Office of Children & Family Services Commissioner Carrión Testifies

ALBANY, NY (02/05/2008)(readMedia)-- Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Gladys Carrión, Esq., outlined needed improvements for the state’s children, families, and vulnerable adults in her testimony today before the New York State Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee.

The agency’s proposed $3.7 billion budget is consistent with Governor Eliot Spitzer’s priorities for fundamental change, transparency, and improved accountability. It maintains critical funding to programs that protect children and prevent child abuse and neglect, and supports community-based preventive services.

To meet the special needs of the state’s most vulnerable children, there is funding for 610 slots for the new Bridges to Health program, a first-of-its-kind Medicaid waiver program to provide wrap-around services to the most difficult-to-serve children in foster care.

The budget also helps transform the state’s juvenile justice system, providing troubled children with supports and services closer to their families and communities. The recently announced downsizing and closing of selected facilities will result in savings, a portion of which will be reinvested into community-based alternatives to incarceration that better address the needs of troubled children.

The budget continues nearly $28 million in the Advantage After School Program, funding about 26,000 students at 277 program sites. Quality child care is a top priority.

The proposed budget also provides $17 million to modernize the outdated CONNECTIONS system, which manages local child welfare information. The improvements will allow caseworkers to spend more time working directly with children and families.

Commissioner Carrión’s budget testimony can be read in its entirety on the agency website: www.ocfs.state.ny.us