Annual Conference
May 1st-2nd, 2022
|
|
Marriott Albany
189 Wolf Rd,
Albany, NY 12205
|
|
April, 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:
|
WANTED
FTNYS BOARD MEMBERS
|
Have you had multiple systems involvement?
Do you have grassroots outreach and community organizing experience?
Do you have prior knowledge of and have served on a board before?
Are you interested in serving on a board again?
FTNYS is seeking a diverse group of voices including those who represent historically marginalized communities and/or have experience within these communities with a focus on Black, African American, Latin/Hispanic, Indigenous, Immigrant, AAPI communities, LGBTQIA and those for whom English is not their first language.
If you are interested in becoming a member or nominating someone to the Board, or have any questions, please feel free to contact Laurie Rivera at lrivera@ftnys.org
|
|
FANS Technical Assistance Office Hours
Multiple Dates
|
Restorative Justice Collaborative Discussion
April 20th & 22nd, 2022
12:00 - 2:00 PM
|
2022 Annual Conference
May 1st & 2nd, 2022
|
What's Great in Our State
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022
9:30 PM to 2:30 PM
|
University of
Youth Power
June 24th - 27th, 2022
|
Registration information coming soon
|
|
Highlights from the FY 2023 Enacted NYS Budget
|
This year's budget season came to a close over the weekend- and it was quite the ride.
After a thorough review of Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted Budget, despite serious disappointments in the child welfare space, we certainly have a lot to celebrate. In a bold departure from previous years, this budget addresses many of our key priorities around children and family wellbeing including substantial investments in the human services workforce, student mental health, and child care expansion. Furthermore, we advanced telehealth rate parity to promote personal choice in service delivery. And despite last-minute efforts by the Governor to rollback criminal justice reforms, we successfully defended the Raise the Age (RTA) statute.
All of our collective advocacy efforts over the past few months (and years) played a huge roll in this outcome. We are especially grateful for the courage and tenacity of parents and young people who chose to play a more public role, speaking to public officials and the press about their experiences. You are an inspiration to us all.
So! Please take a moment to savor this moment and reflect on what is possible when communities step into their power. Then, let's prepare for what could be an equally eventful post-budget legislative session as we continue to defend RTA, advance bills that would narrow the front door of child welfare, reduce congregate care for young people in foster care, prioritize solutions over suspensions for students, create new opportunities for record sealing for young adults, and more!
Our Budget Highlights:
- 5.4% COLA that can be used for operating expenses, including salaries. The majority of programs licensed under the following agencies qualify for the COLA: OMH, OASAS, OPWDD, OCFS, NYSOFA, and OTDA, but does no include the Health Home Care Management Program nor the New York State Supportive Housing Program.
- Workforce bonuses for frontline health care workers: $1.2 billion is allocated for bonuses up to $3,000 for health care and mental hygiene workers who make up to $125,000 per year.
- $50M each year for the next two years for student mental health.
- $35 million for the 988-suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline
- $119 million for services and expenses related to reinvestment for the expansion of community hubs and voluntary operated services for children and adults
- Expands Child Health Plus to include Medicaid behavioral health services including Children and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS)
- Rate Parity between telehealth and in-person services covered by Medicaid, commercial insurers, and health plans.
-
$7 billion over 4 years to expand childcare including raising the eligibility of childcare subsidies to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) but no more than 85% of the state's median income.
- Raise the Age is preserved with minor adjustments:
- Closes a jurisdictional “gap,” by giving family court jurisdiction over those arraigned as adults for a crime allegedly committed before they turned 18
- mandates community-based treatment referrals for youth released from family court.
- Provides OASAS with $1.2 billion including opioid settlement money to expand treatment, harm reduction, prevention, public awareness, opioid settlement, crisis services, and recovery supports.
- No new investments in KinGAP, restoration of 65/35 child welfare prevention, improved payments for foster parents, or creation of an Office of the Child Welfare Advocate.
|
STATEMENTS FROM OUR CAMPAIGNS
|
|
Resources for families affected by COVID-19; Prioritizing mental and physical health while staying home.
