Published December 18, 2008 @ 09:07AM PST

Domestic Violence advocates and staff of the African American Planning Commission turned out at New York's City Hall on Tuesday for a mock funeral to "mourn for victims of domestic violence who are dying for a safe home." The Voices of Women Organizing Project (VOW) was calling on City officials to expand and improve access to permanent and/or transitional housing for women and children who are forced to leave domestic violence shelters after their 135-day maximum stay. "87% of women and children in domestic violence shelters who leave after their 135-day stay do so without safe and permanent housing," said Susan Lob, Director of the Battered Women's Resource Center. "Many of these families are forced to either start over again in the City’s homeless system or return to their bat... Read More

Published December 16, 2008 @ 03:08PM PST

Governor David Paterson today proposed a series of spending cuts and new fees and taxes to close a total $15 billion gap in the State's budget this year and next. Major areas hit in the Governor's Executive Budget for FY2009-2010 are health care ($3.5 billion), education ($2 billion) and elimination of the STAR school tax adjustment rebate ($1.7 billion). Human services programs were targeted for $385 million in cuts while mental hygiene services (OMH, OMRDD, OASAS) will be cut by $425 million. Proposals to increase revenues by $3.1 billion focused on fees and sales tax increases while avoiding increases to the State's personal income tax rates. The Governor drew praise for his proposal to increase the basic allowance portion of the State's public assistance grant for the first time in... Read More

Published December 02, 2008 @ 09:40AM PST

A Western New York travel company owner who allegedly sold more than $90,000 in cruise packages to nonprofits and other organizations and then never booked their trips was arrested last week, according to announcement by Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo. Joseph Ehrenreich, owner of Destination Management Group of Buffalo, allegedly stole more than $90,000 in payments from more than 20 consumers, businesses and nonprofits for cruises he never booked. He was arrested and charged with 10 counts of grand larceny and multiple other charges. The top charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. Many of the victims of Ehrenreich’s alleged scam were volunteers, employees, and supporters of area nonprofits, including the Hospice and Palliative Care Group of Niagara County, ... Read More

Published December 02, 2008 @ 08:12AM PST

Providers of ACS-funded day care and early childhood education are grappling with the potential impact of steps recently announced by Commissioner John Mattingly to close a $62 million budget deficit in the program. The three-part program includes: A reduction of total combined funding for centers which also have separate Department of Education contracts to provide Universal Pre-K programs; The closing of vacant "classrooms" in 21 centers with historically high vacancy rates; and, The elimination next school year of an estimated 3,000 ACS-funded slots serving five year olds who will now be directed to kindergarten classes in City Public Schools with after-school programming provided through DYCD funded OST programs. Since 2005, "the cost of providing child care has continuously... Read More

Published December 01, 2008 @ 04:30PM PST

Hello everyone, This is an article I wrote several years ago. In light of World AIDS Day 2008, I thought it appropo to share my story with the family and with anyone who might be afraid of getting tested - regardless of what the outcome may be. It's rather long, but worth the reading. Additional HIV/AIDS resources, telephone numbers and links can be found at http://aapci.org/services/edwin-hiv-getting-tested.htm Gettting Tested - my story It was back in the mid 1980s and I was working with an HIV/AIDS service organization. I recall discussing the issue of getting tested with some of my co-workers and clients in a group setting when one client asked if I had ever been tested. Not ever having been tested or engaged in any form of “dangerous” sexual activity or ever shared ... Read More

Published December 01, 2008 @ 03:25AM PST

Cuts in government spending and dwindling donations provide a double whammy for many agencies. At least 100,000 nonprofits nationwide will be forced to close their doors in the next two years as a result of the financial crisis, according to Paul Light, professor of public service at New York University. The dire prediction was made Wednesday at a forum on the impact of the crisis on nonprofits and social service delivery in New York City. The financial crisis is already resulting in a steep drop in funding for these organizations, forcing them to cut their budgets, and eliminate staff and programs.   Mr. Light called on foundations to liquidate their assets to create a safety net for social services groups, or at the very least increase their annual pay-out rates from the curre... Read More

Published November 21, 2008 @ 11:58AM PST

An initiative to evaluate and strengthen the professional child welfare workforce is being launched by researchers at the SUNY Albany School of Social Work in partnership with the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA). The effort is being supported by a five-year $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Bureau. The project, which is being led by Associate Professor Nancy Claiborne and Assistant Research Professor Catherine Lawrence, will work with private agencies in New York State who serve children and families in the public child welfare system. The project, The New York State Child Welfare Workforce Initiative (CWWI), fills a significant gap in New York's continuum of care for children in the child welfare system by fo... Read More

Published November 21, 2008 @ 11:56AM PST

Tino Hernandez, Chairman of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), has been named as the new President and CEO at Samaritan Village, Inc. He succeeds Richard Pruss who has led the agency for the past 35 years. Hernandez, is leaving NYCHA after seven years. He had previously served as Vice President for Clinical Services at Samaritan Village before beginning a career in New York City government. In addition to his leadership at NYCHA, he has served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Mayor for Education and Human Services, and Deputy Commissioner for Adult Services at the Department of Homeless Services. Hernandez obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Adelphi University in 1986. A licensed social worker (CSW), he ... Read More