Registration is open!
Sign-up now for the 8th annual
University of Youth Power
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On June 24-27, 2022, we are hosting University of Youth Power IN PERSON, a for-youth-by-youth social justice conference that is modeled after a college experience.
UYP is the premier youth peer leadership conference that provides youth and young adults to become change agents. The UYP conference provides young people an opportunity to build skills and expand their professional network. Young people ages 18 to 30 can register for this for-youth-by-youth social justice conference with one of the following majors:
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- Peer Advocacy
- Systems Advocacy
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- Recovery Advocacy
- Disability Leadership
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The Disability Leadership track is for Youth ages 14 - 24.
More information on scholarships, sponsorships, exhibiting, etc. is available below in the Youth Power section.
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May, 2022
'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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MEET FAMILIES TOGETHER'S NEWEST BOARD MEMBER
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Beth Hurny-Fricano
Beth Hurny-Fricano was elected to the FTNYS Board at the May 1st Board meeting. This is Beth's second time being elected to the Board and Families Together excited to welcome her back.
She is currently the Executive Director for the Onondaga Council on Alcoholism & Addictions, Inc. d.b.a. Prevention Network, where she has been employed for the past 14 years. Prior to becoming the Executive Director in September 2014, she served the agency as the Director of Youth & Parenting Services and then as the Director of Services. She is also an adjunct professor in the Human Services Department at Onondaga Community College. Mrs. Hurny-Fricano received a bachelor's degree in Human Services from Cornell University, a master's degree in Social Work from Syracuse University, and a Doctor of Education degree (in executive leadership) from St. John Fisher College. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and a Master Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). Beth brings over 25 years of experience in the substance abuse and mental health prevention, treatment, and recovery field. She has worked extensively with youth, adults, families, and communities at large.
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THANK YOU...
THANK YOU...
THANK YOU...
To the FTNYS 2022 Conference Party Planning Team.
The Community & Systems Engagement Team is pleased to recognize partnerships. This month we were thrilled that those who attended the FTNYS Conference were able to witness one in action!
Family Peer and Youth Peer Advocates from Access: Supports for Living and Aspire Hope partnered to plan and execute the family party at the Annual Conference. It was a huge success! From the preparations, to the decorations, to the prizes, dance floor, to the clean-up...there was no stopping them! Everyone agrees a good time was had by all!
Thank you Rebekah Umar-Bashar, Anne-Marie Freitas, Rebecca Johnson,
Cadi Morse and Loretta Maldonado.
CONGRATULATIONS
ON A JOB WELL DONE!
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Attention Parents & Caregivers:
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Seeking Feedback from Family Members of Children Receiving Services from any System
The NYS Office of Mental Health, along with other state partners, families, youth, and advocacy organizations, is developing a family toolkit to provide easy to understand information on where to go when children are experiencing challenges and hints on how to decide what type of services might be most needed and appropriate to meet families’ needs. A particular focus will be for those children and youth that need services to address both mental health and developmental disabilities needs.
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Families Together in New York State stands with love, and support, of Buffalo and we grieve for the victims and their families.
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Statement provided by Kim Kaiser, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month & Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
(click to enlarge)
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FANS Technical Assistance Office Hours
Multiple Dates
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Overview of NYS
Office of Mental Health Field Offices
Wednesday, June 22nd
1:00-3:00 PM
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University of
Youth Power
June 24 - 27, 2022
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Artivism: Creative
& Empowered
For Change
July 23rd, 2022
2:00-5:00 PM
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The Invitation to Change Approach
July 27, 2022
Registration coming soon!
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2022 FTNYS End of Session Legislative Priorities
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With the close of this year's legislative budget season, we have many laws that we are urging the legislature to pass. For ease of access, below is a comprehensive list of the pieces of legislation we are currently working on, sorted by topic. You can also access an ongoing list here.
Juvenile Justice:
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Youth Justice and Opportunities Act S5749A/ A3536A: This bill would expand sealing protections for youth age 25 and younger who face the threat of permanent criminal convictions and adult prison sentences. See the one-pager.
Education:
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Solutions Not Suspensions Act S7198/A5197. This bill requires schools to use proven alternatives to suspension that correct misbehavior and keep kids in the classroom by requiring school codes of conduct to include restorative justice, prohibit suspensions of most K-3 students, and shorten the maximum suspension length from 180 days to 20. Sign on and act.
Mental Health:
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Create a Black Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force S3408/A1716. This legislation will create a Black suicide prevention task force to examine, evaluate and determine how to improve mental health and suicide prevention for New York’s Black residents aged 5 through 18.
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The merger of OASAS and OMH S5084C/A8379: This bill establishes the Office of Addiction and Mental Health Services.
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Form A Maternal Mental Health Workgroup S.7752/A.9085: This bill will direct the commissioner of mental health to establish a maternal mental health workgroup to study and issue recommendations related to maternal mental health and perinatal and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. See our memo.
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Create Joint OMH and DOH Disparate Impact Study on Post Partum Depression Screenings S.7753/A.9102: This bill would require the office of mental health and the department of health to conduct a study on the disparate impacts of postpartum depression screening tests.
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Maternal Depression Screening S.7865/A.5076-A: This bill would require maternal health care providers to offer a maternal depression screening to new mothers when providing prenatal, postnatal, and pediatric care for the mother’s child.
Child Welfare:
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Anti-Harassment in Reporting Act S7326/ A7879A. This bill will substantially cut down on malicious false reporting by requiring callers who make allegations of child abuse and neglect to provide their names. The law provides strict confidentiality to those who make reports and will deter some of those who would otherwise make false reports.
