New York

CHAMPS NY’s priorities for 2022 include maintaining policies that support and bolster foster families – including relatives – one of which is the Office of the Child Welfare Advocate, which New York does not have, lagging behind 36 other states.

It is time for New York to establish an Office of the Child Welfare Advocate as one means of addressing the challenges present in the child welfare system. In doing so, New York would join the 36 other states with similar offices in offering an indispensable resource for all New York youth and families touched by the child welfare system.

In the spring of 2020, CHAMPS NY pivoted to be responsive to the impact of the pandemic on New York’s children and families, debuting updated priorities for 2020. These priorities are listed in a letter to New York State leadership.

Children experience better outcomes when they are cared for by supportive families. However, too few children in foster care across the state are placed with kin, and New York State struggles to recruit and retain enough families to adequately support the children who come into care.

From our partner, the Redlich Horwitz Foundation, this report includes case studies of three NY counties that are making tremendous strides to strengthen their use of family-based – both relative and non-relative – foster care.

CHAMPS-NY had the opportunity to submit testimony to the Joint Legislative Budget Hearings on Human Services in 2020. Our testimony emphasized the need for further investment in initiatives, like the Family First Transition Fund and KinGAP, that help to ensure that more children in foster care are able to remain with kin.

Are you a young person with foster care experience? A relative or foster parent? Someone else with personal experience with foster care? We invite you to get involved and share your story with us! Contact us at: CHAMPSNewYork@gmail.com