November, 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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SHANNON SCHWARBERG
Shannon Schwarberg is a new member to the Board of Directors representing youth under 30. She is currently employed at Spectrum Health and Human Services in Buffalo, NY, as the Senior Program Manager of Special Project Development, and has the pleasure of also directing their peer support department composed of YPA, CRPA, NYCSP, etc. She has earned a Master’s Degree in Community and School Health and a Bachelors in Social Work. Her lived experience with foster care/ kinship adoption, as well as her professional experience working directly with people of all different socioeconomic statuses and health severities gives her a unique and alternative perspective on community, family dynamics and more. She has multi-system experience and is familiar with working to bridge the gap between the systems and the peer networks. She is perfect for the Families Together Board. We are thrilled to have her on board.
Shannon is the Mom of a soon to be 4-year-old daughter and will soon add a son to the family.
Congrats Shannon!
Fun fact: Shannon loves to listen to true crime podcasts.
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MEET OUR NEWEST
PARENT ADVISOR
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JENNNY LANEY
Jenny Laney from Erie County has been chosen to fill the open Western Region Parent Advisor position. Jenny has worked for Health Advocates of WNY in Erie County, formerly MHA of Erie County, for the past 15 years; 13 years as the Director of The Child and Family Support Program. She has advocated across the child-serving systems for her daughter and now is an advocate for her grandchildren. Jenny enjoys the outdoors, baking and spending time with her grandsons. She is excited to join the team at Families Together in New York State. She is a well know advocate and will be an asset to the Families Together team.
Welcome Jenny!
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FANS Technical Assistance Office Hours
Multiple Dates
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Helping Families Get OFF the Crisis Roller Coaster
December 7, 2021
1:00 - 3:00 PM
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This Thanksgiving we are thankful to support our families and youth of NYS. |
The Families Together retreat was a great success that allowed both board and staff members to meet in-person for the first time in almost two years.
The focus was to plan a strategic path forward that enables us to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. Our goal is and has always been to empower family and youth voice in mental health and cross systems. The retreat gave us an opportunity to hear from stakeholders in these systems and provide a roadmap for whatever the future brings.
Our mantra, "nothing about us; without us" ensures we can advocate for the systems that have affected all of us. Our lived experience provides us with the expertise to advocate for family and youth empowerment and systems change.
Thank you to everyone who attended!
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The New York State Assembly held a hearing to examine the capacity and long-term sustainability of the mental health workforce and service system in New York on Tuesday, Nov. 9. This hearing garnered a great deal of media coverage as organizations and individuals from all over the state testified about the dire situation families and young people face while seeking mental health service due to deep strains on the workforce.
FTNYS CEO, Paige Pierce testified at the hearing and expressed to legislators the urgent need to invest in, and make dramatic changes to the mental health system in order to address the mental health emergency in New York State. FTNYS was proud to collaborate with our partner coalition Healthy Minds Healthy Kids. The full testimony can be read below, but some of the actions FTNYS advocated for include investing over $100M to increase rates of reimbursement for children’s behavioral health and authorizing a 5.4% Consumer Price Index adjustment Community Health Organizations.
Bethany Bump, reporter for the Times Union, put it succinctly when writing about the hearing: "New York’s mental health providers say they are not OK." We need immediate and dramatic action to ensure that service providers are equipped to handle this worsening mental health crisis.
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Governor Hochul Announces $4 Million in Federal Funding For Mental Health Peer Workforce
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the New York State Office of Mental Health has secured $4 million in workforce recruitment and retention funds that will help strengthen the state's mental health system by increasing access to peer services that support individuals and families in a wide array of treatment and service options.
The Federal funding was secured through time-limited expansions of the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage share of funds for Medicaid programs.
FTNYS applauds this allocation as it is a great first step in alleviating the current problems in the NYS mental health system workforce. Peer support is pivotal to addressing the current mental health crisis in New York State. We applaud the new Governor as she starts her tenure showing a commitment to the mental health of New York's youth and families.
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Governor Hochul Announces Over $1.5 Billion in Funding for Workers Who Directly Support Those with Developmental Disabilities
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the New York Office for People with Developmental Disabilities will provide over $1.5 billion in one-time American Rescue Plan Act Funding to support recruitment efforts, retention incentives and vaccination bonuses for direct support professionals who provide support for people with developmental disabilities in an effort to address workforce shortages in this field.
