Multiple Systems Navigator

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced local governments can apply for their shares of the $20 million in funding made available in the FY 2020 State Budget and designated to help make sure every New Yorker is counted in the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census. The Funding is part of the State's $60 million outreach effort that also includes up to $40 million from existing resources that leverages the outreach capacity of dozens of State agencies and public authorities.

Click here for our newsletter and additional resources for the 2020 Census!

Mental Health Crossroads

An exploration of the many intersections between mental health issues and intellectual and developmental disabilities. You are invited to learn more about these issues from our monthly interview episodes with professionals, self-advocates, and experts.

Save The Date!

1st Annual NYSB5 Statewide Parent Leadership Conference is here!

Please join us for our first all-day conference engaging parents across the state in receiving tools and resources to navigate New York's early childhood system, grow in their role as leaders and advocate for their families and communities at large.

Over 14 topics to support you, your family and leadership while understanding early childhood system in New York!

Click here for event flier.

For questions, please contact us at nysb5conference@choiceforall.org or at 518-544-2955.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is seeking applications for new members for the Commissioner’s Advisory Panel (CAP) for Special Education Services representing the constituency “Individuals with Disabilities.”

CAP functions in an advisory capacity to NYSED's Office of Special Education and advises the Governor, Legislature and Commissioner of Education on unmet needs in the education of children with disabilities in New York State.

CAP members are appointed for a three-year term by the Commissioner of Education and serve without compensation. However, reasonable and necessary expenses for attending two in-person meetings each year at the State Education Building in Downtown Albany and performing duties are reimbursed.

Individuals interested in becoming a CAP member representing the constituency of "Individuals with Disabilities" should send a cover letter and resume to:

New York State Education Department
Office of Special Education
89 Washington Avenue, Room 309 EB
Albany, NY 12234

Additional information can be found at the Commissioner’s Advisory Panel (CAP) for Special Education Services website.

Questions may be directed to Sandra Cote, Associate in the Special Education Policy Unit, at 518-473-2878 or speced@nysed.gov

Children's Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Providers

On October 1, 2019 Medicaid Managed Care Plans (MMCP) will begin to pay for Children/Youth eligible and enrolled in HCBS. HCBS Providers are encouraged to reach out to MMCPs regarding the Children/Youth your agency currently serve.

Please click here for other related information.

Check it out Youth ERA! It will blow your mind with their newest online product - YouthEmpowerment.com. This new peer-led website is designed to offer support and help to young people through tough times. The website is home to articles, resources, and original content written by young people for young people. Youth ERA uses the strength of this web-based platform to empower youth on their mental health journey—giving them the tools they need to not only survive but to thrive.

This is a keeper, Network Faithful. Go to the site, put it in your bookmarks, and share it far and wide. Excellent work Youth ERA!

If you are in immigration detention or are facing deportation, may may have a lot of questions about what will happen to your children. It is normal to be worried and feel overwhelmed. But there are things you can do to help ensure that you do not lose your rights as a parent because you are detained or deported.

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and its partners have been conducting follow up on the 2018 System of Care (SOC) Summit recommendations identified by statewide participants.  One request was for the state to support continued implementation and maintenance of SOC efforts statewide. Toward that end, the NYS SOC Pilot has engaged Policy Research Associates to design a curriculum to be used in local SOC planning efforts. 

The agency seeks up to 60 seasoned trainers/facilitators to facilitate day-long action planning events for local SOC teams.

Please click here for more details. Make the nomination Today! 

This August, two major research reports focused on the need for mental health training on campus. The American Council of Education surveyed college presidents, and Barnes & Noble surveyed college students.

Read more the surprising link that these two groups have in common.

The U.S. Department of Labor Announces Funding

To Support Employee Policy Development For Youth With Disabilities

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the award of $4 million for a four-year cooperative agreement to operate a policy development center focused on youth with disabilities. The center will build on the work of the Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth.

During the performance period, the awardee – the Council of State Governments – will develop and manage the center. The center will conduct research, engage with the workforce system and its partners, identify effective policies and practices that support youth with disabilities, and provide resources and training to help support the transition of youth with disabilities to employment.

"The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy is intent on making a difference in the lives of youth with disabilities," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, Jennifer Sheehy. "Using evidence-based practices and proven collaborative strategies with the Council of State Governments' management of the Center, we can develop policies that help these young people transition from school to adulthood and to make a valued contribution to the workplace."

Click here to learn more about ODEP and this cooperative agreement.

HUD announced plans to launch a new Foster Youth to Independence Initiative that will offer Housing Assistance to Youth and Young Adults aging out of the foster care system.

New Free Tools Gives New York State Agencies and Schools the Ability to Assess Trauma-Informed Care Practices

TRUST (Trauma Responsive Understanding Self-Assessment Tool)  is a strengths-based organizational self-assessment tool that provides organizations with a point in time “snapshot” of where they are in their journey towards becoming trauma-informed. The tool employs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 10 Implementation Domains as a framework for guiding survey participants through a sequence of questions to assess implementation of trauma-informed care practices within their organization. TIC-OSAT allows organizations to view aggregated survey results from their leadership and staff and display these results within a concise, real-time report along with recommendations for bolstering Trauma-Informed Care practices. 

TRUST-S (Trauma Responsive Understanding Self-Assessment Tool for Schools) is a strength-based organizational self-assessment tool that provides educational settings with a point in time “snapshot” of where they are in their journey towards becoming more trauma-sensitive and informed.  The tool employs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 10 Implementation Domains as a framework for guiding survey participants through a sequence of questions to assess implementation of trauma-sensitive educational practices.  The TRUST-S allows schools and districts to view aggregated survey results from their administration and staff.  These results are displayed within a concise, real-time report that offers recommendations for bolstering trauma-sensitive practices. 

This assessment can be used for initial benchmarking, as well as repeated at selected intervals to gauge progress and identify next steps.

The survey takes about 12-15 minutes to complete and is anonymous to allow for authentic staff assessment of their organization.

If you already have a login account, click Here To Use These New Tools Right Now!

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Please contact us at training@ccsi.org for further questions.