 |
 |
 |
TRANSLATE THIS PAGE |
 |
 | |
 |
|
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|  Educational Opportunities Entertainment Recreational Activities Safety and Services Medical Services
Telephone: (212) 963-7021 or (212) 963-7056 Director: Frank Werth Telephone: (212) 963-7182 or (212) 570-2525
New York State Public Health Law requires that ALL children be immunized against
New York restaurants and hotels are buzzing again, quality of life has dramatically improved, and most importantly, the streets are safer. The City has experienced an historic double-digit drop in the crime rate, and the Mayor continues to make public safety and quality of life issues a top priority. New York is one of the safest large cities in the world.Still, like many cosmopolitan centers, New York is not immune to crime, and we at the Commission care about your safety. So please familiarize yourself with some steps you can take to avoid becoming a crime victim. These helpful suggestions are extracted from a guide entitled, Safety Tips for the Diplomatic Community, which is available at the Commission.Here are a few tips on maintaining a safe stay in the Big Apple: Always be alert and aware of your surroundings. Eighty percent of crime prevention is awareness. Familiarize yourself with your own neighborhood as well as those in which you travel frequently. Walk around and note street names and numbers, transportation facilities and times of operation, local markets and service stores. These facilities may be able to assist you in an emergency. Know the conditions during both day and evening hours. Be alert while walking on the streets. Choose well-lit, populated thoroughfares. Avoid dark alleys and buildings. Try to walk with a companion when possible. Limit the amount of money or credit cards you carry. When traveling, take only those items that you will need for the day. If you carry a wallet, you should place it in your inside jacket pocket. Handbags should be carried close to your body. The strap should be wrapped around the handbag, not over your shoulder or around your neck, to avoid injury should someone try to pull it away from you. If someone tries to steal your property, DO NOT RESIST! Try to remember as much as possible about the person's physical characteristics such as height, scars, tattoos, and clothing. Call 911 immediately for police and emergency medical assistance. Be aware of "confidence games" or con-artists. Newcomers to the City may be targeted by criminals who attempt to take your money through trickery and deceit. They may work alone or in groups. They may stop you on the street, call you on the telephone, or ring your doorbell pretending to be repairpersons, building inspectors, or assuming another identity. One NYPD detective cautions: "Confidence games will often target visitors. Visitors may be preoccupied by the sights of the City and can easily become distracted. Professional thieves spot this. They're trained to look for people who are distracted." You may come across people who appear to be gambling on the street. They use a temporary table or stand and attempt to entice you to play their "game," i.e. Three Card Monte or "the shell game". Although the game may look like an easy way to win money, it isn't. The con artist uses sleight-of-hand tricks to win your money. Beware of friendly strangers offering goods or services at low rates or offering to share money. Be suspicious of bank officials who ask you to withdraw money from your bank account for any reason. Con artists are very effective at their trade. If a person who you suspect is a con artist approaches you, notify the police immediately. Only yellow medallion taxis are authorized to pick up passengers on the street. They are identified by their yellow color and have a series of numbers and letters illuminated on the roof of their vehicle. Livery or "for hire" vehicles are not permitted to pick up pedestrians on the street and offer them a ride. Livery or "for hire" vehicles can only be used by calling the car company in advance. The price of their services should be quoted when you call. When you use New York City's Transit system, keep in mind the following safety tips: Do not stand at the end of an empty train platform. If possible, wait for the train near the token booth or at a designated off-peak waiting area. Always ride with other passengers. Try to ride in the car where the conductor is, usually the center car. All underground subway stations have colored lamps at the top of the street indicating the status of the entrance. A red light means the entrance is closed. A yellow light means there is no attendant on duty and a token is required for entry. A green light means an attendant is always on duty. Whenever possible use the attended entrances. If you need police, fire or medical assistance dial 911. An operator will answer the phone and ask you for pertinent information. You should identify yourself to the operator and give your exact location. However, if you are unable to, the police will be able to locate the origin of the call. If you possess diplomatic status you should tell this to the operator. If there is a language problem, translators will be summoned. It is our sincere hope that you will never be placed in an uncomfortable situation, and that your stay in our great City will be a fully enjoyable one. [Back to Top] Baby-sitting Services We offer the information below for your convenience, but we do not endorse these or any other particular day-care agencies. Some baby-sitting services may require that their sitters be driven home or given carfare at night. It is wise to try to make an appointment with the organization nearest to you first, and to call three days in advance for weekend arrangements and a day or two in advance for weekdays. Local services may be found in the Yellow Pages. General Pricing for Reference (varies from agency to agency): [Back to Top] Domestic Violence Domestic violence, also known as spousal abuse, is pervasive in the United States and throughout the world. This distressing problem has been allowed to continue with little, if any, recourse. Fortunately, over the past few years, City agencies and community organizations have taken on the problem of domestic violence with positive results. You