Cornell University

Resource Directory

Mother and child conversing in Big Red BarnThe Ithaca community is family-friendly with many resources and services available to help support your family.  Many of our students with families have used at least a few of the community resources listed below. With recommendations from the Students with Families Advisory Committee and the many students with families we have worked with, we created the resource directory to help support you.  Because each individual and family structure is unique, this list is certainly not exhaustive, but is a great place to start!  If, based on your personal experience, you have suggested additions to this list, please email janna.lamey@cornell.edu.

Advocacy Center

  • (607) 277-5000 – 24 Hour hotline
  • Provides legal and emotional support, advocacy and education for survivors of domestic violence, stalking and sexual abuse.

Babies First

  • (607) 273-7521
  • Through the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, program provides assistance with common baby necessities such as clothing, diapers, car seats and/or cribs.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program

  • (607) 273-8364
  • Mentoring services for children (6 to 14 years or age) within town of Ithaca.

Birthright of Ithaca, Inc.

  • (607) 272-9070
  • Assistance for women facing unplanned pregnancies. Provides free pregnancy tests, referrals to financial, employment, housing and legal resources as well as information on pregnancy, parenting skills and prenatal care.

Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga Counties

  • (607) 272-5062
  • Pre-screens for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (food stamps).  Runs the Family Empowerment program which provides assistance to families with special needs children as well as those with children in protective or mental health services.

Cayuga Medical Center

  • (607) 274-4011
  • Local medical center. Provides maternity care as well as services for all members of the family.  Of specific relevance is weekend/after-hours Kids Care, an outpatient pediatric and adolescent care.

Child Development Council

  • (607) 273-0259
  • Promotes and provides information for children’s health and nutrition as well as an extensive list of additional childcare resources.

Consignment/Resale Shops

  • Yellow pages of local consignment/resale shops in the Ithaca area.

Convenient Care Center

  • (607) 274-4150
  • Part of Cayuga Medical Center. Provides urgent care for all members of family. Fast Web Check-In which allows you to check in for care before you arrive to minimize time spent in the waiting room.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County

  • (607) 272-2292
  • Provides workshops on a range of topics on parenting skills, along with other family programming.

Cornell Legal Aid Clinic (called Clinical Programs Office)

  • (607) 255-4196
  • Legal clinic serving Cornell Students and permanent residents of Tompkins County on Civil Cases.  Consideration/ qualification for services based on financial eligibility.

Department of Social Services

  • (607) 274-5680
  • Provides information on a range of services such as daycare payment assistance, dental care assistance, food assistance, financial assistance, and home energy support.

Family and Children’s Services

  • (607) 273-7494
  • Provides affordable and accessible mental health services. Clinical program offers high-quality, confidential, and affordable counseling services in a welcoming and caring atmosphere that meet the needs of single adults, couples, and families. Sliding scale fee available to those who qualify based on household income.  Special unit dedicated to children’s mental health services.

Family Reading Partnership

  • (607) 277-8602
  • Celebrates reading out loud to children. Distributes books to new parents during various stages of child’s development.

Finger Lakes Toy Library

  • Lends toys to families and caregivers. Also offers playtimes, some of which are STEM-themed, and other events at local libraries and community centers.

Franziska Racker Centers

  • (607) 272-5891 or info@rackercenters.org
  • Center supports people with disabilities providing early childhood interventions, physical, speech and occupational therapy, counseling and residential services to people with special needs.

Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County

  • (877) 211-8667 or 211 from local phone
  • Enhance health and human services in Tompkins Country. Home of the 2-1-1 directory; access to all community resources and services.  Of particular interest is the Health Access Navigator Program; which helps to determine options for family health insurance on the open market.

Ithaca Family Fun

  • Website information that features a collection of current local activities, events, and programs geared towards families.

Ithaca Health Alliance

  • (607) 330-1253
  • Open to all uninsured members of the community. In addition to financial assistance for health and community health education, through the Ithaca Free Clinic, offers weekly walk-in services.

Ithaca Housing Authority, Section 8

  • (607) 273-1244
  • Administers housing vouchers to low income families subsidizing the cost of rent.

Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services

  • Provides affordable housing and assistance for low income families looking to purchase a home and home repair loans to existing home-owners.

Ithaca Pregnancy Center

  • (607) 273-4673
  • Helps women expecting to explore their options and make informed decisions.

Ithaca Youth Bureau

  • (607) 273-8364
  • Public multi-service agency provides recreation and developmental programs such as after school programs, job and skill training, summer camp, theater workshops and sports leagues.

IthacaNet

  • Provides a list of local schools and colleges, libraries, museums, nature centers and educational institutions and sites.

Jillian’s Drawers

  • (607) 272-1237
  • Local retail shop for kids and parents. Host workshops, classes and support groups for parents.  Weekly playdates for dads available: ithacadadsgroup@gmail.com

La Leche League of Ithaca

  • Facebook group provides helpful information regarding breastfeeding and mothering.

Mama Goose

  • (607) 269-0600
  • Gently-used children’s clothing and offers items that families need.

Maternal Services (MOMS)

  • (607) 274-6622
  • Geared to low income pregnant women provides routine pregnancy check-ups, hospital care during pregnancy & delivery, breast-feeding support, and assistance obtaining WIC & health insurance for family.

Mental Health Association of Tompkins County

  • (607) 273-9250
  • Offers mental health programs and resources online and in-person. Also holds workshops on mental health and mental illness.

Moms Club of Ithaca

  • Support group for stay at home and partially employed mothers. Serves as a forum for topics related to children, child-rearing, and personal/ family improvement.

Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network of South Central New York

  • Provides prenatal, breastfeeding and birthing classes. Also conducts workshops on youth related topics such as self-esteem, bullying, puberty and peer pressure.

Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes

  • (607) 273-1513
  • With five (5) health centers through the southern New York region provides no cost or low cost services. Services include birth control, pregnancy testing, and STI screening.

The Family Resource Network

  • (607) 432-0001
  • A centralized resource for education and support for families with special needs.

Tompkins Community Action Food Pantry

  • (607) 273-8816
  • Provides a range of services to low income households such as head start programs and summer programs for children, energy solutions and weatherization of homes and assistance in finding affordable housing.

Tompkins County Health Department

  • Provides current information on health concerns and local initiatives on health. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to community services for low-income pregnant and post-partum women and their children under five years of age.  Breastfeeding support is available.

Tompkins County Youth Services Camp Directory

  • Posts the most comprehensive guide to local summer camps/programs.

Tompkins Workforce New York

  • (607) 272-7570
  • Provides convenient, one-stop shopping approach for accessing employment-related services for businesses, workers, and jobseekers in Tompkins County. The full-service center can help jobseekers identify goals and objectives for work, gain self-knowledge, review cover letters and resumes, practice interviewing, learn about professional development opportunities, take part in networking events, and gain understanding about the local landscape of employment possibilities in Tompkins County and the surrounding area.

Varna After School Program

  • (607) 272-2658
  • Safe, educational, nurturing after school program for students PreK – 5th Grade. Focus on play-based and STEAM learning.

YMCA

  • (607) 257-0101
  • Provides a range of workshops, group fitness classes and seminars for family members of all ages such as swim program, yoga, Zumba and wilderness classes.

Updated July 2016

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