As a result of the Coalition's lawsuit, families all over the state are seeing increases in foster care boarding rates. Previously, the state set a minimum and a maximum rate and each county could set the rate based on their budget. The lawsuit has eliminated that range and now each county must pay a standard base rate.
Re: Anti-Harassment in Reporting Bill (S902/A2479) We, the undersigned are in support of S902/A2479 (previously A7879/S7326), the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Bill. Many of our [...]
Raise the Age Coalition Slams Proposals to Roll Back Historic Youth Justice Legislation Calls for Real Solutions to Gun Violence, not Scapegoating Teenagers Statement from Children’s Defense Fund-NY, Citizens Committee for Children, Youth Represent, and Families Together on behalf of the Raise the Age Coalition.... In response to reports of last-minute proposals to include rollbacks to New York’s Raise the Age legislation in state budget negotiations, the Raise the Age Coalition calls on the Governor and legislative leaders to reject any proposals to dilute the historic youth justice law and to advance and invest in public safety solutions that address the root causes of gun violence. Rolling back reforms that are working for young people and communities is not the remedy.
On February 17, 2022, Senator Jabari Brisport and Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi, along with dozens of elected officials, sent Governor Kathy Hochul The Children and Families Reinvestment Act proposal. This proposed legislation, which has not yet been introduced, would provide increased funding to the state’s child welfare system. The Coalition is proud to endorse this proposed legislation and have affixed our name to the letter.
Help us make a difference by urging New York's leaders to establish and fund an independent Office of the Child Welfare Advocate (A.6269-A)
Changes coming: Initial increases ranging from 20% to 46% in the monthly stipend for children in foster care starting on April 1, 2022. An increase, on average, of 25% in support for the care of children with special needs, and an implementation of a new “extraordinary” rate. Annual adjustments of all rates to keep them in line with inflation. These new rates will apply to all KinGap Guardianship families.
Establishes the office of the child welfare advocate to provide support to youth, biological parents, kinship caregivers and foster parents including prospective kinship caregivers or foster parents.
On December 31, 2021; Governor Kathy Hochul VETOED S6357 (The Preserving Family Bonds Act). This bill, which the AFFCNY opposed, would have established procedures regarding orders of post- adoption finalization visitation.
On December 29,2021, Governor Hochul signed into law legislation that raises the lower age of juvenile delinquency jurisdiction from seven to twelve years of age; establishes differential response programs for children under the age of twelve.
On December 22,2021, Governor Hochul signed into law legislation that adds additional services or supports for youths who were previously in the foster care system and deals with the reentry of former foster care children back into the foster care system.
