Council Member Schulman Questions Cuts to Preventive Services

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

I've been reminded we got to try to stick to time as best as possible, but we're gonna do round two questions as well.

Um, Councilmember Shulman, followed by Councilmember Joseph.

Thank you.

Good morning, Commissioner.

Um, and welcome to New York.

I have to say your background is quite impressive, and we're lucky to have you as the ACS Commissioner.

Um since 1999, the number of children removed from families by ACS has dropped more than 80 percent thanks to preventive services programs such as the one in my district at Forestale, a hundred and thirty-five-year-old organization that is the largest and most effective social services agency in the borough of Queens.

However, the families help there are now at risk because of these proposed cuts.

I want to ask you uh, well, first of all, I know that a lot of your background is in preventive services, and you've made some great achievements in many states and in the federal government.

So with that, I want to know, you know, this the the for two things.

One is the cuts that are being made to preventive services also have a match that you're losing, a state match that you're losing as part of that.

That's number one.

Number two is that it represents a very small piece of the ACS budget, so I'm wondering if there are other areas that can be cut instead.

And and the and the next question after that is Forrestdale's getting the biggest cut, or it looks like it is.

They're gonna have to lay off some um work from some employees.

And I have visited personally with the families there because I give them a lot of money uh for my budget, uh, and they have thanked me for keeping, you know, it's important to keep the families together and keep the children safe, which is your mantra.

So, is there a way that we can do these cuts differently?

Thank you for the question.

Thank you for the welcome.

Um, it is uh a pleasure to be here and an honor to honor to serve.

Um I'll just say, yes, prevention services are absolutely and continue and will be a priority.

And you've heard in testimony today around some of the process and consideration that went into the decision making.

I haven't had a chance to visit any of the providers yet on day six.

But look forward to getting to get out and meet with the providers, their teams, the community members, and the families that are being served.

For the specific question around match, I'm gonna turn to Deputy Commissioner Plenty Plentnikov.

And then if there's more questions about process for decision making, happy to um pull in uh Deputy Commissioner Linares as well.