Impact of timeliness on youth in foster care
By Tangerine Clarke
Time is of the essence for
youth when preparing for a
successful stay in the fostercare
system, said Sen. Roxanne
J. Persaud, of the 19thSenatorial
District, Brooklyn, who
hosted a workshop at the NYS
Association of Black and Puerto
Rican Legislators (NYSABPRL)
48thAnnual Legislative Conference
in Albany on Feb. 16,
to identify and engage relatives
/ kin before foster care placement
becomes necessary.
Titled: Impact of Timeliness
on Youth in Foster Care, the
legislator chaired a panel of foster
care advocates and leaders
of child care agencies and commissions,
from across the state
to discuss utilizing emergency
shelters and congregate care
facilities only as the option of
last resort.
Critical areas, such as preventative,
preparation, and
important measures to prevent
and keep children out of foster
care, were addressed during
the hours-long workshop,
in the Legislative Office Building,
that Sen. Persaud, chair of
the Social Services committee,
presented.
The workshop looked at
ways to ensure kids get the
most effective services now,
without waiting, because in
many cases, the youth are put
into emergency shelters, while
agencies wait to figure the next
step.
This was one of the aims of
the workshop, and since Sen.
Persaud is a member of the
Children and Families Committee
in her district, with a
large population of foster care
Caribbean L 20 ife, Feb. 22–28, 2019 BQ
cases, she is always informed
about the issues that plague
the system.
Foster care reform has been
near and dear to the senator’s
heart ever since she was an
assembly member, and chaired
the sub-committee on foster
care. As such, she has pushed
to ensure children leave the
system in a timely manner.
On a personal note, Sen. Persaud,
former higher education
administrator and president of
the 69thPrecinct Community
Council in Canarsie, was quick
to help, after receiving a call
from her sister, who, was asked
to become a foster parent to a
member of her family. Since
then, she has been focused on
keeping children safe, while
monitoring their time in foster
care.
The aim of the workshop was
to ensure that attendees leave
with a better understanding of
how timeliness can make the
difference for youth entering
the foster care system.
Spreading awareness goals
and inspiring agencies across
the state to do more, to help
youth leave the system in a
timely manner was paramount.
The legislator, who also
hosted constituents of the 19th
Sen. District at the weekend
conference, thanked panelists
and their respective organizations
for taking the time to
provide an informed discussion
on Youth in Foster Care.
“Together, our voices help
the children and families of
New York in countless ways,”
said Sen. Persaud.
Panelist included: President
and CEO of New York Foundling,
Bill Baccaglini, Associate
Commissioner for Intergovernmental
and Interagency Affairs,
NYC-ACS, Stephanie Gendell,
Co-Chair of National CHAMPS
Campaign, President and CEO,
The Children’s Village, Dr. Jeremy
Kohomban, and Asst. Commissioner,
Office of Technical
Assistance and Program Support,
Division of Family Permanency
Services, NYC-ACS, Ina
Mendez
Guyana-born, Sen. Roxanne Persaud of the 19th Senatorial District in Brooklyn, pictured
in the State Assembly Chambers, with constituents who travelled to NY State Legislative
building, Albany, for the Impact of Timeliness on Youth in Foster Care workshop.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke