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Debate over Compass and SONYC contract extensions and outdated rates
0:40:44
ยท
7 min
Council Member Stevens challenges DYCD officials on the use of outdated rates for Compass and SONYC programs, expressing concern about the financial strain on providers and the delay in updating the program model.
- DYCD cites ongoing conversations with OMB, stakeholders, and providers about updating the program model
- Council Member Stevens criticizes the 10-year delay in updating rates and the inadequacy of COLA adjustments
- DYCD acknowledges the need for updates but cites competing priorities and limited funds as challenges
Althea V. Stevens
0:40:44
Yeah I think that those are the places we should be going and starting and I know specifically and I even brought up the Prescola because like the council funds for them to train NYCHA residents and so you know I think that would just be a nice fit if they have young people that they or not young people but people in general, that they can recommend.
0:41:05
And I know that they have a whole alumni base.
0:41:08
DYCD, so this is some contracting issue.
0:41:10
DYCD recently sent letters to conferences sonic providers requesting that they sign another contract extension based on contract rates that had not been updated since 2015.
0:41:22
The use of the non updated rates would continue to financially strain providers as the rates do not account for increased costs and the needs to provide continued services to after school programs.
0:41:37
Has those programs been has there been any discussion with OMB to provide the release of a compass concept paper and include a model budget that will increase the rates for providers with the RFP process?
Keith Howard
0:41:52
We are in continuous conversation with OMB.
0:41:56
We are in continuous conversations with our stakeholders.
0:42:00
We are continuous conversations with our providers.
0:42:03
As you know chair, this the Compass program after school program, it's been ten plus years since we've had a program model.
0:42:16
I think our concentration is listening to the providers and and having focus groups.
0:42:24
One of those focus groups we want to make sure that we are bringing in young people to be able to guide us on exactly what a new program model looks like.
0:42:34
And then of course continuously hearing exactly what new services should be part of the after school programming model.
0:42:41
So those those conversations are ongoing as we are trying to to really get it right.
Althea V. Stevens
0:42:49
I don't think it takes ten years though.
0:42:51
Well And this is before you so
Keith Howard
0:42:53
This is before
Althea V. Stevens
0:42:54
me and but You told me I believe at the last hearing that y'all was gonna have it out by September.
Keith Howard
0:43:00
Well things happened.
Althea V. Stevens
0:43:02
I'm just saying.
0:43:03
That was out of your mouth because you said you was gonna have a RFP to me.
Keith Howard
0:43:07
I hear you and what happened is things happened, comments came back, program models changed and investment.
0:43:14
I mean ten years ago we weren't talking about mental health and trauma.
0:43:19
We were.
0:43:19
In program models.
0:43:22
Were.
0:43:22
In program models.
0:43:23
Consistently a uniform investment.
0:43:26
I'm not talking about referral services.
0:43:28
I'm talking about having, you know, clinical clinicians on staff as part of the program model.
0:43:34
So again those conversations are happening.
Althea V. Stevens
0:43:36
But what's the delay?
0:43:37
So like really like I think obviously I know you know folks are like okay at least we have an extension, but what's the delay because ten years is a really long time for a program to continue without any additional financial support.
0:43:54
I mean it's bad enough they get paid late, so I didn't even get there yet, right?
0:43:58
And then we're giving them rates from ten years ago.
0:44:02
And I don't know if you know, eggs is like what $15 at this point?
0:44:05
So I don't know how much crayons that is at this point.
0:44:08
So how are we expecting providers to have a rate from ten years ago to be able to provide quality programming.
0:44:18
So let's say we didn't say, alright we didn't do the RFP, fine.
0:44:23
But what are we doing about the rates because I think that that's even bigger issue.
0:44:28
Like we want to get the program model right and all the things so great fine.
0:44:32
How do we then make sure that the providers have the actual things that they need to provide the services that we know that our young people deserve and need?
Keith Howard
0:44:41
Very good question.