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Miranda Bill of Rights for Parents S5484B/A6792A: This bill would require CPS to inform parents and caretakers of their rights at the start of child protective investigations. This common-sense bill does not create any new rights. It simply ensures that parents and caregivers have information about existing rights so that they can make informed decisions for their families.
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Family Assessment Response Mandate in All Counties S5674/A7067: This bill would require counties to establish differential response programs for child protection assessments or investigations. Family Assessment Response is an alternative approach to child maltreatment that does not require an investigation and determination of allegations, but instead assesses the family’s needs and offers support.
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Assign Counsel to Indigent Kinship Caregivers in Family Court S6074A/A2581A: This bill would provide a free assigned counsel to indigent kinship caregiver petitions in custody and guardianship proceedings.
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Child Welfare Preventive Housing Subsidy S.5419-B/A.1777-B: This bill updates the value of rent subsidies available to families involved in the child welfare system and youth exiting the child welfare system from $300 to $725, including annual increases based on calculations tied to inflation, and extends the upper age limit that a young person exiting foster care can receive the benefit to 24.
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Informed Consent drug testing for Mothers and Newborns S4821A/A4285A: This bill would require healthcare providers to obtain informed consent before testing pregnant and perinatal people and their newborns in medical settings.
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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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Scholarships - We encourage the education and empowerment of young people with social, emotional, behavioral health, and cross-system challenges by offering scholarships to the University of Youth Power (UYP). If selected for a scholarship, you can attend UYP for FREE. Apply through the link below.
Exhibiting - Youth Power is seeking NYS organizations to table for the UYP Resource Fair. This year more than ever it is critical that youth receive information about your services to explore successful collaborations between New York State and Youth/Family Peer Support programs and health plans. Find out when the Resource Fair is through the link below.
Sponsorship - Become a sponsor! Your sponsorship will underwrite the registration fee for youth to attend UYP. Your logo will be on all written and virtual materials and on our webpage!
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AVAILABLE POSITION:
Western Region Youth Partner
APPLICATION PROCESS: Applicants must send a resume with a formal cover letter, outlining their 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
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Youth Peer Meetings Are Here for You!
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Join Our Peer Supervisors Meetings
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FREE Youth Recovery Institute Training!
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Mobilize Recovery Across America
National Bus Tour
September 5-18, 2022
Launching from Las Vegas during Labor Day weekend 2022, Mobilize Recovery Across America will depart on a west to east cross-country bus tour — highlighting the recovery experience that is so unique in different regions throughout America. The 14-day tour will travel 3,000 miles from the west coast — across the heartland — landing in New York City on September 18th.
End overdose. End addiction.
Inspire solutions for recovery.
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Knowledge Empowers You (KEY) Training
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Wednesday, May 25, 2022
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Transition age youth, especially those with mental health challenges, are a particularly vulnerable population. The developmental challenges of adolescence and early adulthood, as well as the transition from child-serving to
adult-serving systems can present many difficult choices that they often have to make with limited information or support.
Knowledge Empowers You (KEY) is a psychoeducational, workbook-based program with more than 20 sessions addressing a wide range of topics that are relevant to the lives of transition-age youth, ages 16-24. Topics include stress and coping, relationships, school and work, mental and physical health, and substance use. KEY was developed to be consistent with culturally responsive, trauma-informed and resilience building principles. It is designed to be implemented as a group intervention but can also be used individually.
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Peer Credentialing & Training 101 for OMH Providers: NY Certified Peer Specialist, Youth Peer Advocate Credential, Family Peer Advocate Credential
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June 8, 2022
11:30 AM to 1 PM
This webinar is intended for employers and prospective employers of Peer workers, including family, to learn about the training and certification/credentialing process for all three OMH Peer Credentials.
If you are an employer in an OMH-run program or in an Office of Mental Health-funded, -licensed, and -designated program, you'll want to attend this session to learn the requirements for employees in your agency and programs to become credentialed or certified. There are specific requirements that need to be met both by the people seeking certification or credentialing and by those who employ them.
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Peer Support Specialists: A Critical Component for SOAR Programs
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From outreach case managers to SOAR State Team Leads, Peer Support Specialists have been providing critical services to their SOAR programs by using their professional experience and lived expertise to connect with SOAR applicants since we began in 2005. The SAMHSA SOAR TA Center recognizes the value of lived expertise in the benefits acquisition process and in leadership roles.
In this previously held webinar, panelists shared best practice examples on how they have incorporated their lived expertise into SOAR work. You will learn more about “Peer Support Services” as an evidence-based model of care and how this model has been shown to be highly effective within SOAR initiatives throughout the country.
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Camp Get-A-Way is looking to add Members to their Board!
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For more information contact Ken Tangel, President at;
(585) 402-1094 or terebinthcounseling@gmail.com
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Access to quality, affordable health insurance is particularly important as we continue to confront a global pandemic. Nearly 99% of NY State of Health enrollees qualify for free or low-cost insurance that covers important benefits like doctor visits, mental health services, prescriptions and more. Enrollment for 2022 health coverage is still open for Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health. Enrollment for Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Essential Plan is open year-round. Financial help through the American Rescue Plan remains available through 2022 to help lower premium costs for eligible New Yorkers. Stay Connected to NY State of Health to avoid missing important health insurance updates.
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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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EMPOWERING FAMILIES. COORDINATING SYSTEMS.
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