2003 Yellow Book
Backward Forward Cover Overview Agency Summaries Agency Details

Office of Children and Family Services
(Summary)
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Adjusted
Appropriation
2002-03
Executive
Request
2003-04
Change Percent
Change

AGENCY SUMMARY

General Fund 1,444,406,022 1,437,547,500 (6,858,522) -0.5%
Special Revenue-Federal 1,894,252,000 2,084,866,000 190,614,000 10.1%
Special Revenue-Other 141,706,000 147,279,000 5,573,000 3.9%
Capital Projects Fund 1,935,000 2,930,000 995,000 51.4%
Youth Facilities Improvement Fund 12,475,000 17,100,000 4,625,000 37.1%
Fiduciary 7,055,000 6,243,500 (811,500) -11.5%
Enterprise 500,000 500,000 0 0.0%
Internal Service Fund 100,000 100,000 0 0.0%

Total for AGENCY SUMMARY: 3,502,429,022 3,696,566,000 194,136,978 5.5%

chart * 1999-00 through 2001-02 reflect enacted appropriations.
* 2002-03 and 2003-04 reflect Executive recommended appropriations.

chart

chart


 

ALL FUNDS PERSONNEL
BUDGETED FILL LEVELS
Fund Current
2002-03
Requested
2003-04
Change

General Fund: 3,697 3,238 (459)
All Other Funds: 583 465 (118)

TOTAL: 4,280 3,703 (577)


Budget Highlights

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is responsible for enhancing the delivery of services to children and families through a coordinated system of support to help families to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency in order to provide for the well-being of their children. The Office administers a broad range of child welfare programs, including child protective, preventive, foster care and adoption services, and adolescent pregnancy programs. The Office also administers child care programs and adult protective programs, as well as residential and non-residential services for New York's juvenile justice system and delinquency prevention programs. Although the Office currently administers services to the blind and visually handicapped, the Executive Budget proposal recommends the transfer of these services to other agencies.

The Executive proposes All Funds appropriations totaling $3,696,566,000 for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2003-04, a net increase of $194,136,978, or 5.5 percent, over SFY 2002-2003. Agency appropriations support a workforce of 3,703 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.

This agency is included in the Education, Labor and Family Assistance appropriation bill.

State Operations

For SFY 2003-2004, the Executive recommends an All Funds State Operations appropriation of $412,089,000, a net decrease of $59,162,600, or 12.55 percent below SFY 2002-2003. Within this amount is a net decrease of $41,738,000 in General Fund spending. This reduction includes a decrease of $15,000,000 for the continued operation of the CONNECTIONS management information system, reflecting an anticipated $15 million increase in Special Revenue-Federal funds. The reduction in General Fund spending also includes: early retirement and attrition savings; the transfer of Child Care staff to Federal funds; non-personal service efficiencies; the implementation of a juvenile justice reform proposal; the transfer of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped to the Department of Labor and the State Office of the Aging; and several administrative efficiencies.

In SFY 2003-2004, the Executive proposes to merge the Council on Children and Families into OCFS, effective October 1, 2003. The Council consists of the Commissioners and Directors of the State's thirteen health, education and human service agencies, and is charged with developing a coordinated, cost efficient system of service delivery for children and families in New York State. The Governor estimates General Fund savings of $500,000 for SFY 2003-04 and full annual savings of $1,000,000 as a result of the merger. All 21 positions within the Council would be transferred to OCFS, but only 7 would be preserved for Council activities; the remaining 14 positions would be absorbed by OCFS, and in turn, OCFS would have to reduce its overall workforce by 14 positions.

The Governor also proposes to transfer the Equipment Loan Fund for the Disabled and the vocational rehabilitation services function of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH) into the Department of Labor, effective October 1, 2003. The Executive further recommends the transfer of the independent living services for blind persons aged 55 and older to the State Office for the Aging. The transfer of CBVH functions to other agencies results in a General Fund decrease of $4,228,000 in SFY 2003-04.

Workforce

The Executive proposes an All Funds decrease in the OCFS workforce from 4,280 to 3,703, reflecting a net decrease of 577 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. This reduction in the workforce is expected to occur primarily through attrition and transfers and reflects the impact of the Governor's proposals to transfer the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (178 FTE); to merge the Council on Children and Families into OCFS (7 FTE); to implement overall workforce reduction policies encouraging attrition (57 FTE); and to implement new juvenile justice reforms that will reduce the workforce in OCFS-operated facilities (net reduction of 349 FTE).

