Family Policy Advisors are parents with personal experience in navigating the child-welfare system. Specializing in serving the NYS families involved in the child welfare system through Support, Education, Advocacy, and Training. Dedicated to family restoration.
Responsibilities:
- Advise & advocate in matters of policy, and education to all family, child/youth serving systems.
- Increase parent/caregiver involvement & advocacy across the child welfare system.
- Provide focused outreach throughout the state/region to promote &advance family driven care across all child/youth serving systems.
- Support the Peer Advocates workforce efforts across all child serving systems.
- Develop training material to address needs of Peer Advocates & provider agencies.
- Provide technical assistance to agencies across all child serving systems.
- Partner with all regional Policy
- Advisors from various other child serving agencies.
- Engage in training, developing, and empowering future family leaders across all child serving systems
Child-Welfare Services
Regional Office Telephone Numbers:
- Buffalo : 716-847-3145
- Native American: 716-847-3123
- Rochester: 585-238-8201
- Syracuse: 315-423-1200
- Albany: 518-486-7078
- Westchester: 845-708-2498
- New York City: 212-383-1788
- Long Island: 845-708-2498
A “family first” system that recognizes the value of keeping families together
Mission
Promote the reunification and restoration of families through support, education, advocacy, and trainings.
Purpose
To initiate positive change in the lives of families, and communities, through parent/caregiver voice.
VISION
Every family deserves the chance to be empowered with the knowledge & tools they need to be an advocate for their family, & the ability to exercise their rights.
Our Guiding Principles:
- Families & youth MUST be active participants in planning for their family & monitoring policies & services within their communities / state.
- ALL children, youth & their families must have timely, affordable access to appropriate services within their community.
- Families should NEVER have to relinquish custody of their children in order to receive care & treatment for mental health & substance abuse challenges.
- A trauma-informed perspective MUST be central to all policies impacting families & young people.
- Children & youth MUST receive an appropriate education in the least restrictive environment as possible.
- Our child welfare system should provide safe, supportive environments that promote emotional wellness, collaborative problem solving, community based services, & restorative justice approaches