Councilmember Schulman questions prevention cuts and state match loss

Councilmember Shelman, followed by Councilmember Joseph.

Thank you.

Good morning, Commissioner, 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.

Since 1999, the number of children removed from families by ACS has dropped more than 80%

thanks to preventive services programs such as the one in my district at Forestdale, a 135-year-old organization that is the largest and most effective social services agency in the Borough of Queens.

However, the families helped there are now at risk because of these

proposed cuts.

I want to ask you, 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 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 the next question after that is,

Forestdale is getting the biggest cut, or it looks like it is.

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

And I have visited personally with the families there because I give them a lot of money from my budget.

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.

It is a pleasure to be here and an honor to serve.

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 have had a chance.

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, community members, and the families that are being served.

For the specific question around match, I'm going to turn to Deputy Commissioner Plentnikov, and then if there's more questions about process for decision-making, happy to pull in

Deputy Commissioner Linares as well.

Sure.

Thank you, Chair Member.

So the cuts are actually pretty even across all four contracts.

It's 1.76, 1.75, 1.75, and 1.81.

So it's approximately the same at all providers.

The reimbursement is 62% that we received from the Child Welfare Services state funding.

Yeah, and I'm asking because the total amount of the cut for the preventive services is a small piece of ACS's budget.

So were there any other areas that...

Especially since it is so important to have preventive services and we've seen the outcomes from preventive services.

That's number one.

And number two is that if you cut and then you have to do remediation on the other end, that's even more expensive.

So that's what I'm asking here, if there's a way to do it differently.

I know the admin has made a decision.

I get that.

You know, the mayor ran on working with vulnerable families and also those that, you know, and the family unit.

And so I think it's just important to really push and ask that question.

Yes, and I understand your concern.

We did look across the entire agency, look to maximize revenues, look to find areas of underspending, and really kept our focus on the least impact to children, youth, and families.

We want to note that there are over 1,000 vacant slots in this program.

I understand.

I understand.

There are reasons for vacant slots, depending on when the contract gets paid, depending on a whole bunch of stuff.

Commissioner, you were a social worker.

You know what's involved sometimes with families and everything else.

So I get that, but I'm imploring that this be looked at again.

I don't want to take up too much more time because I know that.

My time is up.

Thank you.

Thank you for the question.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And as a fellow social worker who ran a nonprofit, I totally just want to reiterate what Chair Stevens was saying about how prevention is so key.

It actually saves the city money in the long run.

So I think it's smart to actually invest in more preventative services.

And then also just wanted to reiterate that it really does impact just the planning.

And I say this with, like, almost past trauma in my voice.

But, you know, it affects the planning of organizations, staffing, budgets, all of that.

So, you know, we'll definitely be in continued conversation.

I know there's going to be more questions about it, but I just wanted to reiterate that point.