Office of Children and Family Services
The enacted budget makes the following changes to the Executive Budget (analysis as of March 30, 2006):
- Restores $692,000 for the operation of three group homes in Gloversville, Mt. Vernon and Brooklyn and the 18 FTE positions attached to those homes by adding that funding to the maintenance undistributed appropriation in the Youth Facilities program
- Expands the current law requiring 12 month notice for the closure of any OCFS facility to include the same notice for staffing reductions and/or the transfer of operations to a private or not-for-profit entity. Expands existing language providing that the Commissioner must consult with other agencies to develop strategies to minimize the impact on the state workforce by providing assistance in obtaining state or other employment to specify employment in state-operated community-based services or other employment opportunities, and includes consumer advocacy groups in the notification process. While this language does not prohibit the privatization of any OCFS facility it makes it much more difficult to do so.
- 42 FTE Youth Facilities positions were to be eliminated through attrition under the Executive Budget’s privatization proposal. The Legislature did not restore funds for these positions despite making it almost impossible to privatize an OCFS facility in the current fiscal year.
- Directs that OCFS, in conjunction with DCJS, conduct a study of the prevalence, needs and services for sexually exploited children, to be provided to the Governor and Legislature by December 31, 2006. The group home restoration is not linked to this issue.
- Reduces nonpersonal service appropriation in the Central Administration Program by $1.8 million, which makes it the same appropriation as the SFY2005-06 enacted appropriation.
The Senate and Assembly budget bills recommend (analysis as of March 17, 2006):
Senate:
- Reduced the nonpersonal service appropriation in the Central Administration Program by $1.8 million.
- Took no specific action to prohibit the privatization of a current non-secure OCFS facility.
- Added $297,000 for the operation of the Gloversville community residential home.
Assembly:
- Added $500,000 to the maintenance undistributed appropriation in the Central Administration Program for suballocation to the Office of the Child Advocate to be created by separate legislation.
- Added specific language to A10256 that explicitly prohibits the privatization of any secure, limited secure, or non-secure facility currently operated by OCFS.
- Added $691,980 to the Youth Facilities program for the operation of community residential (group) homes to be converted as safe homes for sexually exploited youth (A9553B). However, A10256 includes language which would allow not-for-profit providers to operate safe homes. PEF opposes this language.
The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of January 25, 2006):
· An increase of 12 FTEs over the adjusted SFY 2005-06 FTE level. The adjusted level includes an increase of 56 FTEs in SFY 2005-06, all in Youth Facilities. The proposed changes include 2 new FTEs in Central Administration, 20 new FTEs in Family and Children Services, 50 new FTEs in Systems Support and a decrease of 60 FTEs in the Youth Facilities Program. The decrease in Youth Facilities positions is likely associated with the closure of 3 community residences and the privatization of a minimum secure facility.
· A pilot project to contract with a voluntary provider to manage one of its minimum security facilities under a performance based contract. This program is intended to find innovative program models to lower recidivism and evaluate alternative systems for serving youth in OCFS. The budget indicates that this pilot will be reviewed with “possible expansion to other facilities in future years.” The location of this facility needs to be identified at labor/management, we assume that “minimum security” means non-secure. There is no Article VII legislation that would enable this transfer to a private provider, or a specific line item. This suggests that the Governor may have the ability to do this without legislative approval, making it extremely difficult to prevent. Contractual Service appropriations for the Youth Facilities Program are increased by $892,000 (within the non-personal service appropriation for the program), which may reflect this proposal. PEF will vigorously explore all possibilities to oppose this privatization initiative. The specifics of this proposal need to be clarified in labor/management.
· Closure of three of six community residences, with partial savings ($300,000 of $792,000 in savings) reinvested into Evidence-based Community Initiative (EbCI). The Assembly Ways and Means Committee budget analysis indicates that these homes are located in Gloversville, Mount Vernon, and Brooklyn. According to Senate Finance Committee analysis 18 FTEs are associated with these closures, accomplished through attrition, early retirements and placement in other facilities.
· An increase of $700,000 in funding EbCI in a Maintenance Undistributed appropriation in the Youth Facilities Program. The budget documents state that funding for EbCI increases from $7.3 million to $7.6 million, but the specific line item is for $6.8 million. The additional $800,000 is likely part of a Local Assistance appropriation of $1 million for EbCI and post-placement care by local probation departments. This discrepancy should be clarified in labor/management.
· $11 million in capital funding for youth facility security improvements. According to the Division of Budget these funds will improve video surveillance systems, door and lock mechanisms and perimeter fencing to enhance the continued safety of the public and the offenders. According to the Assembly analysis, $8.6 million is provided for this purpose.
