October, 2021
'The Voice' is Families Together in New York State's monthly newsletter with information that is important to families, and youth across the State of New York.
For further information visit our website:
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LATEST BOARD NEWS
In August the FTNYS Board of Directors elected five new Board Members. The following individuals were elected for a three-year term. Kasha Morgan will represent the Hudson River Region, Buffy Marcil the Central Region and Chuck Allan will represent the Western Region. Two new Youth Advocates were also elected. They are: Lyndon Hernandez who will be representing the New York City Region and Shannon Schwarberger who will be representing the Central Region. We are so pleased to have them represent the youth voice on the Board. They are all very qualified to serve on the Board and Families Together believes they will prove to be a great asset. Please check in monthly as we will highlight a different new member each month.
WELCOME DIRECTORS!
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MEET THE
PROJECT DIRECTOR
OF FAMILIES TOGETHER
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LAURIE RIVERA
Laurie Rivera has been employed with Families Together for over 19 years. In her current position as Project Director, Laurie assists the Community and Systems Engagement Team, she oversees and reports out on the Statewide Family Network Grant, coordinates Family Peer Support projects and events as well as supports the Board of Directors as its staff liaison. She brings a wealth of both lived and professional experience to Families Together and she hopes that one day every struggling parent has a support person to lean on and empower them to be their own best advocate for their child. Laurie is the mother of four children and is very active in military/veteran events and is a proud Blue Star Mother.
Fun Fact: Laurie was named Mother of the Year in 2016 at Albany's Annual Tulip Festival.
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Families Together is proud to announce the addition of
The Diversity Equity and Inclusion Department
"Our next step in moving with intention to fight for those who have been historically marginalized. The broad and complex disparities that exist have fueled many societal and systemic issues including racism, ableism, genderism, homophobia, transphobia and xenophobia. The department will focus on all aspects of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion including, grassroots outreach, engagement and trainings. The role will also serve to increase Black/Brown/Indigenous and other marginalized voices within all aspects of our mission vision and values. We seek to usher in a more diverse peer support workforce, elevate grassroots initiatives that serve marginalized communities and improve the lens of our staff and partners to promote a culture shift in the work we do.
Together we will help challenge the existing landscape of disparities and historical marginalization. We are excited to be on this journey with you and seek to elevate our collaboration and partnership as we continue to improve the lives of the families, youth and communities that we serve."
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The Diversity Equity and Inclusion Department will be led by Regional Parent Parent Advisor, Kim Kaiser. For more information on Kim, click here.
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FANS Technical Assistance Office Hours
Multiple Dates
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Virtual Youth Leadership Forum
November 8th - 10th &
15th - 17th
3:00 Pm - 5:00 PM
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For all in-person events: |
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Thank you to all the virtual and in-person participants of the 2021 Children’s & Youth Behavioral Health Symposium. Families from across Long Island came together for collection of workshops and presentations to empower families & youth involved with behavioral health and cross system challenges. Hope to see you again next year!! |
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Interested in becoming a Recovery Coach or Peer Professional?
Learn more about recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD)! Our Wellness Collective is giving away one scholarship a month for our online course: Wellness in Recovery: Coach & Advocate Training (www.recoverytraining.online). This course includes 46 hours of foundational/core training for recovery coaches/advocates, including Ethics. This training is delivered completely virtually and is approved for certification!
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Black students in NYC public schools face suspension racial disparity
New data from the US Department of Education shows that on average, Black students in New York City public schools missed more than twice the number of days due to suspension compared to white and Hispanic students.
Although racial bias in educational discipline has always been apparent to those living through it, this new data further illustrates the need for reform in New York schools. Although New York City has taken the positive direction of investing $12,000,000 into restorative justice programs, this is inadequate to address the deeply rooted problems of over-policed schools.
Reasons like this are why Families Together in NYS, with our partner coalition Solutions not Suspensions, support S7198/A5197 in the NYS Senate & Assembly, which would require schools to use proven and evidence-based alternatives to suspension that correct misbehavior and keep kids in the classroom.
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Governor Hochul Announces $21 Million in Federal Funding to Strengthen Mental Health Workforce
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the New York State Office of Mental Health has secured $21 million in workforce recruitment and retention funds that will help strengthen the state's mental health system and improve access to mental health services in communities across the state.
The Federal funding was secured by OMH through both The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) of 2021 and The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. This legislation provides supplemental funding for mental health services through the time-limited expansion of the Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) Block Grant.
Families Together in New York State applauds this allocation and commends the Governor working to aid New York families and youth following the mental health issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Raise the Age NY Says No Rollbacks on Youth Justice Reforms
Last week, 20 members of the New York City Council wrote to Governor Hochul calling for rollbacks to New York’s landmark 2017 Raise the Age legislation and falsely blaming recent spikes in gun violence on Raise the Age. In fact, during the first eighteen months after the Raise the Age law was enacted, shootings in New York City remained the lowest they have been in decades. Only after months of COVID-19 infections, deaths, lockdowns, and economic upheaval did gun violence increase in New York City, as it did in many cities around the country where criminal justice reforms had not been enacted.
