FRIENDS OF THE RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OF SUFFOLK, Inc

RSVP Suffolk's goals are to continue to provide the following services through 700 volunteers:
HIICAP Health Insurance Information Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance
Program - providing assistance to the senior population and people that are recipients of Medicaid
and/or Medicare in Suffolk County. We continue to educate and guide people through the maze of these
programs. MIPPA – Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers – assisting low-income
seniors and others with disabilities in applying for benefits from programs that would help them in
paying their Medicare costs. Telephone Reassurance Program – Daily calls to frail and/or vulnerable
homebound seniors with little or no family or community assistance from 2 offices with phone banks for
a health and wellness check. CDSMP - Chronic Disease Self- Management/Diabetes Self-Management -
the curriculum was developed by Stanford University and is completed in a 6- week course (2.5 hours
weekly). RSVP outreach includes veterans, LGBTQ persons, LEP and low-income groups. CCCP -
Community Computer Connections Program – donated computers are refurbished by tech-savvy
seniors and installed in the homes of individuals who are in need of this essential technology. RSVP
Partnering Organizations – where we provide volunteers that work with site supervisors to fill any
positions needed. Some examples of over 100 organizations that we support include the Fire Island
Lighthouse, Fire Island Veteran Home (Stonybrook), Long Island Maritime Museum, Long Island Seaport
and Ecology Center.

HIICAP Health Insurance Information Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance
Program and MIPPA Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers –Volunteers counsel in
libraries where librarians post our event on their public calendars. During the pandemic we used phone
calls to counsel clients. Potential volunteers and clients are obtained through libraries, senior centers,
Facebook and Constant Contact. Telephone Reassurance Program – volunteers are trained and
annotate the physical and/or emotional disposition of the client on a daily file. Emergency contacts are
alerted if the client doesn’t respond to calls. Police departments are more than helpful in responding to
checking on an elderly client. CDSMP Chronic Disease Self- Management/Diabetes Self-Management -
Attendance at neighborhood health fairs and presentations in person and on video conference
(especially during the pandemic), at community centers and libraries allow us to continue to promote
this program. Flyers for workshops are distributed at food stops made by Island Harvest where we have
a coordinator meeting the commodity trucks to talk about the program and accept registrations. CCCP -
Community Computer Connections Program- Clients are referred by Social Service agencies in both
Nassau and Suffolk counties. Potential clients are then screened for financial need.

RSVP Suffolk has 700 volunteers and has been serving Suffolk County since 1972. We are a grantee of AmeriCorps Seniors and funded by the Suffolk County Department of the Aging. We have trained staff in the positions of a HIICAP Coordinator, Telephone Reassurance Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, CCCP Coordinator along with several program assistants all trained to assist in the functioning and training for our programs. Our Board of Directors and Executive Director are experienced in all aspects of our organization.

We have 700 robust volunteers aged 55+ at RSVP Suffolk and we continue to provide meaningful and interesting opportunities to our seniors in our community. We have managed to continue to operate our programs through the pandemic and still provide volunteers the opportunity to serve the community remotely and more recently in person in many cases. Next we continue to recruit more volunteers to place in service in critically needed assignments as we have for the past 49 years.