0:44:42
But we also need to shout out the $741,000,000 that went into investment on COLA across the nonprofit network to help with some Well that's
Althea V. Stevens
0:44:55
well the COLA is to pay the staff because they're
Keith Howard
0:44:58
It's an investment.
0:45:00
It's an investment in the system.
Alan Cheng
0:45:01
Alright, so
Althea V. Stevens
0:45:01
what about the other investments that we need?
Nevita Bailey
0:45:06
Chair Stevens, we're working on it and I won't say that the money is there, but I think the commission made good point that we recognize that salaries have gone up, cost of living has gone up, things have gone up.
0:45:16
As you referenced, eggs have gone up.
Althea V. Stevens
0:45:17
I know.
0:45:18
Y'all
Nevita Bailey
0:45:18
don't And so?
Althea V. Stevens
0:45:18
If y'all see the eye rolls that's behind y'all.
Nevita Bailey
0:45:21
It's okay.
Althea V. Stevens
0:45:22
So many eye rolls and because like I think that one, I think it's offensive to tell people that oh we gave you a cost of living adjustment because it's not a race.
0:45:32
So that's kind of offensive which is why I'm sure everyone was rolling their eyes like please, right?
0:45:37
And and that is something they should have gotten anyway that we had to fight for, right?
0:45:40
And so what happens is when we have to fight for basic things, other things fall off the table and understanding like they should get a raise.
0:45:48
And it's not a raise, it's a cost of living adjustment because the cost of living has gone up and that was something that should have happened anyway.
0:45:54
So now we're talking about actual program and the lack of having, again you want to extend the contract, we know that the cost for all of the services in the programs have gone up, so then how do we account for that?
0:46:07
So do we chip away at the quality of program because that's what ends up happening.
Nevita Bailey
0:46:13
Chair Stevens, I hear you.
0:46:15
We will continue to push the fight and review and look and see what we can do to get to the point where we can release it.
0:46:21
At the same time we continue to work with our providers, as mentioned there's an ICR initiative.
0:46:26
Currently, city has a number of competing priorities.
0:46:29
The last five years have been eventful and so Who are you telling?
0:46:33
So I think that we've all had to adjust and adapt to the changing environment and so funds have been a little bit more limited, but recognizing the work that the sector does as as the pandemic and the many things show these are essential workers, are people who do great work in their community, and so recognizing the competing priorities the city had, they thought at the bare minimum they would do what they can to at least provide additional wages to the staff so they can get funded for it.
0:46:56
We will continue to do the work to provide additional funding, but our first step was trying to see what we can do for wages to address what's going on.
Althea V. Stevens
0:47:03
Yeah, remember I want also just shout out the providers because the city wouldn't have done that if we wouldn't have been out here with 3,000 people for two years saying we need the money.
0:47:12
This wasn't like they did it because it was like guys did a good job.
Keith Howard
0:47:16
It's a team it's a teamwork.
0:47:17
It's teamwork.
0:47:18
It's with you advocating.
0:47:20
It's with you know Jock and and the mayor and and everyone involved making sure that, you know, we're looking across and we're we're we're taking in those things in consideration.
0:47:32
But it starts with communication.
0:47:34
It starts with the exchange.
0:47:35
We understand.
0:47:36
Trust me.
0:47:37
I understand.
0:47:38
I'm on meetings with our providers, you know, just really going through their pain and and looking at the pain points that we need to land this thing, you know, and and I hear you.
0:47:50
But those those conversations happen the same way that our conversation with the 100 beds that we had at RHY.
0:47:57
It starts with a conversation with Owen B.
Althea V. Stevens
0:48:00
I don't know if it's sort of a conversation.
0:48:02
I think it's sort of me yelling and being a crazy person.
0:48:05
But I guess if we're gonna call that a conversation we can, but and you know, bringing my colleagues along to start the fight with me because they also jumped in last year and I so appreciate them as well.
0:48:18
But again, we we have to make sure and listen, I don't have a problem going to OMB telling them that this is unacceptable, but this is a real problem I think even going into this year and seeing the inflation and not being able to provide a quality program because it does affect the program and we we have to acknowledge that.