Families Together is here to help.
|
|
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.
|
|
Welcome to the team, Laura Romanoff, Jackie Turner, and Katlyn Whatman! Justice will serve as our new Hudson River Regional Youth Partner.
Katlyn will serve as our Central Regional Youth Partner. Laura will serve as our Long Island Regional Youth Partner!
|
UYP22 Call for Professors has been EXTENDED!
|
AVAILABLE POSITION:
TEMPORARY- Part-time - 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.
|
Join the Youth Power Advisory Council
|
Youth Peer Meetings Are Here for You!
|
Join Our Peer Supervisors Meetings
|
Peer Participation in High Fidelity Wraparound,
Sponsored Free Training
|
FREE Youth Recovery Institute Training!
|
|
Youth Peer Advocate
4-Day Virtual Training
|
Don't miss the next Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) Level 2 virtual training! Pre-register only if….
- You hold a YPA Provisional Credential.
- You completed all of the YPA Level 2 online modules.
- You are employed as a YPA providing Youth Peer Support.
Availability is limited to the first 12-16 eligible pre-registrants. This training satisfies "step 4" of the pathway to a YPA Professional Credential.
|
Family Driven Care
Learning Community:
Partners in Care
(May 2022 - August 2022)
|
Are you interested in helping your organization become more family driven regarding policies and practices to improve the involvement, engagement, and improved outcomes of families?
If so, please consider completing an online application to join CTAC's Learning Community, a free 4-month long initiative, no later than Wednesday, April 27th, 2022.
A short informational video is available describing the core implementation team, activities, and organizational self-assessment.
|
Family Peer Advocate
4-Day Virtual Training
|
Don't miss the next Family Peer Advocate (FPA) Level 2 virtual training! Pre-register only if….
- You hold a FPA Provisional Credential.
- You completed all of the FPA Level 2 online modules.
- You are employed as a FPA providing Family Peer Support Services.
Availability is limited to the first 12 eligible pre-registrants. This training satisfies "step 4" of the pathway to a FPA Professional Credential.
|
The justice system has grown and changed over time. Having a youth or young adult in the justice system can be scary. This National Family Support TAC webinar will focus on ways to engage families in the justice system, teach parents/caregivers how to advocate for young people and offer lived experiences as examples of successful outcomes.
Wed, April 20, 2022
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
|
Children's Mental Health Awareness 5K Walk
May 7th, 2022
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
|
Breaking the Cycle: Families Supporting Youth in the Justice System
|
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.
Text START to 1-866-988-0327 to subscribe.
|
New York’s FREE and confidential COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline
1-844-863-9314
8:00am – 10:00pm / 7 Days per week
|
Camp Get-A-Way is looking to add Members to their Board!
|
For more information contact Ken Tangel, President at;
(585) 402-1094 or terebinthcounseling@gmail.com
|
|
MEET OUR PARTNERS...
The Parent Advocates from the Early Childhood Treatment Centers (ECTC) at The Jewish Board have created a shared space to have an important conversation about the selfless sacrifice of caregiving. As a caregiver, your life changes overnight. You face endless amounts of physical demands, emotional stress, and financial strain. Your reality becomes the non-negotiable responsibility of someone else’s life. At times it may feel as though it is only with love that you keep going. They are here to tell you… They understand!
Caregivers are a resilient group of people. But you don’t have to do it alone. The goal and vision of this group is to create a compassionate community space where you can lay down your heavy load with others who understand and can provide support. Our weekly group “A Safe Space Support Group” will begin on Friday May 13th, 2022 and run for 4 weeks until June 3rd from 10am-11am on Zoom.
To register please click here:
If you have questions regarding group or registration please do not hesitate to contact us at the contact information below.
|
|
Edwin Gonzalez
Cell: 347-291-7886
|
|
Ruth Talavera
Cell: 929-383-8446
|
|
|
EMPOWERING FAMILIES. COORDINATING SYSTEMS.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|