COMMITTEE ON FAMILIES
MINUTES: FEBRUARY 14, 2005
MEMBERS: CHAIR: Andrea Stewart-Cousins, LEGISLATORS: Lois Bronz, Ursula LaMotte, James Maisano
IN ATTENDANCE: D.A.’S OFFICE: Judy Berger; WEST COP: Ellen Fanar; UNION CHILD DAY CARE: Carmen Guisto; OSSINING CHILDREN’S CENTER: Howard Milbert; DSS: Nancy Travers; WESCOFAPA: Ellen Lewis; Marie Dorelien; Gail Baxter; Bazelais Dorelien; Brenda Crump; CEO’S: Bill Randolph; STAFF: Sally Schecter
The meeting was called to order at 4:17 p.m. by Chair Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
The Committee has a copy of the CWLA status report dated December 20. Chair Stewart-Cousins expected a more definitive report by now. She asked Ms. Travers what is happening and when will the Committee receive the final report.
Ms. Travers said the Association is about one month behind with the final report. It is now expected by the end of February. When DSS receives it, CWLA will review it with the Commissioner and their recommendations. It will then be shared with the ninth floor and then the Board of Legislators. Chair Stewart-Cousins asked that she be informed when DSS receives the report.
Legislator LaMotte questioned Ms. Travers as to when they look at risk assessment. How do they categorize risk? There is a Risk Assessment Profile (RAP). The state has a whole list of questions that require answers seven days after a case is opened. If risk is high, services are put in place or the child is removed. If RAP is moderate, the supervisor makes a judgement call.
Ms. Travers was then asked about St. Christopher’s School. DSS is not placing children in the residential unit but they are in the non-secure unit. St. Christopher’s has submitted an action plan to New York State and they approved it. The residential unit is at Children’s Village and the children are placed by the Courts. The non-secure unit usually has children through the courts and from probation, children are from 10 to 18 and are there for a short term, for assessment. New York City not placing the children is not impacting a lot of children.
Legislator Bronz then introduced the child care providers who are experiencing a funding crises. Chair Stewart-Cousins explained that Legislator Bronz had called her and Chair Stewart-Cousins felt it was important to include these providers in this meeting because of slots not being filled due to recertification.
Mr. Milbert explained that there is a drop in child care because of the new state regulations concerning absentee parents – that the absentee parent must be sued and if they are not, they will not receive funds and so parents cannot afford to keep their children in day care. Other counties have not adopted these regulations yet as they are still in raw form but Westchester County has. Many parents are illegal and their immigration lawyers have told them not to sue as this might prejudice their case. So they are pulling their children out of regular day care and as a result the centers are loosing money and are on the verge of bankruptcy. Ossining is loosing approximately $20,000 a month and this is happening wherever there is subsidized care. Chair Cousins asked if the centers have lobbied the State and they have and will continue to do so. They feel that this is being done to trim the State budget. Other problems since May: if a child leaves at 3 o’clock, the center only gets reimbursed for ½ day slot even though the teacher has to stay until 5 or 6 o’clock; workers going to the house of an employer and asking to see their income tax to see if they can afford their help and because of this, employers are firing their help. Westchester also recertifies families every six months but it is not a state requirement. The state requires recertification every 12 months.
The directors of the Day Care Centers said they understand there is money left in the budget because all of the slots are not filled and they would like to know if they might have access to this to help them out of their problems.
Brenda Crump thanked the legislators for hearing and listening. Brenda Gwynn was reappointed to her position as liaison to foster parents. Some of the foster parents concerns: not being paid on time for all different reasons and foster parents have to carry this additional burden of the child and their expenses, some summer camps still haven’t been paid for last year, concerns about the pediatric clinic, and concerns about discharge plans, that children are not receiving them and foster parents are not being included in the planning.
The Commissioner came to a WESCOFAPA meeting in January. He informed the parents that the County will not contract with WIHD but with Riverdale and Dr. Frederick, but this hasn’t been settled yet. The parents are still going to 112 E. Post Road.
Chair Stewart-Cousins asked the group if they were happy with Dr. Frederick. They are and happy that the clinic is remaining at 112 E. Post Road. Chair Stewart-Cousins also pointed out that the group needs to make the legislators aware of what is happening with the foster parents as the legislators do not have investigators to keep them informed. Chair Stewart-Cousins asked Ms. Crump if she has spoken to the Commissioner about reimbursement. She indicated that the DSS is listening to them. Don Wiede came to their Executive Board meeting on January 10 and the Commissioner came to their general meeting on January 20.
Chair Stewart-Cousins ended the meeting by thanking Brenda Crump for her strong leadership and thanking all for taking the time to come to the meeting.
On the motion of Legislator Bronz, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
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