We cannot incarcerate our way out of gun violence. Instead of placing blame on reforms, we must address the root causes of gun violence, from the inequities that COVID-19 deepened, to the need to strengthen community and violence intervention programs. The evidence supports this. Our communities need us to act on the data, not fear-mongering, and invest in real and meaningful support for our young people, families, and community.
Families Together in New York State, as part of the Raise the Age Campaign, calls on Governor Hochul and other elected leaders to protect vulnerable New York youth and keep these crucial reforms in place.
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Families Together CEO, Paige Pierce, testifies before the New York State Senate Joint Task Force on Opioids, Addiction and Overdose to discuss the impact COVID-19 had on the overdose and addiction crisis throughout the state.
Watch Paige Pierce speak at 3:24:38
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Addressing the COVID-19
Delta Surge
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Resources for families affected by COVID-19; Prioritizing mental and physical health while staying home.
Families Together is here to help.
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2021 FTNYS Digital Advocacy Center
Stay up-to-date with all our advocacy efforts and use emails, social media, and phone calls. We might have to stay home, but our advocacy doesn't have to.
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Spotlight of The Month
Highland High School
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Highland High School, located in the Hudson Region of New York State is a school compromised of district administration, school staff, and students who have taken their school's motto of “Student are the priority” to new levels. Focusing not only on the academic but the overall success of their students as they begin their transitions into adulthood by creating spaces that promote comfort and belonging within the Highland community. While imperfect like all of us as individuals, agencies, and organizations are, they are continuously working toward the greater inclusion of all students.
Through electives like Citizenship in Action & America Through Many Eyes and as the pilot for Families Together in New York State- Youth Power’s Junior Youth Peer Advocate Certificate Program, Highland continues to show their students the importance of understanding that their voices matter and allowing them the space and opportunities to amplify their voices for change. We commend you for the work that you are doing as a school and a district to ensure that the voices of your students are heard, respected, and accounted for.
Keep up the amazing work!
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Attention! Hiring for NYC Regional Youth Partner |
There is an opening in Families Together in NYS, Inc., Youth Power, which is the statewide network of young people who have been labeled and are seeking change.
The Regional Youth Partners are peer leaders that connect local youth groups, coordinate regional youth advocacy efforts, and provide technical assistance and training on youth empowerment, youth-guided practice, and youth peer services. The Regional Youth Partner position is a credentialed Youth Peer Advocate position.
Applicants must send a resume with a formal cover letter to employment@ftnys.org in order to be considered.
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Join the Youth Power Advisory Council |
Youth Peer Meetings Are Here for You! |
Join Our Peer Supervisors Meetings |
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Virtual Training for YPA Professional Credential |
1-hour Orientation:
Thursday, December 2, 2021
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
4-Day Training:
December 6-9, 2021
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM each day
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Continue with registration ONLY if:
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You hold a current YPA Provisional Credential; and,
- You have completed ALL of the Level 1 and Level 2 online modules; and,
- You are currently providing services that fill within the role of a YPA (employed or formal volunteer); and,
- You are available to participate in the full training along with weekly coaching calls (schedule TBD).
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Systems of Care and Suicide Prevention in Native Communities |
Transforming Tribal Communities:
Indigenous Perspectives on Suicide Prevention
These six-to-eight-minute webinar clips, adapted from SPRC’s Tribal Community of Learning Series, feature expert advice on addressing the root causes of mental health issues and suicide in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities by drawing on community strengths.
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Webinar Series: Trauma Responsive Care |
(NEW!) Adding High-Value Through Trauma-Informed Care: An Evidence-Informed Paradigm Shift |
Part 2: Panel Discussion
Thursday, October 28, 2021
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
This is a 2-part webinar series. Part 1 of the series will focus on the evidence for the value of trauma responsive care and Part 2 will be a panel discussion with organizational leaders who have engaged in the work of aligning their policies and practices with the principles of trauma informed care.
The series is designed to provide organizational leaders and decision-makers with the information to promote trauma responsive care within their organizations. Executive and senior leadership, program managers, department heads or anyone in a position to promote trauma informed care at the organizational level would benefit from this series.
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New York’s FREE and confidential COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline
1-844-863-9314
8:00am – 10:00pm / 7 Days per week
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As New York State welcomes refugees from Afghanistan, it is critical that New York’s mental health providers are aware of the circumstances that recent refugees are likely to be affected by, and best practice approaches to serving them. New York State’s Office of Mental Health has created the attached resources for mental health providers and refugees themselves, to provide needed information about accessing high quality mental health resources and supports.
Translations available below.
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EMPOWERING FAMILIES. COORDINATING SYSTEMS.
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