RAPP- Relatives As Parents Program Orange County

10/19/2026

Tis the season to bundle up.

RAPP is offering coats, gloves, snow pants, and fleece lined hoodies for the youth in our program. Check your email for a link on how to order these items, or reach out at (845) 344-1234 and ask for Caitlin.

Thank you to the Woodmen and Patti Miller Harp for their generosity in making this possible.

10/19/2026

Red Ribbon Week 2026 is approaching! 🎀❤️

Join us outside the Orange County Government Center to tie Red Ribbons on the trees and to kick off Red Ribbon Week on Monday, October 26th, 2026 at 4:00 pm.

Ribbons will be on display from October 26th through October 31st.

09/23/2026

🥕 Is this still good? Join us for our next Facebook Live, Food Safety from Farm to Fridge!

We’ll follow produce from the farm to your fridge and share simple ways to help keep it safe and fresh along the way.
🌱 Learn how food stays safe before it gets to you.
💧 See how to safely wash and prep produce at home.
🥦 Learn how and where to store produce.

📅 Tuesday, September 29
⏰ 12:00 p.m.
📍 Live right here on Facebook!

Save the date and join us!

Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County

09/22/2026

Join us for Gathering for Change, an evening focused on connection, community, and creating meaningful change in Middletown.

Discover the key findings from our community survey exploring how Middletown residents can adapt to a changing climate, including challenges related to severe weather events. Participants will have an opportunity to learn from the survey results, share ideas, and take part in a meaningful conversation about the future of the community.

Together, we’ll turn ideas into real change.

Event Details:
📅 Friday, September 25, 2026
🕡 6:30–8:30 p.m.
📍 Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County Office
18 Seward Avenue, 3rd Floor, Middletown, NY 10940

Please RSVP to [email protected] by September 24. Walk-ins are welcome.

This event is supported by the Community Resilience Builder Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County, and generously funded by Orange & Rockland.

09/22/2026

09/22/2026

🌱 Explore. Learn. Grow. 🍎

Registration is open for Exploration Through Food, Body, and Movement, a hands-on 4-H program for Orange County youth ages 8–12!

Over three fun and interactive sessions, youth will explore the connections between food, health, movement, nature, and community while building healthy-living skills they can bring home and share with their families.

Sessions include:
• Food Systems
• Nutrition & Cooking
• Movement & Mindfulness

📅 October 20, October 27 & November 3
⏰ 4:30–6:00 PM
📍 CCE Orange County Office – Demo Kitchen
18 Seward Ave., Middletown, NY

💲 $45 for 4-H members | $50 for non-members

Please note: A parent/caregiver is expected to remain on location. This is not a drop-off program.

👉 Register today: https://bit.ly/4yhin7k

Questions? Contact Olivia at [email protected] or (845) 344-1234.

09/22/2026

💙 Strengthening Families Program: Learn, Connect & Grow Together!

Join us for a fun and engaging 3-part family series designed for parents, caregivers, and youth ages 10–14. Families will enjoy a meal, interactive activities, and meaningful conversations while building stronger relationships.

Together, families will learn how to:
✨ Communicate more effectively
✨ Navigate the challenges of the teen years
✨ Solve problems as a team
✨ Support healthy decision-making
✨ Connect, have fun, and strengthen family bonds

📅 Saturdays, November 7, 14 & 21
⏰ 1:00–5:00 PM
📍 Middletown Parks & Recreation
393 County Rd 78, Middletown, NY 10940

👨‍👩‍👧 Space is limited to 10 families!
🧸 Free childcare is available for children ages 3–9.

👉 Register: https://bit.ly/46zbNgh

Questions or need assistance? Contact Chloe at 845-344-1234 or [email protected].

09/22/2026

At the same time as adult support groups for Kinship families RAPP runs 4H based youth groups for the kids. This youth empowerment model allows kids to connect over activities and projects and a shared sense of belonging. RAPP youth do crafts and activities along with community service projects and learn mindfulness and tools to navigate the world.

For more information about the RAPP program, visit https://cceorangecounty.org/family/parenting-and-family-life/relatives-as-parents-program-rapp

09/17/2026

Grandparents and other kin caregivers play a critical role in communities across the country. According to the latest U.S. Census data, they are raising about 2.5M children — keeping kids connected to family and out of an already overburdened foster care system. Research shows that when we invest in meaningful supports for grandfamilies, children do better and are less likely to enter foster care in the first place. RAPP advocates for this kind of work.

For more information about the program, visit https://cceorangecounty.org/family/parenting-and-family-life/relatives-as-parents-program-rapp