should know that there are individuals trained to assist you and your family if domestic violence exists in your home. All information will be kept strictly confidential. The Commission has compiled a list of agencies that will assist you, should you or someone you know, be the victim of domestic violence. Or, you can contact the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence by dialing 311. [Back to Top] Child Abuse Another distressing social problem that affects families worldwide is child abuse. Children can become the innocent targets of adults suffering from some form of stress. In the United States, children have rights and should and can be protected from any abusive adult (a relative, neighbor, or caretaker). Child abuse includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, and all other forms of cruelty, abandonment, or neglect. The Commission has listed agencies that can help you, if you want to protect a child. If you would like more information to help you understand child abuse and domestic violence outreach services, contact the following agencies: NYC/HRA Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 621-4673 Victim Services Agency Hotline (212) 577-7777 HRA Domestic Violence Help Line (800) 621-4673 Violence Intervention Program Hotline (212) 360-5090 NYS Child Abuse & Maltreatment Registry (800) 342-3720 [Back to Top] MEDICAL SERVICES Hospital Locations This is a partial list of both voluntary [V] and municipal [M] hospitals; the latter are funded by the City of New York. It does not include the specialized or very small hospitals. To find the hospital nearest you first check the borough and then the address and/or the zip codes. Manhattan New York University Beekman Downtown Hospital [V] 170 William Street New York, NY 10038 Telephone: (212) 312-5000 Bellevue Hospital Center [M] 462 First Avenue (at 27th Street) New York, NY 10016 Telephone: (212) 562-4141 Beth Israel Medical Center [V] First Avenue at 16th Street New York, NY 10003 Telephone: (212) 420-2000 Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center [V] 622 West 168th Street New York, NY 10032 Telephone: (212) 305-2500 Harlem Hospital Center [M] 506 Lenox Avenue (at 135th Street) New York, NY 10037 Telephone: (212) 939-1000 St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center 153 West 11th Street New York, NY 10011 Telephone: (212) 604-7000 Mount Sinai Hospital [V] 1468 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10029 Telephone: (212) 241-6500 New York Cornell Hospital [V] 525 East 68th Street New York, NY 10021 Telephone: (212) 746-5454 New York University (NYU) Medical Center [V] 550 First Avenue New York, NY 10016 Telephone: (212) 263-7300 St. Vincent's Midtown [V] 415 West 51st Street New York, NY 10019 Telephone: (212) 586-1500 St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center [V] 1111 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10025 Telephone: (212) 523-4000 St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center [V] 1000 Tenth Avenue New York, NY 10019 Telephone:(212) 523-4000 Lenox Hill Hospital [V] 100 East 77th Street New York, NY 10021 Telephone: (212) 434-2000 [Back to Top] Bronx Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center [V] 1650 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY 10459 Telephone: (718) 590-1800 Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center [V] 111 East 210th Street Bronx, NY 10467 Telephone: (718) 920-4321 Jacobi Medical Center [V] Pelham Parkway South and Eastchester Road Bronx, NY 10451 Telephone: (718) 918-5000 Our Lady of Mercy Hospital Medical Center [V] 600 East 233rd Street Bronx, NY 10466 Telephone: (718) 920-9000 Lincoln Hospital Center [M] 234 East 149th Street Bronx, NY 10451 Telephone: (718) 579-5000 Union Hospital [M] 260 East 188th Street Bronx, NY 10458 Telephone: (718) 220-2020 North Central Bronx Hospital [M] 3424 Kossuth Avenue Bronx, NY 10467 Telephone: (718) 519-5000 Albert Einstein Hospital [V] 1825 Eastchester Road Bronx, NY 10461 Telephone: (718) 904-2000 [Back to Top] Brooklyn Brookdale Hospital Medical Center [V] Linden Boulevard Rockaway Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11212 Telephone: (718) 240-5000 Interfaith Medical Center [V] 555 Prospect Place Brooklyn, NY 11238 Telephone: (718) 935-7000 SUNY Downstate Medical Center and University Hospital of Brooklyn [V] 445 Lenox Road Brooklyn, NY 11203 Telephone: (718) 270-1000 Methodist Hospital of Brooklyn [V] 506 Sixth Street Brooklyn, NY 11215 Telephone: (718) 780-3000 Brooklyn Hospital [V] 121 DeKalb Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11201 Telephone: (718) 250-8000 Kings County Hospital Center [M] 451 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11203 Telephone: (718) 245-3131 Coney Island Hospital [M] 2601 Ocean Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11235 Telephone: (718) 616-3000 Lutheran Medical Center [V] 150-55th Street Brooklyn, NY 11220 Telephone: (718) 630-7000 [Back to Top] Queens City Hospital Center at Elmhurst [M] 79-01 Broadway Elmhurst, NY 11373 Telephone: (718) 334-4000 Long Island Jewish Medical Center [V] 270-05 76th Avenue New Hyde Park, NY 11040 Telephone: (718) 470-7000 Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens 88-25 153rd Street Jamaica, NY 11432 Telephone: (718) 558-6900 North Shore University Hospital at Forest Hills [V] 102-01-66th Road Forest Hills, NY 11375 Telephone: (718) 830-4000 Flushing Hospital and Medical Center [V] Parsons Boulevard and 45th Avenue Flushing, NY 11355 Telephone: (718) 670-5000 Health Insurance Coverage In the United States, it has become necessary to take our insurance coverage for a variety of contingencies. This Commission feels that every member of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps and the Secretariat should have adequate insurance coverage at all times. Such insurance can be costly, but the medical or legal fees associated with any problem said insurance will cover would be significantly higher. Some kinds of insurance, such as automobile liability insurance, are mandatory and required by law. Other insurance, such as health, is optional, but it is advisable to take out as a protection against the enormous expenses and losses that occur as a result of emergencies. For information about