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Human Services
Responsibilities of the Department of Human Services
The Department of Human Services administer, manage, coordinate and deliver all of the Town's Human Services programs and has a wide range of services under its jurisdiction. All of the following divisions work to provide important services for Town of Babylon residents.
Please be advised that Human Services is temporarily relocated to the Town Hall Annex, 281 Phelps Lane in North Babylon. The Pastor Roy S. Kirton Food Pantry has been temporarily relocated to 48 Cedar Road, Amityville. Food Pantry hours of operation are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10AM - 3:30PM.
- Community Programs
- Drug and Alcohol
- Food Pantry
- Holiday Assistance Programs
- Senior Citizens
- Around Town Senior Magazine
- Services for the Disabled
- Women’s Services
- Youth Bureau
Community Programs
Each year, the Department of Human Services recognizes various community leaders and residents during three recognition programs which include Black History Month, Women's History Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month. The community is invited to attend all of these special events which include music, entertainment, cultural enrichment, and specialty products from local businesses. Each program offers students from surrounding schools the opportunity to participate by submitting artwork, writing essays, or being featured in the program. Please call 631-464-4340 ext. 200 for further information.
Food Pantry and Holiday Programs
The Town's emergency food pantry is operated by the Department of Human Services and is temporarily housed at 48 Cedar Road in Amityville. Food is supplied on a monthly basis to those in need of the service. Guests of the food pantry are also able to participate in the Town's annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and Giving Tree Program, which provides holiday assistance to families in need.
Senior Citizen Services
Numerous services and programs are available to our senior and aging residents through the Department of Human Services. The Town's four senior centers are managed by the department and each provide a multitude of weekly programs and activities to our seniors. Senior Transportation and the Residential Repair Program are also two programs that eligible seniors can participate in to receive transportation and home repairs.
Senior Citizen FAQs
- Where are the Town's Senior Centers located?
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The Town has four Senior Centers:
- North Amityville Senior Center
48-C Cedar Road
Amityville, NY 11701
Phone: (631) 789-3524
Contact Person: Tanya Crocker, Director - Spangle Drive Senior Center
438 Spangle Drive
North Babylon, NY 11703
Phone: (631) 422-7610
Contact Person: Carolyn Epifane, Director - Tanner Park Senior Center
Baylawn Avenue
Copiague, NY 11726
Phone: (631) 842-7773
Contact Person: Kerry Riordan, Director - Wyandanch Senior Nutrition Center
28 Wyandanch Avenue
Wyandanch, NY 11798
Phone: (631) 491-4889
Contact Person: Alicia Portwine, Director
The Senior Centers provide recreational, cultural, advisory, and health programs. Program activities at all centers include arts and crafts, cards, games, billiards, outdoor games, needlework, painting, dance instruction, trips, and parties.
Babylon’s Senior Centers provide many informational and special services, including Social Security information, income tax assistance, Medicare and Medicaid information, health education, referral services, mobile van health screening, and blood pressure screenings.
The Senior Centers provide transportation to and from the centers, free of charge.
- North Amityville Senior Center
- How many Senior Centers are there in the Town of Babylon?
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The Town of Babylon operates four Senior Centers. The Senior Centers are recreation centers for active and independent seniors (60 years of age and older).
The Senior Centers are different than an adult day care program. Adult day care programs offer supervised health care management and social activities to adults who are frail or with special disabilities that require constant attention. Typically, these services are provided in a protective environment by trained staff, which assists clients with socialization and activities of daily living (eating, exercise and hygiene).
For more information about Adult Day Care Centers, contact Suffolk County Office of the Aging at (631) 853-2236.
- How can I join a senior center?
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All interested participants must complete a registration form that contains basic information such as name, address, current contact information, emergency contact information and a list of current medications. Participants must also show proof of residency and age.
There is no cost to join a senior center. Once registered, members receive an identification card, which allows them to sign up for the lunch program, transportation, activities, classes and trips.
- How old do I have to be to join a senior center?
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All participants must be 60 years of age or older.
- What are the hours of operation at the Senior Centers?
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The senior centers are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
- What activities do the senior centers offer?
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The Town's Senior Centers provide numerous programs and activities, which vary among the four centers. For individual senior center programs, residents should call the senior center directly.
Generally, the activities, classes and programs offered include:- *Lunch
- *Dancing instruction
- *Dance parties
- *Computer classes
- *Computers for individual use
- *Bingo
- *Horse racing
- *Exercise classes
- *Band concerts
- *Theme parties
- *Card games
- *Billiards
- *Arts and crafts
- *Bocce ball
- Do the senior centers provide transportation services?
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The Town's Senior Centers do provide transportation services to and from the center. Some of the centers also provide bi-monthly shopping trips to a local grocery store or convenience store for the seniors. The North Amityville Senior Center's door-to-door transportation services is also wheelchair accessible.
Generally, the Senior Centers schedule food shopping trips for the seniors two to three times a month. To schedule transportation to a medical appointment, call five days in advance to schedule Senior Transportation at (631) 422-7618. This service is free and subject to availability.
- What services does the Wyandanch Senior Citizen Nutrition Center provide?
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The Wyandanch Senior Citizen Nutrition Center is located at 28 Wyandanch Avenue in Wyandanch. The phone number is (631) 491-4889.
As a Nutrition Center, this center provides nutritional lunches for all seniors, including those at other Town senior centers, with a minimum of 100 lunches served daily. The average attendance is 60-80 seniors per day.Special programs offered at the Wyandanch Senior Citizen Nutrition Center are:
- *The Food Program sponsored by Long Island Cares
- *The Frail and Elderly Program
- *The local schools' Intergenerational Program
- *The Wyandanch Senior Citizen Nutrition Center also provides:
- *Transportation for seniors to and from the center on a daily basis.