"Direct Support Professionals provided essential support to people with developmental disabilities throughout the pandemic when we needed them most, in spite of the risk to themselves and their own families," Governor Hochul said. "We owe these workers a debt of gratitude and the American Rescue Plan funding paves the way for bonuses, incentives and one time pay raises to help keep these hardworking, loyal and devoted workers doing what they love most, supporting people with developmental disabilities."
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Register Today For the "Youth Voice Explores the School to Prison Pipeline" Webinar
Sign up today for a powerful discussion with foster youth who have been impacted by the juvenile justice system, hosted by Youth Voice. We will analyze why foster youth are criminalized. Discuss disciplinary policies and practices within schools that put students into contact with law enforcement which often leads to incarceration. Lastly, panelists will discuss the positive & negative effects of rehabilitation.
The webinar will take place on November 23rd at 2:00 P.M. EST. on Zoom.
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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
Mariama Toe-Freeland
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Mariama Toe-Freeland has been connected in advocacy for over 10 years. She was introduced to advocacy through attending Youth Power events. Returning home she shortly became a YP board member under the leadership of Stephanie Orlando, where she used her love for creativity to serve on the special events work for the group. Mariama planned Youth Power local and statewide events. Mariama has attended many rallies, speak outs, conferences to amplify youth voices and help change policies to better support youth and young adults. Mariama has pursued her degree in Human service and a minor in Political Science at Monroe College and Buffalo State. Mariama has always had a passion to fulfill the YP mission in NYC and state-wide. She is looking forward to reconnecting with leaders and supporting youth who need support in amplifying their voice.
Welcome to the team Mariama!
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Attention Central, Long Island & Hudson River Region
We are hiring!
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There are three openings at Families Together in NYS, Inc., Youth Power, which is the statewide network of young people who have been labeled and are seeking change. Through peer-to-peer mentoring, we empower young people to be active citizens that are aware of government operations, their rights, and the ability to use their voices to influence policies, practices, regulations, and laws.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
Central Region Youth Partner
Hudson River Region Youth Partner
Long Island Region Youth Partner
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. Primary responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
- Establish contacts and collaborators throughout the Central New York Region
- Network organized youth involvement, empowerment, and peer support
- Directly assist and support youth groups and councils
- Train and educate youth and adults
- Increase youth involvement and advocacy across child serving systems
HUDSON RIVER LOCATION: Hudson River applicant must reside in one of the 16 counties: Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Westchester
LONG ISLAND LOCATION: Long Island applicant must reside in one of the 2 counties: Nassau or Suffolk
CENTRAL REGION LOCATION: Central Region applicants must reside in one of the 20 central region counties: Broome, Delaware, Chenango, Cortland, Otsego, Cayuga, Onondaga, Madison, Fulton, Montgomery, Herkimer, Oneida, Oswego, Hamilton, Lewis, Jefferson, Essex, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton
STATUS: Full-time salary employee
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Must have personal life experience accessing children’s mental health services and be willing to share this information publicly.
- Additional experience with Disability, Foster Care, Addiction, or Juvenile Justice is beneficial.
- Must have experience working/volunteering as a Youth Peer Advocate or comparable peer role.
- Bachelor’s or Associates Degree preferred but not required.
- Must be able to travel throughout the designated regions; some travel out of the region is also required.
- Have the ability to telecommute.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:
- Independently motivated; Excellent coordination and organization skills; Experience with youth leadership and advocacy; Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; Demonstrated ability to engage with diverse groups; Demonstrated ability to speak with small and large groups of people; Experience with various software packages: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
BENEFITS:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Paid Vacation, Sick and Parental Leave
- 401(k) Planning
- 403(b) Planning
- Paid Training
- and more!
APPLICATION PROCESS: Applicants must send a resume with a formal cover letter, outlining your lived experience as a youth as described in the qualifications above, 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
12:00 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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Virtual Training for FPA Professional Credential |
1-hour Orientation:
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
4-Day Training:
February 14-17, 2022
9:30 AM to 2:00 PM each day
Continue with registration ONLY if:
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You hold a current FPA 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 FPA (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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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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