Automobile Insurance and Homeowner Insurance contact the insurance representative or Seabury & Smith at the United Nations Room 544, every Tuesday from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at (212) 963-7073. There are important Health Insurance plans that have group and individual coverage for NY State Residents only. (Proof of residency includes NY State address or utility bill.) They are as follows: 1) GHI (Group Health Insurance). Telephone: (212) 501-4GHI (501-4444) 2) AETNA Life and Medical Insurance. Telephone: (212) 457-0700 3) HIP (Health Insurance Plan). Telephone: (212) 630-5000 4) Empire. Telephone: (212) 476-7111 This Commission does not endorse any of the above companies. Please call the New York State Insurance Hotline at (800)-342-7376 or visit their website for more information. Eligibility for Work Permission for Dependents and Spouses of officials working at the United Nations, Permanent Missions to the United Nations, and Consular Corps Not all dependents and spouses of UN Mission, Consulate, and United Nations personnel are eligible to receive permission to work in the United States. UN Missions: Please check with your Mission's Administrative Officer, or the designated person for guidance on work permission. If necessary, please contact: Ms. Maureen Guiney, Host Country Advisor (for UN Missions only) United States Mission to the United Nations 799 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 (212) 415-4135 United Nations: Please contact the Staff Counselor's Office for all inquiries at (212) 963-7091. Consulates: Please check with your Consulate Administrative Officer or the designated person for guidance on work permission. Diplomatic Tax Exemption Information Office of Foreign Missions 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 265 New York, NY 10017 (212) 826-4500 Contact: Mr. Steve Dieterichs, Tax Department Social Security Card Information Murray Hill Social Security Office 755 Second Avenue (at 41st Street) New York, NY 10016 Telephone: (212) 689-0688 Contact Ms. S. Williams Department of Motor Vehicles 141-155 Worth Street (near Foley Square) New York, NY 10013 (212) 417-4491 (Office hours 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM) Obtaining a Driver's License All officers of a diplomatic mission or a consulate who wish to operate a vehicle in the United States, or who wish to have a US driver's license for identification purposes, must obtain one from the US Department of State. As eligibility of non-officer staff varies, those members should consult with OFM before applying. US citizens and permanent resident aliens are excluded from this program. In order to obtain this Federal driver's license, the applicant must submit a completed US Department of State Driver's License Application (form DS-1972), two color photographs, and a photocopy of his/her current valid license to OFM's New York Office. If the applicant does not have a United States Social Security Number, he or she must ask OFM for a letter verifying this. If testing is required, OFM will return the approved application and direct the applicant to the Manhattan office of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. OFM will provide directions to the testing facility. Applicants must study the New York State Driver's Manual before taking any necessary tests. The manual may be obtained at the New York City Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol. The Manhattan Office of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles administers the written test for the diplomatic community each Wednesday morning at 9:30 AM. A $10.00 fee is charged: payable by either cash or check to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Applicants must be prompt. No one will be allowed in once the exam has begun. Be sure to bring the OFM approved application and some form of ID such as a diplomatic passport for date of birth and proof of signature. Persons who wish to take the test outside of the Wednesday morning schedule may do so any time between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday with the general public. (The lines tend to be shorter in the early morning.) Should a road test be required (for those persons who do not posses a current valid license from a reciprocating country) the Manhattan office of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles will schedule the test at an appropriate time. Once all necessary testing is completed, the Manhattan office will send the documentation to OFM, so that the license may be issued. All applicants must take a vision test. The vision test will be administered prior to any written test or road test. OFM can administer this eye test in its offices on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The eye exam also may be administered at the Manhattan office of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. The applicant may also choose to have his/her eyes examined by a licensed ophthalmologist for a fee. If the applicant chooses to go to a licensed ophthalmologist, he/she must be sure to obtain a New York State Visual Acuity Report (form MV-619), which must be submitted at the time of the written exam. If the applicant is applying for a duplicate license, a letter must accompany the application explaining the need for one. In order to obtain a renewal, the applicant must apply before the license expires (or shortly after) by submitting a DS-1972 form, two photos, a copy of US Department of State Driver's License and a passed vision test. Licenses are issued at the Office of Foreign Missions in New York and are valid for five years. Licenses issued to dependents under the age of 21 are valid until the 21st birthday. When a dependent reaches the age of 21, he or she must apply for a driver's license from the appropriate state motor vehicle agency (New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut). Upon request, OFM will provide the dependent with a letter certifying his or her eligibility for a local license. Dependents older than 21-years-old who have obtained "justified student status" from the Department of State as full-time students may have their State Department license extended up to their 23rd birthday. [Back to Top] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