- *Transportation for seniors to the local supermarket and Walmart.
- *Chair exercises every morning
- *Bingo games daily
- *Daily Arts and Crafts
- *Monthly Senior Center parties/social events
- *Computer class Monday through Friday, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
- *Access to pool tables, Monday through Friday
- What services does the Tanner Park Senior Citizen Center provide?
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The Tanner Park Senior Citizen Center provides:
- Exercise class on Mondays
- Tai Chi classes on Tuesdays
- Computer classes on Tuesdays
- Mahjong games on Tuesdays
- Line Dancing on Wednesdays
- Live Music on Fridays: Big Band
- Bingo games on Thursdays, which are generally attended by 100 seniors
- Monthly visits from a Senior Advocate from Suffolk County Office for the Aging
- Daily activities such as arts and crafts, billiards, bingo, bocce, mahjong, and card games
- Monthly Horse racing activities
- Monthly presentations on senior related topics
- Monthly Senior Center parties/social events, which are generally attended by 150-200 seniors
- Access to outdoor bocce ball and horseshoes games
- Scheduled summer trips to the Cedar Beach Pavilion
- Annual barbecue events and Senior Olympic outdoor sports
- Free transportation to and from the centers for seniors who no longer drive
- What services does the Spangle Drive Senior Citizen Center provide?
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The Spangle Drive Senior Citizen Center is located at 438 Spangle Drive in North Babylon.
- Wii bowling on Mondays
- Line Dancing on Mondays
- Craft class on Tuesdays & Thursdays
- Big bingo & horse racing on Tuesdays
- Knitting/crocheting on Thursdays
- Daily activities such as ping pong, billiards, bingo, card and assorted games
- Music/karaoke on scheduled dates
- Computer class on Thursdays
- Monthly Senior Center parties/social events, which are generally attended by 150 seniors
- Scheduled health presentations
- Access to outdoor bocce ball and horseshoes games
- Monthly cooking class
- Scheduled summer trips to the Cedar Beach Pavilion
- Participation for seniors in the local schools' Intergenerational Program
- What services does the Essential Transportation Program provide?
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The Essential Services Transportation Program is for seniors who reside in the Town of Babylon to receive free transportation to medical, dental and other essential appointments and services as long as they are within the boundaries of the Town of Babylon. Services include transportation to:
*Social Security Office located at 510 Park Avenue in West Babylon.
*Town of Babylon – Town Hall for tax payments.
*Shopping needs
Shopping transportation services are by appointment only, Monday through Friday. Appointments can be made by calling (631) 422-7618 or (631) 893-1056.
- Who is eligible for the Essential Transportation Services Program?
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The Essential Services Transportation Program is for seniors who reside in the Town of Babylon and meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Must be 60 years of age or older
- Do not own a car or have access to one
- Cannot afford taxi services
- Is there a fee or cost for services?
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There is no charge for these services.
- How much notice is needed for Essential Transportation Services?
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Participants are required to notify the program at least 7-10 days prior for the need of transportation service. This will guarantee your appointment.
- Can Essential Transportation Services drive me to physical therapy appointments?
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Yes, given the availability of transportation. These appointments must be made in advance with pick-ups starting at 9:00 am, with the last appointment scheduled at 1:30pm. Any appointments past 1:30pm must be a one-way trip.
- How long can I receive Essential Transportation Services?
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There is no renewal period to be part of the program and applicants can receive services as long as they live in the Town of Babylon and as long as they need the services.
- How do you verify if an applicant cannot drive or does not have a vehicle?
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Once you apply, vehicle possession and driving abilities will be verified by Town staff by interviewing the applicant.
- What are some of the rules for using Essential Transportation Services?
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Transportation services are only within the boundaries of the Town of Babylon.
Residents are urged to schedule their doctor and essential appointments between the hours of 9:00 am - 1:30 pm on the day designated for your area.
- Who is eligible for Senior Citizen Community Services?
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Residents, age 60 and older, who own or rent and are incapable of maintaining their residence because of illness, incapacity, handicap, or absence of a caretaker-relative are eligible for this service. Priority is given to servicing those who are frail, low income, minority, disabled, isolated or veterans.
Residents who are receiving the same or similar service under another government-funded program are not eligible for this service.
- What are the requirements to receive Residential Repair services?
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Applicants must be a Town of Babylon resident and at least 60 years of age. Those seniors that are 60 years of age or older but have adult and able-bodied children/people residing in their homes are not eligible for repair or home chore services.
- Is there an associated cost for services?
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There are no associated costs for labor but participants are responsible for the cost of materials. Once a repair job is complete, participants will receive a survey in the mail along with a request for monetary donation. However, seniors are not obligated to donate to this program.
- Do you provide services 5 days a week?
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Residential Repair services are offered four days a week, Monday through Thursday, between the hours of 8:00 am and 2:00 pm.
- Is there an income requirement for participation?
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There is no income requirement to receive services.
- What Residential Repair services do you provide?
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The Town's Residential Repair program provides:
*Handicapped modifications
*Installation of hand rails and grab bars
*Painting services
*Trimming bushes/shrubs
*Minor plumbing services
The Residential Repair program covers minor projects only. The program does not provide electrical services, roof repair, window replacements, or snow removal. For more information, please call (631) 789-3309. - Do you issue Senior Citizen identification cards?
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Yes, we provide identification cards for senior citizens. Applicants must visit the Department of Human Services at 1 Commerce Boulevard, Amityville, NY and provide proof of residency and age. Acceptable documents include a driver's license, utility bill or passport. These ID cards allow members to redeem senior citizen discounts were available.