Unfortunately even with a budget surplus, statewide post adoption services were not included in Governor Cuomo proposed budget. The next step is for the NYS Senate & Assembly to review the proposed budget, agree on changes and work with the Governor on a final budget agreement. Our role now as advocators for statewide post adoption services is to contact key legislators to ask them to add statewide post adoption services to the budget. In past years the legislators have added limited post adoption services funded by TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) due to in part by advocacy efforts by families. NYSCCC volunteers will be visiting representatives in their Albany offices in February. Until the budget is passed, NYSCCC will be sending out periodic updates encouraging you to contact legislators. Key legislators include Senator Dean Skelos, and representatives on the Senate Finance www.nysenate.gov/committee/finance & Assembly Ways & Means http://assembly.state.ny.us/comm/?sec=mem&id=41 committees. If your local representative in on one of those 2 committees let them know you are a constituent and consider visiting them in the representative’s district office. Please forward this email to anyone you think who would be willing to advocate for post adoption. Please call, write, or visit these legislators: Senator Dean Skelos, Senate Majority Leader (516) 766-8383 (518)455-3171 Email: skelos@nysenate.gov John DeFrancisco, Senate Finance Committee Chairperson (315) 428-7632- Syracuse or (518) 455-3511 Albany Email: jdefranc@nysenate.gov Herman Farrell -Ways & Means Chairperson , 212-234-1430, 518-455-5491 Albany FarrelH@assembly.state.ny.us