The Department of Health’s Family Center at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center in Newburgh, NY provides a collaborative space that supports young children and their caregivers through connection, play, and access to community resources. What started as a small parent-child group has grown into a regular weekly program positively impacting hundreds of families across Orange County.
From small beginnings to a growing program
Sandra Brownsey, Director of Early Intervention and Preschool Services at the Orange County Department of Health, explained how the program began: “We knew there were many children in the county who qualify for services like speech therapy and occupational therapy, but we just don’t have enough providers. So, Dr. Pointer and I worked with Mr. Kaplan to start a parent-child group here in the classroom—not knowing what would happen. We started in 2024 with about five families, and it quickly grew into what we now call the Family Center. Today, we’re in the gym every Tuesday, welcoming families from across the region, including Cornwall, Monroe, Slate Hill, New Paltz, and even Rockville.”
The program provides services ranging from music enrichment with visiting therapists to occupational therapy support from SUNY Orange students. Partnerships with the Office for the Aging bring multigenerational families into the program, including grandparents raising young children.
Tarah Miller, OTA Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at SUNY Orange, remarked: “This is the college’s second year participating with our fieldwork program, and I’ve seen it grow from that small classroom around the corner to what we see today.”
Collaboration and community impact
William Kaplan, founder and chairman of the Unity Center, emphasized the importance of collaboration: “The uniqueness of this program is the collaboration between the county and ourselves, which dramatically reduces costs while providing high-quality programming. Families pay nothing, but they get everything they need. And we’re expanding—working with the Newburgh library, the school district, and local colleges. It’s unbelievable to see week after week how much this has grown.”
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Parents and community partners have seen the impact firsthand. Jason Higgins, a father from New Windsor, said: “I was here from the beginning, and it’s evolved from a simple classroom to this amazing space. My daughter participates on Saturdays, learning skills from beauty to social interaction. It’s exactly what our community needs—more activities where kids can engage and grow.”
Nicholas Shannon, Executive Director of the Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Foundation, highlighted the role of community partnerships: “Mr. Kaplan and the Unity Center have been incredible community partners, providing a safe and enriching environment for children and families. We’ve supported programs like health fairs, screenings, and educational events for years, and it’s amazing to see the impact on these children and caregivers.”
Supporting families through play, learning, and connection
The Family Center’s first year demonstrates how consistency, trust, and collaboration can create a space where families feel supported and seen. Brownsey emphasized the center’s mission: “We’re doing a lot in the city of Newburgh, focusing on zero to five. Through collaboration with local organizations and volunteers, we’re providing families with access to services and resources that would otherwise be unavailable.”
The Family Center’s Parent/Child group meets weekly on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center, located at 321 S William Street. Families and caregivers are encouraged to attend or share this information with others in the community. For a glimpse into the program’s first year and the impact on families, watch the short video here.
