The Finger Lakes region will get more than $1.8 million—out of a total of $17.2 million—through New York’s Family-Centered Services initiative. These funds are expected to be used to bolster social services to help vulnerable families achieve financial stability.
The funding will enable social services departments in New York to increase capacity to meet needs of low-income families.
“We’re strengthening the critical resources that help struggling New Yorkers meet their essential needs and transition to economic security,” says Gov. Kathy Hochul. “By giving local social services departments the funding to hire more staff and bolster operations, we can bring more families out of poverty and into a brighter future.”
The Family-Centered Services initiative focuses on the challenges of family poverty. By assisting social services departments, trained staff will be able to provide targeted interventions that support the whole family. This includes assisting families with complex needs such as mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, substance-use disorders and those experiencing homelessness or domestic violence, state officials say.
“With Rochester being home to three out of the top five poorest ZIP codes in all of New York State, many of our families struggle to make ends meet and depend on public assistance for their most basic necessities,” says Assemblyman Demond Meeks. We must continue to strengthen the resources that help our most vulnerable children and families achieve stability.”
Local departments can hire one to seven full-time experienced or credentialed staff, depending on a county’s case load. New staff will provide case management services such as in-depth assessments, crisis intervention, resource navigation and peer support that offer stability to families. Each department can tailor services to their locality’s needs. For instance, some might help with paths to employment while others might assist with homelessness.
Assemblymember Sarah Clark expressed her appreciation for funds allocated to the Finger Lakes region.
“Ensuring Monroe County and other local social services departments have staff assisting families facing housing instability, domestic violence, mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse is a vital component to lifting families and children out of poverty,” Clark says.
Lori VanAuken, president and CEO of Catholic Charities Family and Community Services, also expressed her support.
“We are thrilled that additional resources are coming into our community to support families as they work toward greater financial security,” VanAuken says. “As an agency that has historically served families living in poverty, funding of this magnitude can make a transformational difference to the lives of the people we serve. We look forward to our continued partnership with New York State and our local Department of Human Services.”
Here is a list of the other regions that received funding:
■ Capital region: $1.98 million
■ Central New York: $1.65 million
■ Long Island: $1.32 million
■ Mid-Hudson: $2.48 million
■ Mohawk Valley: $1.32 million
■ New York City: $1.15 million
■ North Country: $1.23 million
■ Southern Tier: $1.65 million
■ Western New York: $2.48 million
In February, the city of Rochester was awarded $25 million in state funds to fight poverty.
Smriti Jacob is Rochester Beacon managing editor. The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. Submissions to the Letters page should be sent to [email protected].