TESTIMONY
Molly Bibby on the Importance of the Families Rising Program for Justice-Involved Young People
5:34:27
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132 sec
Molly Bibby testifies about the effectiveness of the Families Rising program in supporting justice-involved young people and combating budget cuts.
- Bibby highlights the Families Rising program's role in reducing family conflict, substance abuse, recidivism, and violent behavior among young people.
- She cites a 93% success rate of clients avoiding jail or prison sentences upon program completion in fiscal year 23.
- Bibby notes the program's potential funding cut due to city budget adjustments, adversely affecting service provision.
- Through the story of Kareem, a beneficiary of the program, she illustrates the positive impact of providing alternatives to incarceration.
- Bibby urges council members to invest in youth support professionals and restore budget cuts to continue aiding young people and their families.
Molly Bibby
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I'd like to thank chair nurse and the committee members for their unwavering commitment to offering viable alternatives to incarceration.
5:34:34
Thank you for taking the time today to hear this testimony.
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I'm Molly Bibby, the assistant vice president of the family's rising program.
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I've worked with justice involved young people for over 10 years and know how critically important access to trauma and poor mental health care is for young people.
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The New York poundling city wide program called families rising works with young people and their families to reduce family conflict.
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Substance abuse, recidivism, and violent behavior in the long term.
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Since its inception, families rising has served 513 young people and their families.
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In fiscal year 23, 93% of clients who completed services successfully and whose court case has resolved have avoided jail or prison sentence.
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Despite its success, the program is currently facing budget cuts due to the the city's program to eliminate the gap.
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We estimate for every $100,000 cut in our funding, sixteen young people not be able to receive our mental health treatment.
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Clients like Kareem highlight the importance of alternative to incarceration programs and second chances.
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Lynn Kareem, who was a high school senior at the time, was arrested for criminal possession of a weapon.
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He was referred to families rising.
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Shortly after his referral, he was rearrested.
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With the support of their therapist, the family strengthened their relationship, and lessen Cream's dependence on negative peers in the community.
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By the end of therapy, he received his useful offender adjudication, graduated high school, and was headed to college on a full scholarship.
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If we want these programs to continue to serve and stabilize young people home and with their families, we must invest in the professionals who provide these critical services and restore the budget cuts from the last financial plan.
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This work is important to us.
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Please see the family as a partner and calling us to help address this issue.
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Please come visit and see the program's impact on the families we serve for your self.
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Thank you council members for taking the time to hear this testimony today and for your continued efforts to fund alternative to incarceration program citywide.
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Jay Edidin, Director of Advocacy at the Women's Community Justice Association, on Budget Impacts and Over-Incarceration of Women and Gender Expansive Individuals at Rikers Island
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Akiana Smith on the Impact of the Mayor's Budget on Incarcerated Women and Gender Expansive New Yorkers