recipients Eva Graham, left, and Parise Ricks.)

Herbs the theme of the day for interagency meeting

By Howard B. Owens

Master Gardener Jane Grehlinger talks about container gardening during the annual joint meeting of the Genesee County Interagency Council at the ARC Community Center in Batavia.

The meeting focused on a "green thumb" theme and included the planting and growing of herbs along with a local chef discussing cooking with herbs.

Interagency Council sponsors basket raffle

By Steve Ognibene

Wednesday at T.F. Brown's, Batavia, was the Genesee County Interagency Council sponsored a "Cabin Fever Reliever" Basket Raffle.  

"Our goal is to raise funds to support local college scholarships for students entering the fields of: sociology, psychology, social work or human services," said Heather Bell, a social worker with Catholic Charities.  

Applications have gone out to local high schools and are due back by June 1. Contact Lisa Whittmeyer, Scholarship Chair at Community Action 343-7798.  

More than 50 baskets were offered and there was a 50/50 drawing and grand prize -- overnight package with dinner for 2 at Russell's and Salvatore's in Buffalo.

The mission of the Genessee County Interagency Council is to create fellowship and understanding among community human services agencies. The council helps to identify community issues and encourages development of resolutions.

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/geneseeorleansinteragency

Pictured above from left is: Heather Bell, social worker with Catholic Charities; Karen Hall, coordinator of Financial Management of Lifespan of Greather Rochester; Stephanie Urena, outreach specialist of United Health Care. Pam Case, PathStone family self-sufficiency manager, and Michele Lawson, support coordinator of Care-A-Van Ministries.

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