A Message from Deputy Commissioner Gail Geohagen-Pratt
Ah, summertime! The temperatures rise, days are longer, and the sun shines brighter. There’s a feeling of joy and a sense of freedom that floats on the summer air. Children laugh and play outside and pretend to fly. That’s the feeling I wish for all of you this summer – the feeling that you can soar to great heights, both personally and professionally.
This can be an exciting time for children. Final projects are turned in, desks cleaned out, and the classroom doors are closed… summer has arrived! For many families, there is much to anticipate: sleeping in, vacations, and camps. But for foster families, it is often a season of uncertainty as the children in care adjust to a new daily routine, away from the structure school typically provides. The change in routine affects children in a variety of ways, emotionally and behaviorally. Recent reunifications of children and parents can also be an uncertain time for the family, as they work on relationships and establish new family dynamics. The families we serve may need extra support during these times of transition.
June is National Reunification Month, when we celebrate and uplift the importance of the reunification of families. Family reunification and strengthening are among our top goals as we continue our work toward the transformation of child welfare and the initiatives born out of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). FFPSA provided opportunities for us to rethink and change how and where we provide services to children and families. Especially children in foster care.
Kinship care is key to child welfare improvement and better outcomes for children. At a recent U.S. Senate hearing, many states spoke about the importance of kinship care and the need to support Kinship Navigators. One state represented at the hearing has been able to increase kinship placements to 70% of all children entering foster care!
Currently, about 40% of NYS children in foster care are placed with kin. There are many avenues we can take to increase kinship care. Utilizing the blind removal process may prevent or reduce removals impacting Black and brown families, and the Kinship Firewall may keep children with kin or fictive kin when removal is necessary. Research shows that, when placed with kin/ fictive kin, children in foster care experience less trauma, experience greater overall well-being, and are more likely to be reunified with their parents or achieve permanency. In some cases, we can prevent families from being separated in the first place by helping them to access concrete supports. For example, many needed resources can be accessed via the HEARS line or through CarePortal.
If we use all these tools we have collectively created, we will surely make a positive difference. And while we still have work to do, I recognize the diligence and passion with which our child welfare workforce approaches this work every day. Our determination and compassion for those we serve will help us reach our goals.
There is so much to think about, to plan and to do, and on that to-do list we must include time for self-care. We all need time to rest and restore our energy so we can be our best selves. Summertime can offer relaxing, restorative times that enable us to heal ourselves – which enables us to help others.
I wish you all a fantastic summer filled with joy, relaxation and rejuvenation, and the space to make wonderful memories with family and loved ones that last a lifetime.
This Month's News
- New Film Highlights Heroes of Adult Protective Services
- OCFS Honors SCR for 50+ Years of Protecting Children
- OCFS Marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month
- OCFS Participates in First-Ever CarePortal Conference
- Child Advocacy Center Honors “Hero of the Year”
- New Initiatives Focus on Child Welfare Workforce Recruitment and Retention
- Social Media Influencer and Advocate Charell Star Shares Personal Account About Foster Families At National Foster Care Month Event
- Heart Gallery NY Partners with Bank of Greene County
- Healthy Families NY Begins Re-Accreditation Process
- Healthy Families NY Shares Career Information With SUNY Cobleskill Students
- Empire State Plaza Exhibit Recognizes Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Week
- Spring Parent Advisory Board Held in May