The Division of Budget and Governor Cuomo’s staff are starting the preliminary work on the New York State budget for the next fiscal year. This year New York State Citizens’ Coalition for Children would like to include the Division of Budget director, Robert Megna, in receiving calls on the need for post adoption/permanency services. Please call Budget Director Megna at 518-474-2300 and tell him why services are needed and how it will save NYS money by decreasing the number of children in foster care and residential treatment. While NYS should do this because it is the right thing to do, this is the budget department so when you call you need to address the money saving aspects of post adoption/permanency services as well as the need. Thank you for your continued support. Next month we will focus on calling the Governors’ office.