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Q&A
Connection between foster care system and NYC Aging caregiving program
0:31:56
ยท
132 sec
The Deputy Commissioner discusses the relationship between the foster care system and NYC Aging's caregiving program for older kinship caregivers.
- There is no formal relationship between the foster care system and NYC Aging for caregivers over 60.
- Foster care agencies provide intensive training and services to all foster parents, regardless of age.
- Recent training was conducted between foster care staff and DFTA (Department for the Aging) to increase awareness of available services.
- The training focused on preventive services and connecting caregivers with free services and supports.
Crystal Hudson
0:31:56
And of the I'd like to acknowledge that we've also been joined by council member Mealy.
0:32:01
Of the six twenty folks over age 60, have they been connected to the caregiving program through NYC Aging?
UNKNOWN
0:32:11
So I would have to check specifically, but I can say a couple things.
0:32:18
One is that a child could be with more than one foster parent, so there could be someone 60 and someone 60 in the same household.
0:32:28
And there obviously can be multiple children in each household.
0:32:32
But we do for those Any child in foster care, we're working really closely with their foster parents and that foster care provider provides them with an intensive training that includes how to work with young people who face trauma and sort of individual services for that family, whether it's therapy or referrals, all different referrals.
0:32:56
So in some ways, those families have a suite of services that they're getting through their foster care agency.
0:33:04
And so I'm not sure if they've been connected, but I can check on whether or not they've been connected.
0:33:09
I'm not sure if we would track that.
Crystal Hudson
0:33:11
Okay.
0:33:11
So there isn't like a formal relationship between the foster care system necessarily or at least specifically for people over age 60 that are in the system with NYC aging or the caregiver.
UNKNOWN
0:33:25
Right.
0:33:25
It's not formal.
0:33:27
I I do know that our staff actually within the last couple months recently did a training where our staff trained DIFTA vice versa to make sure that our staff were aware of the services they offer because in some ways the families we work with who might need those services are on the preventive side of our continuum where we're connecting all caregivers who are in need with free services and supports.
0:33:57
And so they might benefit from a specialized service like that too.
Crystal Hudson
0:34:01
Was that training in anticipation of this hearing?
UNKNOWN
0:34:04
No, actually.
Crystal Hudson
0:34:05
I was just joking.
UNKNOWN
0:34:06
Predates that by a couple months.
0:34:07
Okay.