Systems Support

The Governor recommends an All Funds appropriation of $77,151,000 for the Systems Support Program. Of that amount, $60,400,000 in State and Federal Funds is targeted for the operation, continued development and maintenance of CONNECTIONS, the State's automated child welfare information system. The State share of this amount is $15,400,000 reflecting a $14,600,000 reduction in General Fund spending that is replaced by anticipated increases in Federal funding. While the CONNECTIONS project has been the subject of considerable criticism, the Executive reports that, at this time, staff in the Office are currently completing the development of the case management and fiscal management functions, and expect all components of the system to be fully operational by the close of calendar year 2004.

Aid To Localities

The Executive recommends an All Funds appropriation of $3,264,447,000 in Aid to Localities for SFY 2003-2004, a net increase of $247,679,578, or 8.21 percent above SFY 2002-03. This increase is largely attributable to a $217,800,000 anticipated increase in Federal reimbursement. A net increase in General Fund spending of $34,879,578 includes: $20,500,000 in additional appropriations for the preventive services funding stream; an increase of $22,830,000 to support adoption subsidies; a $5,400,000 increase in the State share of certain Committee on Special Education (CSE) maintenance costs; $10,044,000 increase in the State share of secure and non-secure detention costs. $1,100,000 for child welfare services to Native Americans; and $6,000,000 to fully annualize the child welfare cost of living adjustment (COLA). These increases are offset by: the elimination of $1,600,000 in General Fund support for the Home Visiting program; a reduction of $17,172,000 related to fingerprinting associated with Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) compliance; a $1,300,000 reduction in Medicaid per diems for children in foster care, as a result of declining caseload; a total reduction of $27,922,422 as a result of the elimination of legislative enhancements to child advocacy centers, runaway and homeless youth, youth development and delinquency prevention (YDDP) programs, and various community projects; and a decrease of $4,206,000, resulting from a 10 percent reduction in funding support for the Youth Development and Delinquency Prevention Program (YDDP) and the Special Delinquency Prevention Program (SDPP).

Child Care

The Executive proposes an increase of $17,000,000 in Special Revenue-Federal funds to increase the Child Care Block Grant from $912,000,000 to $929,000,000 in SFY 2003-04. This new funding level maintains the current year level of 183,400 subsidies, while providing for a market rate adjustment, effective October 1, 2003. The Executive Budget proposal eliminates: $5,000,000 for the facilitated enrollment programs in Westchester and Bronx counties; $2,000,000 for the Satellite Child Care Demonstration project; $10,000,000 for the Executive's Liberty Zone demonstration project; and a total $3,400,000 for State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) child care programs.

The Executive refunding for the appropriates funding for the Child Care Recruitment Program and the Governor also reappropriates Retention Program and the Child Care Facilities Development Program, but does not propose any new capital funding for the development of new childcare capacity.

Family and Children's Services

The Executive recommends All Funds appropriations of $2,366,693,000 to support the Family and Children's Services Program, a net increase of $160,838,400, or 7.29 percent above SFY 2002-03 funding. This increase is attributable to increases of $110,200,000 in anticipated Federal reimbursement and General Fund increases totaling $55,638,400 that are offset by a $5,000,000 decrease in Special Revenue-Other funds.

The Executive proposes to continue the General Fund appropriation of $364,500,000 for the new Foster Care Block Grant that provides an annual allocation to local social services districts for foster care services. This funding will provide reimbursement for services rendered to 37,000 children in foster care, a caseload number that is expected to experience further decline by the close of the next fiscal year. The proposed legislation would enable local districts to reprogram foster care savings, attributed to declining caseloads, for 100 percent reimbursement of preventive services costs in the succeeding fiscal year, up to the amount of the district's savings. The Governor also recommends a General Fund appropriation of 9,000,000 outside the block grant to support the full annual cost of providing a three percent increase, effective December 1, 2002, for the salary and fringe benefits of employees within the child care and social services components of the maximum State aid rates.

