On February 6, 2018, CCC testified before the New York State Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Committees regarding the State Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Executive Budget proposals related to human services.

CCC’s testimony focused on our concerns about the Executive Budget proposals related to Human Services and the totality of the proposals that will impact the City’s child welfare agency, the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS).  CCC expressed concerned about the proposal to change the open-ended child welfare financing system to a block grant for New York City, and then cut the amount of funding the City already anticipates spending on these services.  CCC also expressed concern about the proposal to cut all State funding for the Close to Home juvenile justice placement system ($41.4 million) just when Close to Home placements are due to triple when the implementation of Raise the Age adds 16 and 17 year olds to the system.

CCC’s testimony also highlighted areas that strengthened services for human services including $100 million to raise the age of criminal responsibility, a $7 million restoration for child care and an additional $10 million to expand after-school programs, a portion of which will be targeted to homeless children.