“On behalf of the statewide Child Welfare Coalition, we applaud the Governor and State Legislature for reaching an adopted budget agreement that ensures children and families have access to diversion and respite services to prevent Persons In Need of Supervision (PINS) filings in family court, and allows PINS youth to be placed in foster care when necessary. This agreement also permits counties to continue to rely on the State’s open-ended child welfare funding to support these critical programs, which strengthen families and reduce the likelihood that youth will have contact with the juvenile and criminal justice systems.”

Co-conveners of the New York State Child Welfare Coalition:

• Citizens’ Committee for Children of NY (CCC)
• Children’s Defense Fund NY (CDFNY)
• Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA)
• Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA)