NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUBJECT:
Reauthorization of Child Welfare Financing

PURPOSE:
To examine child welfare financing funding streams and programs in order to inform reauthorization discussions in SFY 2012-13.

Monday, September 19, 2011
10:00 a.m.
Hamilton Hearing Room B
Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor
Albany, NY

Chapter 83 of the Laws of 2002 established what is known as child welfare financing, with the intent to reduce foster care rates by encouraging the use of preventive services. The three major components of child welfare financing are: a capped Foster Care Block Grant, open-ended State reimbursement for preventive services and a Quality Enhancement Fund used to increase the availability and quality of children and family services programs. Since its enactment, localities have utilized these funding streams to establish and expand vital programs aimed at keeping families together and keeping children out of foster care, as well as the juvenile justice system.

Child welfare financing is set to expire on June 30, 2012. The Committee is interested in gathering information from stakeholders on ways to improve and maximize these funding streams, so as to most effectively reach children and families that are at risk or in need of services.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.

Ten (10) copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the New York State Senate and Assembly have made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Senate and Assembly facilities and activities.

Amy Paulin
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Children and Families


PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on the Reauthorization of Child Welfare Financing are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

Naomi Schultz
Analyst
Assembly Committee on Children and Families
Room 522 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: schultzn@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4371
Fax: (518) 455-4693
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I plan to attend the following public hearing on the Reauthorization of Child Welfare Financing to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Children and Families.
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I plan to make a public statement at the hearing on the Reauthorization of Child Welfare Financing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

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I do not plan to attend the above hearing.
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I would like to be added to the Committee mailing list for notices and reports.
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I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list.
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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:

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