Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA)

COFCCA warmly congratulates our friend, Suzanne Miles-Gustave, on this great news of her appointment as New York City’s Deputy Mayor of Health & Human Services! We look forward to working with Suzanne in this new role. https://lnkd.in/eU3KZ8w8

?? ?? It’s advocacy season… ???? Pick up the phone! ?? CALL TO ACTION- Human Services Cost of Living Adjustment (Targeted Inflationary Increase) WHAT: Please call your legislators this week requesting a flexible 7.8 % inflationary rate and contract increase for BOTH wages and operating expenses for human services providers (previously the Human Services COLA). WHO: Senate Majority Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins- (518) 455-2585 Assembly Speaker, Carl Heastie- (518) 455-3791 WHEN: Throughout this week. HOW: “Please support a 7.8% inflationary increase in rates for Human Services providers to support staff and operations in your One House budget. Without this additional funding, countless adults, children, and families will not get the services and support they desperately need. Please ensure that the funding includes prevention programs and health homes serving children as proposed in S.1580 (Persaud) /A.2590 (Hevesi) and that Voluntary Foster Care Agencies can fully realize the investment as proposed in A.718 (Hevesi).”

Congratulations to our friend Raysa S. Rodriguez & to Citizens' Committee for Children of New York on a wonderful choice! We are looking forward to our continued shared work and partnership together & applaud Raysa’s leadership!

A reminder this weekend, the Heartline is available for youth ages 14-21 who are in, or have recently left foster care. Through contracts implemented by our Program Management team at YRI, we were able to support the work between OCFS and Bravehearts to launch this innovative and important project. We look forward to seeing the success of the peer-to-peer support provided by Bravehearts M.O.V.E.? #hearts #support #connect?

This week, COFCCA's Michelle Newman, along with Bill Gettman, CEO of Northern Rivers Family of Services, testified for the NYS Human Services Joint Legislative Public Hearing on the 2025 Executive Budget. COFCCA's testimony focused on increasing investments in the human services workforce, enhancing career pathways in child welfare, establishing a foster care liability insurance risk pool, and maximizing federal Title IV-E funding under the Family First Prevention Services Act and reinvesting savings back into community services, among other items. Read our full written testimony here: https://lnkd.in/e7JJ-diQ and watch here: https://lnkd.in/e-z3JvUe - Michelle's testimony begins around the 6:52 mark.

Graham staff recently took a trip to the New York State Capitol to speak with elected officials about Graham's initiatives in the child welfare space. We joined with Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA) and our peer organizations to advocate for policies that support New York families as well as our staff. A big thank you to all the elected officials we met with, including Senator Ryan, Senator May, Harry Bronson, Assemblymember Magnarelli, Assemblymember Hevesi, Michaelle Solages, Assemblymember Berger, Assemblymember Rivera, Jennifer Lunsford, James Skoufis, and Jeremy Cooney. We appreciate your support for our work! #Graham #Advocacy #GrahamAdvocacy #ChildWelfare #HumanServices #CommunityImpact #MakeADifference #NYCNonProfit #CommunityOrganization?

Advocating for child welfare isn’t just about policies—it’s about real people, real families, and the dedicated professionals working tirelessly to make a difference. ?? Our team joined COFCCA at Lobby Day in Albany to share powerful stories with legislators, pushing for the support our communities and our workforce desperately need. From financial aid to student loan forgiveness, investing in child welfare professionals means investing in stronger families and brighter futures. ?? Read what Peri of our Prevention Team had to say about this impactful experience ?? "Advocating with COFCCA at Lobby Day in Albany was a powerful experience—an opportunity to share real stories with legislators and their staff that highlight the critical work we do. It’s not just about advocating for the families and communities we serve; it’s also about ensuring that those of us who dedicate our lives to child welfare have the support we need to continue making a difference. Our team spoke passionately about the urgent need for financial aid and student loan forgiveness for child welfare professionals. We are deeply committed to this work, yet the burden of student debt is one of the biggest reasons talented, passionate individuals leave the field. Investing in us means investing in stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger future for every child in our care." Pictured are the following TFY team members: Peri Smith, LaShaunda Motley, Taylor Einterz, Freddie Sumter, Shelby Kania, Charles Myers, and Emily Torres

COFCCA joined our county partners at the New York Public Welfare Association Winter Conference this week, always a great opportunity to discuss shared priorities amongst New York’s counties & nonprofit voluntary agency partners. COFCCA’s Michelle Newman led a session entitled “Collaborative Approaches to Serving Cross Systems Youth” together with COFCCA Board members, Children's Home of Poughkeepsie Executive Director Walt Joseph & LaSalle School Executive Director David Wallace, LCSW-R, & Ulster County Department of Mental Health Commissioner Tara McDonald. COFCCA’s President & CEO, Kathleen Brady-Stepien caught up with Westchester County’s DSS First Deputy Commissioner, John Befus, Montgomery County DSS Commissioner Matt Beck, Northern Rivers Family of Services CEO, Bill Gettman, & NYS Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner DaMia Harris-Madden. Thanks, NYPWA, for another great conference!

On Monday, members of the Children’s Home leadership team joined Kathleen Brady-Stepien, MSW and Michelle Newman of Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA) for a Day of Advocacy in Albany. We’re grateful to Senator Rob Rolison, Assemblyman Anil Beephan, and all of the government officials who met with us to discuss critical initiatives that will affect the youth and families we serve. #cofccadayofaction #cofcca #dayofaction #advocatingforyouth #advocacy #advocates #advocacymatters

I was honored to represent Vanderheyden at the annual Lobby Day of the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA). It is essential we advocate and make our voices heard during these uncertain times in human services. Did you know.... Statewide, the average Child Care Worker only makes $5,000 more a year than someone making minimum wage? At Vanderheyden, over half of our youth are referred to us from NYC Department of Education. These school districts are in desperation - Oversaturated and overwhelmed with youth needing assistance they do not have the resources to provide. On average, Vanderheyden has over 100 youth at a time on waiting lists for services. We need a 7.8% increase in funding for human services! Let us work together to give our Child Care Workers the benefits they need, and our youth the quality of life they deserve.