Q&A
Questions on CARES participation and family support services
0:44:17
·
163 sec
Council Member Stevens inquires about the support provided to families who decline CARES participation and the types of material assistance available. Commissioner Dannhauser explains the various forms of support ACS offers and introduces the recently revived Family Preservation Program.
- ACS provides material support such as furniture, food, and assistance with immediate needs
- The Family Preservation Program, reintroduced in late summer, provides dedicated staff to support families with concrete needs
- ACS works with HRA to help families access cash assistance when needed
Althea V. Stevens
0:44:17
But it's it's it's helpful.
0:44:19
I'd I would like to acknowledge, we have the public advocate who have joined us, Jermaine Williams, council member Rita Joseph, council member, Linda Lee, and council Williams.
0:44:31
What steps are taken, if family declines to participate in CARES?
0:44:36
Will ACS still provide them with information about community based organizations unaffiliated with ACS that can offer assistance?
0:44:43
Additionally, is ACS providing material support such as direct cash assistance, furniture, food, or clothing to families who opt out of CARES?
Jess Dannhauser
0:44:52
Absolutely.
0:44:52
All services are available regardless of of which track.
0:44:57
ACS does not itself provide direct cash, but all of the other things we do, furniture, cribs.
0:45:02
We've opened pantries in our borough offices.
0:45:05
We will work with our partners at HRA if if cash assistance is needed.
0:45:10
And so and we do, often provide money for immediate needs.
0:45:14
If there's groceries that's needed, we can purchase them.
0:45:18
Staff have access to, purchasing around concrete needs in
UNKNOWN
0:45:23
the home.
Althea V. Stevens
0:45:23
Are you guys, is ACS helping with, helping them with HRAs to get cash assistance?
0:45:28
Because that was another thing.
0:45:29
I've been getting a lot of calls in my office where they're saying that that, their worker isn't helping them connect those
UNKNOWN
0:45:36
dots.
0:45:36
Yeah.
Jess Dannhauser
0:45:36
One of the things, that we've done, Jared, over the last, few months that I think is really important here is revive our FPP program, family preservation program.
0:45:48
All old ideas are good or something like that.
0:45:50
So the, we had a family preservation program.
0:45:54
These are dedicated staff who come alongside the CPS to to work on things like that, benefits access, concrete needs.
0:46:02
CPS have right now, the caseload's about 7a half.
0:46:06
They're going out to do another assessment.
0:46:08
And so, we have now a dedicated unit in each office that can go out and support families, particularly where there's risk to children.
0:46:16
They can continue to observe, in that role, but they are they are really they are dedicated.
0:46:23
Sometimes we encounter families where, there are serious conditions in the home, and we're working with NYCHA or HBD.
0:46:31
Sometimes there's a hoarding condition, and we need to do deep cleaning.
0:46:34
We needed to have an additional resource to support CPS because of what what you're identifying.
0:46:39
And so this just came back online.
0:46:42
This is something that, we are really When
Althea V. Stevens
0:46:44
did it come back online again?
Jess Dannhauser
0:46:45
It's called the Family Preservation Program.
UNKNOWN
0:46:46
Oh,
Althea V. Stevens
0:46:46
I said when did it come back online?
Jess Dannhauser
0:46:48
We staffed up it's December, sometime late summer.
Althea V. Stevens
0:46:53
Oh.
0:46:53
Yeah.
0:46:54
How many people?
0:46:55
How many people?
Jess Dannhauser
0:46:56
I'll get you the exact numbers, but it's a dedicated unit in each office.
Liz Wolkomir
0:46:59
Okay.
