ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
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.
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