December, 2020
The Voice is Families Together in New York State's Newsletter. We will continue to update you on a monthly basis 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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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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Join the FTNYS Team!
Regional Youth Partner Positions in Hudson River and NYC
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There are two openings in Families Together in NYS, Inc., Youth Power, which is the statewide network of young people who have been labeled and are seeking change. |
2020 FTNYS Digital Advocacy Center
Stay home. Stay Healthy. Take action.
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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The Families Together team wishes you a healthy and happy holiday season! |
The ABC's of School Refusal
Wednesday,
December 16th
9:30am-11:00am
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Human Trafficking 101
Monday, January 11th, 2021
3:00pm - 4:00pm
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Navigating Mental Health in LGBTQ+
Community
Tuesday, February 9th, 2021
2:00pm - 3:00pm
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Understanding Gender
Thursday, March 11th, 2021
2:00pm - 3:00pm
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FTNYS Joins Call to Get Mental Health Workers Vaccinated
Families Together, together with our partners, have signed onto a letter urging Governor Cuomo to identify mental health and substance use staff as essential workers while finalizing the plan for vaccine distribution. This will protect these essential healthcare providers who are at risk for COVID-19, and allow them to keep helping with rising mental illness and substance use.
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NY Families Say "No Cuts" to Behavioral Health
COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the mental and emotional wellbeing of children.
Yet without federal relief or new revenue, New York is at risk of making devastating cuts to a behavioral health system that is already underfunded.
Families Together interviewed parents and young people who are speaking out about the negative impacts this will have on New York families and communities.
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New Executive Order Extends Telehealth Access
On December 2, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.79, which extends the relaxing of telehealth regulations for OMH programs until January 1, 2021, and allows for easier telehealth access for families and youth.
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Do you know...
Which Board member was one of the FPAs that was involved with the original curriculum development and was a trainer of PEP (Parent Empowerment Program) as well as a contributor to the PEP online training?
Board President
Geraldine “Jerry” Burton,
of the Bronx, NY.
As a veteran mental health advocate and a pioneer of the mental health family support movement in New York State, Geraldine is committed to the principles of collaboration, partnership, and cooperation with service agencies and with the research community. She works at the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research and is involved with the McSilver Institute’s Clinical Education and Innovation Department (CEID) and Community Technical Assistance Center (CTAC) teams to plan and implement a series of offerings supporting mental health clinical and family peer support providers and other related programs.
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What Parent Advisor brought her business sense to the Family Support World? |
Pam Brannan is a mother and grandmother with lived experience raising a child and grandchild with social, emotional and behavioral needs. She has both personal and professional experience within the OMH, OCFS, OPWDD and OASAS systems. She has worked for 17 years as a Family Advocate along with managing a Community Based Family Support Program. She is a co-founder and previous President of Camp Get-a-Way located in Western NY.
New Yorkers can now take free online courses through Coursera.
In partnership with Coursera, Gov. Cuomo has launched a free online platform for New Yorkers to learn new job skills, earn certificates and advance their careers. At a time when unemployment has risen due to the pandemic, we hope these online courses will help New Yorkers get back on their feet. So, whether you're unemployed, underemployed, or are simply interested in learning new skills, check it out and sign up.
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Join the Youth Power Advisory Council |
Families Together in New York State values the work and the contribution of youth & young adults within the peer workforce. Youth Power would like to acknowledge the passion, dedication, and perseverance of Doug Hahn, YPA of our Western Region.
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Doug is a 23 years old Youth Peer Advocate at The Mental Health Advocates of Western New York. He has lived experience in the mental health system starting at the age of 9 when receiving a diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Thank you Doug for all the amazing work you do. Congratulations on being our first Spotlight of The Month!
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Peer Leaders Support & Development |
PLSD (Peer Leaders Support & Development) is a mutual support group for young peer leaders and advocates. Young leaders will get support from fellow youth advocates and learn from their experiences. The group will also include skill development opportunities. This support should enhance each member’s ability to be an effective peer leader.
Central & Hudson River Region- January 8th, 2021
Western Region- January 8th, 2021
Long Island Region- January 11th, 2021
NYC Region- January 7th, 2021 *Contact Long Island RYP*
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Youth Peer Advocate Leaders |
YPAL brings together YPA supervisors and organizational leaders. In these quarterly meetings, we address topics geared towards supervising the peer workforce by:
- Addressing common challenges
- Sharing ideas, resources, and events
- Successfully implement and sustain youth peer services
Hudson River & Central Region: Friday, January 7th, 2021
Western Region: January 21st, 2021
Long Island Region & NYC Region: Thursday, January 14th, 2021 at 3:00 pm
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Free to Be, our podcast for all things LGBTQ+ youth, will be releasing a new episode towards the end of this month! The show had to go on a brief hiatus due to staff personal reasons, which is why there was no episode last month. We will be resuming our regularly scheduled monthly release toward the end of December, so stay tuned!
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PEP 4-Day
Virtual Training
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Don't miss the first Parent Empowerment Program training of 2021! Pre-register only if….
- You hold a FPA Provisional Credential.
- You completed all of the PEP Level 2 online modules.
- You are employed as a FPA providing FPSS.
Availability is limited to the first 12 eligible pre-registrants. This training satisfies "step 4" of the pathway to a FPA Professional Credential.
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Youth Monthly Consultation from Pathways RTC |
Topic: Creating Self-Care Plans
Date: December 17, 2020
Time: 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET
The holidays are often a confusing and challenging time for youth involved in systems, and young people can benefit from having a self-care plan. We will cover conversational strategies to approach this topic with youth and how to normalize the process of creating a self-care plan.
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Parents of Transgender youth have an important message for new parents starting their journey. |
These parents are part of HRC Foundation's Parents for Transgender Equality National Council. The council is a coalition of some of the nation's leading parent-advocates working for equality and fairness for transgender people, with the intention of connecting, mobilizing, and amplifying many of the most powerful voices of love, inclusion, and support for transgender equality. |
Financial Empowerment for Youth Who Age Out of Foster Care |
When youths get close to aging out of foster care, it’s important to plan for emancipation. Aging out of foster care — or emancipating — is the termination of court jurisdiction over youths formally in foster care. U.S. federal law requires a transition plan to be established six months before a youth’s 18th birthday, but this is a crucial time to plan to ensure a youth's success and financial future. |
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EMPOWERING FAMILIES. COORDINATING SYSTEMS.
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