New York State Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) Commissioner Gladys Carrión, 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 Carrión. "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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