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Q&A
Discussion on federal funding sources for DFTA programs
1:44:15
·
3 min
Council Member Crystal Hudson inquires about federal funding sources for DFTA programs, particularly the New York Connects and foster grandparent programs. Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez and CFO Jose Mercado provide details on funding amounts and program scopes.
- New York Connects program receives $345,393 in federal funding
- Foster grandparent program receives $166,195 in federal funding
- Total budget for New York Connects is approximately $3.7 million
- Foster grandparent program budget is about $3 million
Crystal Hudson
1:44:15
Okay, I'm going to go back to federal money for a second here.
1:44:19
The preliminary plan includes $611,588 in federal funding in fiscal twenty twenty only.
1:44:27
The federal revenue is allocated towards two programs, $345,393 for the New York Connects program and the remaining 166,195 for the foster grandparent program.
1:44:43
What are the federal sources for these funds?
1:44:45
Do they fall under any of those previously mentioned categories?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:44:48
Yeah.
1:44:49
Yes.
Crystal Hudson
1:44:50
Which ones?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:44:52
Older older Americans Act.
1:44:53
Okay.
Jose Mercado
1:44:54
Thanks.
1:44:54
New York Connect is a separate grant in itself.
Crystal Hudson
1:44:58
Okay.
Jose Mercado
1:44:59
And the foster grandparent program is part of the Americorps.
Crystal Hudson
1:45:04
Okay.
1:45:04
Americorps.
1:45:05
And what's the what's the current budget for NYC Connects and the foster grandparent?
1:45:10
New
Jose Mercado
1:45:11
York Connect off top of my head.
1:45:13
I can give you the exact numbers, but off top of my head, New York Connect is roughly about 3,700,000.0, And foster grandparent program is roughly about 3,000,000.
Crystal Hudson
1:45:26
And what's the scope of each of these programs?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:45:29
Foster grandparent program is foster grandparent program is a long standing program where we train older adult volunteers to work with young children mostly who are institutionalized and they serve as a grandparent for them.
1:45:52
And it's been a successful program and it is a heartwarming program.
1:46:00
And it alters the life of the older adult and it alters the life of the young person.
Barbara Baer
1:46:05
Absolutely.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:46:07
And then aging, I mean New York Connect supports our volunteer efforts as well as our Aging Connect hotline that you're all familiar with.
Crystal Hudson
1:46:17
And then does either program have a specific budgeted number of slots?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:46:22
Foster Grandparents has a number of slots.
1:46:25
Aging Connect is an entire network that we have.
Crystal Hudson
1:46:28
What's the network for the Foster Grandparent Program?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:46:36
We have it.
1:46:37
They tell me we have it here.
1:46:38
Let me just get it.
1:46:39
Okay.
1:46:48
I'll get back to you on that number.
Crystal Hudson
1:46:50
Okay.
1:46:50
And then does either program have a waiting list for new services or clients?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:46:55
For foster grandparents?
Crystal Hudson
1:46:56
Yeah.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:46:58
There is always a waiting list and it depends on whether we find a site for them.
Crystal Hudson
1:47:04
Okay.
1:47:07
Okay.
1:47:12
And did you share earlier when council member Amelia Lee was asking about the Silver Stars program, how many older adults are currently part of this program?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:47:23
No.
1:47:24
I didn't give you a number on the
Jose Mercado
1:47:26
So currently there are a 44 participants.
1:47:29
So the Silver Star program is made up of two components.
1:47:32
One is former city employees and one is non city employees.
1:47:35
The majority of it is actually at this point in time non city employees.
1:47:39
It's more of a temp program.
Crystal Hudson
1:47:40
The majority is non city employees?
1:47:43
Correct.
1:47:43
Okay.
1:47:44
And then how does that compare to historical levels?
Jose Mercado
1:47:46
It's always been so I mean, under this, it's historically has always been non city employees.
1:47:52
So now this year, another new or the new contract that came out was the idea was to basically have non city and city employees under one contract.
Crystal Hudson
1:48:00
And then does the 144 number, is that more or less than you've had in the past historically?
Jose Mercado
1:48:06
It's about the same.
Crystal Hudson
1:48:07
About the same?
Crystal Hudson
1:48:08
Yeah.