Kniffen Center-Family Place to close amid lack of funding

UTICA — The Kniffin Center-Family Place, a program of the Family Nurturing Center division of Kids Oneida, Inc., will close July 11 because of a “lack of funding.” 

Various foundations, bequests, fundraisers, and government sources have supported the Family Place since 1997, Kids Oneida said in a news release, announcing the closure.

Kids Oneida is a nonprofit organization that works with at-risk youth and their families to keep them from “out-of-home placements,” according to its website.

Located in the St. Francis de Sales Center, Kids Oneida describes the Family Center as a place  “where community members could access a variety of supports,” according to its news release. 

Last year, 660 families obtained information, education, and referrals during free drop-in hours and various scheduled activities, the nonprofit said. More than 100 parents and guardians also attended nurturing-parenting programs.

In addition, hundreds of families participated in consultations, wellness and nutrition workshops, guided-playroom activities, and seasonal celebrations, according to Kids Oneida.

Activities in 2013 included a back-to-school supplies event, an ice cream social, and a winter-coat project.

The Family Place had nearly 1,700 drop-in visits in 2013, providing families with clothing, diapers, toys, books, and household items.

It also accommodated 140 family groups in supervised visitations and hosted Kids Oneida’s parent partners luncheon meetings, the nonprofit said.

The supervised visitations that Family Place previously offered will continue in the main offices of Kids Oneida and “potentially other” community-based locations in the Utica area, the nonprofit said in the release. 

Kids Oneida will refer families that depend on Family Place resources to “appropriate services” during the transition, the organization added. 

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com