· Savings of $3.6 million associated with the use of State staff to replace consultants and contract staff, according to the Assembly this is associated with CONNECTIONS and the Child Abuse Hotline. There is an increase of $3.37 million in the personal service appropriation for the System Support program which appears adequate to support the 50 new FTEs for this program. The budget also shows a net decrease of $465,000 in contractual services for the Support Services program, suggesting there are contractual increases offsetting the decreases associated with the transfer of some positions to State Operations. This should be clarified at statewide labor/management.
· A $1.8 million increase in the non-personal service appropriation for the Administration program, a 19.3% increase. $765,000 of this increase is for contractual services and $955,000 is for equipment. The purpose for this increased funding should be explained at statewide labor/management.
· Aid to Localities increases include:
o A three year COLA for human services voluntary providers (2.5% in 2006-07, $7 million)
o $21.5 million for local social services districts through the Flexible Fund for Family Services
o $5 million for an OASAS/OCFS project to co-locate child welfare and chemical dependence specialists to direct persons to treatment and reduce foster care placements ($340,000 in the OASAS budget).
o Increased use of Home and Community Based waivers to increase mental health services for children ($1.95 million)
o $500,000 increase in funds for Child Advocacy Centers to improve the coordination and conducting of interviews of children who are victims of abuse.
Program Details-State Operations
Enacted
Proposed
Enacted
Change in
Percent
Program
2005-06 Budget
2006-07 Budget
2006-07 Budget
Appropriation
Change
All Funds
$419,746,000
$436,115,000
$434,959,000
$15,213,000
3.6%
General Fund
$218,647,000
$233,479,000
$232,323,000
$13,676,000
6.3%
Special Revenue-Federal
$81,478,000
$81,829,000
$81,829,000
$351,000
0.4%
Special Revenue-Other
$119,021,000
$120,232,000
$120,232,000
$1,211,000
1.0%
Enterprise Funds
$500,000
$475,000
$475,000
($25,000)
-5.0%
Internal Service Funds
$100,000
$100,000
$100,000
$0
0.0%
Administration Program
$50,877,000
$54,220,000
$52,372,000
$1,495,000
2.9%
Personal Service
$21,113,000
$22,565,000
$22,565,000
$1,452,000
6.9%
Nonpersonal Service
$9,583,000
$11,431,000
$9,583,000
$0
0.0%
Maintenance Undist.
$1,427,000
$1,470,000
$1,470,000
$43,000
3.0%
Special Revenue-Federal (SRF)
$528,000
$528,000
$528,000
$0
0.0%
Special Revenue-Other (SRO)
$18,126,000
$18,126,000
$18,126,000
$0
0.0%
Internal Service Funds (ISF)
$100,000
$100,000
$100,000
$0
0.0%
Head Start Grant Acct - (SRF)
$528,000
$528,000
$528,000
$0
0.0%
DFY Recreation and Welfare Acct.- (SRO)
$100,000
$0
$0
($100,000)
-100.0%
Grants and Bequests Acct. - (SRO)
$301,000
$301,000
$301,000
$0
0.0%
Youth Grants and Bequests Acct. - (SRO)
$1,500,000
$1,600,000
$1,600,000
$100,000
6.7%
Equipment Loan Fund for the Disabled - (SRO)
$225,000
$225,000
$225,000
$0
0.0%
OCFS Program Acct - (SRO)
$16,000,000
$16,000,000
$16,000,000
$0
0.0%
Youth Vocational Ed. Acct. (ISF)
$100,000
$100,000
$100,000
$0
0.0%
Comm Blnd & Vis Hndcppd
$40,022,000
$40,518,000
$40,518,000
$496,000
1.2%
Maintenance Undistributed
$8,114,000
$8,259,000
$8,259,000
$145,000
1.8%
Special Revenue-Federal (SRF)
$30,003,000
$30,354,000
$30,354,000
$351,000
1.2%
Special Revenue-Other (SRO)
$1,905,000
$1,905,000
$1,905,000
$0
0.0%
Rehab Serv/Basic Support Acct - (SRF)
$30,003,000
$30,354,000
$30,354,000
$351,000
1.2%
CBVH Gifts and Bequests Acct - (SRO)
$27,000
$27,000
$27,000
$0
0.0%
CBVH-Vending Stand Acct - (SRO)
$1,378,000
$1,378,000
$1,378,000
$0
0.0%
CBVH Highway Revenue Acct - (SRO)
$500,000
$500,000
$500,000
$0
0.0%
Deptl Admn Reimbsmt Pgm
$6,500,000
$6,500,000
$6,500,000
$0
0.0%
Maintenance Undistributed
($29,043,000)
($29,043,000)
($29,043,000)
$0
0.0%
Special Revenue-Other (SRO)
$35,543,000
$35,543,000
$35,543,000
$0
0.0%