A General Fund appropriation of $344,900,000 is recommended for the preventive services funding stream, which provides 65 percent reimbursement to local districts for child protective, preventive, independent living, aftercare, and adoption services other than subsidies. This is a $20,500,000 increase above current year funding. The Executive continues Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funding of $2,000,000 for the Child Welfare Quality Enhancement Fund. Of this amount, $750,000 is set aside for projects that improve the quality of child welfare services.

The Governor continues a total of $542,000,000 from TANF Block Grant funds to offset State and local shares of the following child welfare purposes:

Transfer to Title XX - $244,000,000
Local JD/PINS - $105,000,000
NYC Foster Care Tuition - $ 41,000,000
Child Welfare EAF - $140,000,000
OCFS JDs - $ 12,000,000

In SFY 2003-2004, the Governor proposes a General Fund increase of $23,000,000 for adoption subsidies, bringing total funding to $167,170,000, which will support approximately 46,000 adopted children. The appropriation continues the $1,000,000 set aside for one-time legal expenses associated with hard-to-place children.

The Governor eliminates the General Fund appropriation of $1,600,000 for the Home Visiting program, but continues TANF funding of $16,000,000 to support the program. The Governor also maintains $7,700,000 in TANF support for the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program (APPS).

Youth Programs

The Executive recommends a reduction of $4,800,000 in TANF funds to support the Advantage Schools program, bringing the SFY 2003-04 funding level to $20,200,000. This funding maintains current year program operating levels at 210 sites that serve 26,000 children. The Governor proposes to eliminate $2,960,000 in General Fund support of legislative enhancements for child advocacy centers, runaway and homeless youth, youth development and delinquency prevention (YDDP), the William B. Hoyt Memorial Trust Fund, family preservation centers, and domestic violence training. In SFY 2003-2004, the Governor recommends $28,472,000 for youth development and delinquency prevention, a decrease of $3,164,000; and $9,379,000 for the Special Delinquency Prevention Program, a reduction of $1,042,000.

Of major significance in the Executive Budget is a proposal to reform the juvenile justice system. The Governor proposes a multi-tiered juvenile justice system that includes the following components:

A community-based intensive supervision program for non-violent youth that is supported by State and federal appropriations, totaling $3,300,000. This initiative would shorten the length of stay of 500 to 600 non-violent juvenile delinquents who have committed crimes against property, and provide an alternative to residential placement. The youth would remain in their home environment and receive treatment and counseling services. Thirteen OCFS employees, as well as not-for-profit, community-based organizations under contract with OCFS, would provide youth supervision.

The transfer of certain juvenile offenders, who have committed the most serious, violent crimes, are twenty years old, and would otherwise be transferred to the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) on their twenty-first birthday.

A reduction of 250 beds in the OCFS residential system as a result of this initiative, for net State savings of $11,600,000 when fully implemented in SFY 2004-2005.

The exploration of the privatization of remaining OCFS-operated facilities.

The Executive provides $2,000,000 in increased Federal funding for PINS preventive services, bringing the total appropriation targeted for PINS services to $7,000,000. This additional funding is recommended to provide local districts with additional support to divert PINS from non-secure detention.

Article VII

The Governor proposes Article VII legislation that would provide for:

  • the merger of the vocational rehabilitation services of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH), portions of the Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) Program and the Equipment Loan Fund for the Disabled of OCFS, into the Department of Labor; and the transfer of independent living services for blind persons aged 55 and older from CBVH to the State Office for the Aging;

  • the merger of the Council on Children and Families into OCFS to improve coordination of services;

  • limitations on the lengths of stay in non-secure detention for juvenile delinquents and persons in need of supervision (PINS), and a phase out over a 4 year period of State reimbursement for lengths of stay in detention beyond 45 days. The proposal would allow counties to use a portion of the $7,000,000 PINS funding to divert youth from detention or to reduce lengths of stay in non-secure detention;

  • local district capability to enroll certain foster children placed with voluntary agencies in managed care programs as a means of enhancing medical services for these children;

  • the assignment of financial responsibility to local school districts for out-of-home special education placements made by their Committees on Special Education (CSE) during the regular school year. Effective July 1, 2004, school districts would be required to pay 20 percent of all CSE maintenance costs during both the summer months and the regular school year. The remaining 80 percent would be equally shared between OCFS and local social services districts; and

  • the repeal of the State Commission on the Quality of Foster Care that was created within OCFS in the current fiscal year, based on the argument that the Commission duplicates existing OCFS oversight responsibility.


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