Multiple Systems Navigator

YOUTH POWER! of Families Together in New York State is hosting FREE Self-Advocacy trainings in the Capital District and Plattsburgh areas very soon! These trainings are geared towards individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, but all self-advocates are welcome to attend. Disability history, personal leadership planning, and strategic sharing are among the things participants will learn about!

Please click on Learn More below for more details about time, locations and registration.

If you (or someone you know) will be reporting income of $69,000 or less on your 2019 personal income tax return, you may be able to electronically prepare and file your income tax returns for free.

To make sure you aren't charged a fee, visit Free File your income tax return from the New York State Tax Department's website to access Free File software for both federal and state returns.

Remember: 

• E-filing is the fastest and easiest way to file your return.
• Online tax software is safe and secure.
• Most e-filers get their refunds two weeks sooner than paper filers.

Resources for individuals

• Filing season resource center
• Make a payment
• Individuals home

The purpose of the OCFS Parent Advisory Board is to give a voice to:

• Parents/caregivers who are involved in the child welfare system
• Foster parents (kin and non-relative) who are supporting and caring for a child in foster care
• Adoptive parents who have adopted a child who was in foster care
• Kinship caregivers who are caring for a relative’s child

The goal is for members to provide feedback on their experiences with the child welfare system and make recommendations to the Office of Children and Family Services for improving the system, and implementing state and federal initiatives to improve safety, permanency, and well-being for children and families.

Completed applications must be received by January 24, 2020

To learn more, please visit the link below.

Community Coalitions Project

Calling all interested coalitions! The New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) is accepting applications from local coalitions to strengthen community-based parenting education and to engage parents as well as professionals from multiple disciplines.

Parenting education​ is a core component of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen family and community approaches to healthy child development and help prevent child abuse and neglect. When the rate of indicated reports of child abuse is as high as 45/1000 for children ages 0-17 years in some counties in NYS , the capacity of families to raise healthy children and the cost to the larger community must be considered a public health issue. Effective parenting education programs have been linked with better physical, cognitive and emotional development in children; increased parental knowledge of child development and parenting skills; improved parent-child communication; more effective parental monitoring and discipline; reduced youth substance abuse; and decreased rates of child abuse and neglect.

We are looking for community coalitions that demonstrate leadership, commitment and determination to mobilize a broad movement to strengthen and support all parents’ skills, knowledge, and talents. Up to four coalition sites will be selected to receive a 1-year award to receive training, technical assistance and a $5000 grant to support community identified objectives.

Application Deadline: January 17, 2020

Grant Announcement: February 3, 2020

How to submit the application:

Follow this link for the application.
Please type in your responses to the questions and email the application to nyspep@nyspep.org

If you have questions regarding the application or NYSPEP, please contact 
Alissa Abbott at (518) 880- 3587 or email to: aabbott@preventchildabuseny.org

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.

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!