OCFS Agency Newsletter

Dear colleagues,

The first 90 days of serving New York State and leaning into my role as Commissioner have reminded me of a key attribute which we all share – resilience. The emergent situations for many of the staff are unavoidable, yet there are thousands of dedicated staff who are deeply committed to the work and cultivating positive experiences for those who rely on them. Despite the challenges we have been facing with staff shortages, your resiliency and fidelity to advancing the agency’s mission are admirable.

Resilience, for both the children, youth and families we serve and the professionals who work with them, requires empathy, steadiness and navigation through emotional, physical and intellectual provoking obstacles. This month, we have many examples where resilience was embodied and yielded positive results. From the resolution of technology challenges during the roll-out of two major child care initiatives to high school graduations for youth in various systems, we have shown resilience and perseverance.

I am exceedingly proud of the youth in Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) facilities who are working to build a better future for themselves by completing their high school education. I am equally proud of the youth who are on route to college or trade school despite the adversity they may have experienced in foster care. Research suggests approximately 50% of youth in foster care graduate from high school. However, for the 50% that do graduate, we must applaud their efforts. Let us also uplift graduates of the EMPOWER program, located at the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie, who have experienced the trauma of sex trafficking. These examples are no small feat.

The Pre-College Visions program, funded by the New York State Commission for the Blind, at Manhattanville University is another example of where our youth have demonstrated resilience. The program boasted a record number of visually impaired high school sophomores and juniors who spent one week at the university preparing for college and independent living. Having observed their problem-solving and articulation during their pre-college courses, I thought to myself, that is resilience!

Next, I would also like to extend my appreciation to everyone who worked so hard to make the launch of the two new child care initiatives a success. The Child Care Assistance Program currently helps more than 125,000 children statewide. The new, online child care application – announced recently by Governor Kathy Hochul – is already encouraging additional families to apply for this state-funded assistance. About 800 new applications are currently in progress and 195 applications are currently under local district review, as of July 31. The second initiative, the direct deposit option for child care providers, was rolled out to 10 counties and will eventually be expanded to the rest of the state.

Finally, I am looking forward to OCFS’s participation at the Great New York State Fair and I thank everyone who has stepped forward to staff our agency’s booth. This is a wonderful opportunity to reach out directly to members of the public who may be able to benefit from the many incredible programs overseen by OCFS. While I encourage you all to enjoy the second half of the summer, it’s not too early to think about back-to-school initiatives. As part of our commitment to serve children and families, OCFS will soon begin collecting school supplies for students in need within our systems.

In closing, I hope you enjoy the newsletter and, remember, resilience is a journey, not a destination.

Be well,

Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden, MBA, M.S.
Commissioner