OCFS Announces $4.4 Million for Family Enrichment

RENSSELAER, NY (04/23/2007)(readMedia)-- New York State Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) Commissioner Gladys Carrion, Esq., today announced the award of nearly $4.4 million in grants to 23 community agencies across New York State for preventive services for at-risk families who are not yet in the child welfare system.

The grants are being awarded through the Safe Alternatives for Family Enrichment (SAFE) initiative, a program administered by OCFS.

"It is imperative that we reach families and youth in need and provide them with support early on and often," said Commissioner Carrion. "Our goal is for all New York State youth to reach their full potential and become healthy, productive adults. The SAFE initiative provides an intervention strategy for families in disadvantaged communities, and supports a solution to the problems associated with the lack of services and options available to at-risk youth and their families."

Funded programs will provide after school activities that include recreation, tutoring, counseling and advocacy; mental health and substance abuse treatment; and training in employment skills that will translate to the current market.

To further strengthen programs and services that help prevent youth from entering the child welfare system, OCFS recently announced the implementation of the Safe Mentoring Act, a new law that became effective April 1, 2007. Under the Safe Mentoring Act, mentoring programs have the opportunity to conduct criminal background checks on prospective employees and mentors. The act also requires mentoring programs to give parents of participants a description of the kind of criminal background checks conducted by the mentoring program on its prospective employees and mentors.

On April 20, Governor Spitzer announced his Children's Agenda, a comprehensive strategy to ensure that all of New York's children are given an equal opportunity for success.

In addition, OCFS urges and encourages anyone suspecting child abuse or neglect to call the State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). The SCR's statewide toll-free telephone number is 1-800-342-3720. Individuals are urged to call local law enforcement authorities if a child is thought to be in immediate danger.

For information on adoption, adult services, family assistance and child care, call the New York State Parent and Kin Connection Help Line at 1-800-345-KIDS (5437). Information about preventive services for families and youth can be found on the OCFS website: www.ocfs.state.ny.us.

Grant recipients, listed by county:

Albany County

LaSalle School $150,000

Parsons Child and Family Center $150,000

Cattaraugus County

Cattaraugus Community Action $150,000

Erie County

Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo $150,000

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Northtowns of Western New York $150,000

United Way of Buffalo and Erie County $149,999

Kings County

Builders for the Family and Youth Diocese of Brooklyn $279,000

Grand Street Settlement $279,000

Groundwork $244,474

HELP Social Services $246,580

New York County

Harlem Children's Zone $279,000

The Fortune Society $279,000

Monroe County

Catholic Family Center $150,000

Urban League of Rochester $150,000

Nassau County

Hispanic Counseling Center $139,500

Oneida County

The House of the Good Shepherd $150,000

Onondaga County

New Justice Conflict Resolution Services $149,500

Ontario County

Partnership for Ontario County $149,472

Oswego County

Oswego County Opportunities $150,000

Queens County

Latin Technologies $279,000

Safe Space NYC $279,000

Ulster County

Family of Woodstock $139,500

Westchester County

The Children's Village $139,500

Total $4,382,525

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Posted Monday April 23, 2007 at 02:16 pm by New York State Office of Children & Family Services