April 7, 2010, Issue #1

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 Joint Newsletter of the Children's Plan, Systems of Care,
Commssioners' Cross-systems and CCSI Initiatives
In This Issue
Updates
Respite Survey
Earned Income Tax Credit
Spread the Word!
Quick Links

 
Children's Plan

Families Together of NYS

Coordinated Children's Services Initiative (CCSI)

Employment Opportunities 
 
 
 
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Greetings!
 
Welcome to the first ENGAGE Newsletter!
 
The focus of this and future ENGAGE Newsletters is to deliver pertinent information on: 

  1. The Children's Plan;
  2. The Commissioners' Committee on Cross-systems Services for Children and Youth;
  3. Systems of Care; and
  4. The Coordinated Children's Services Initiative (CCSI)
This monthly newsletter serves as an example of our continuing efforts to improve communication across New York State's localities, regions and state. In addition to launching the ENGAGE Newsletter, the Council on Children and Families (CCF) has developed initiative web pages for The Children's Plan, The Commissioners' Committee on Cross-systems Services for Children and Youth, and CCSI.  
 
The Systems of Care web page is currently being developed and will be live in early May. As we develop ENGAGE Newsletters, we will create a newsletter archive link on our web portals that will allow visitors to easily browse previous newsletters and see the progression of our cross-systems work. Another important aspect of our statewide communications is the new interactive ENGAGE mailbox. The mailbox, [email protected] is used on the CCF website for all ENGAGE initiatives. This mailbox provides an easy way for interested parties to easily communicate with ENGAGE staff.
Updates 
The Commissioners' Committee on Cross-systems Services for Children and Youth
The Commissioners' Committee gathered with family and youth partners on March 17, 2010 to review progress on Children's Plan initiatives, workgroups, regional meetings and systems of care. The Commissioners' Committee meets quarterly and their senior staff meet monthly with family and youth partners. Senior staff have formed the following workgroups to document issues and problem-solve:
  • Respite Care and Services
  • Regulatory Impediments
  • Reducing Duplication
  • Cross-systems Training
More information on the outcomes of these workgroups will be shared in future ENGAGE newsletters. 
 
Systems of Care
The NYS Systems of Care Steering Committee has been meeting regularly and devised an overview description of the Systems of Care mission, values, vision and overarching goals. Two workgroups are being formed that will focus on systems of care information and dissemination and policy and regulatory issues. These workgroups will work closely with CCF and ENGAGE staff to ensure cross-pollination of information with the senior staff workgroups. The NYS Systems of Care Steering Committee is also working on the development of a system of care definition for New York State.
 
Regional and CCSI
The Regional Technical Assistance Teams (RTAT) have historically served several functions:
  • update members and assign counties to child and family services initiatives and opportunities;
  • provide input and feedback on state and local activities;
  • support communities in their CCSI and other cross-systems processes; and
  • plan and deliver cross-systems technical assistance and training sessions for service systems, youth, and family stakeholders on a regional level.
RTAT lead contacts meet monthly to receive information relative to the Commissioner's Committee, Children's Plan and Systems of Care and share regional information with each other. The RTAT lead contacts are currently working on a RTAT description that is congruent and flexible. 
 
Respite Survey 
The Respite Services Workgroup has taken on the task of examining the many issues related to respite across systems. Both the Commissioners' Senior Staff Workgroup and the Commissioners' Cross-systems Workgroup had very dynamic discussions related to the issues surrounding respite care. The Respite Services Workgroup has prepared a brief survey (only five questions) to learn more about experiences and/or difficulties accessing respite services.
 
We really appreciate your time in helping us more clearly identify and understand the issues surrounding respite care.
 
Earned Income Tax Credit-EITC
 
The Earned Income Tax Credit (or EITC) is a credit for people who do not earn high incomes. EITC can reduce your taxes and result in a refund. In simple terms, workers keep more of what they earn.

An additional tax resource for people with disabilities interested in accessing the EITC is available through the Real Economic Impact Tour (REI Tour), a national initiative that provides free tax preparation and filing assistance to low-income people with disabilities.

Information on the Real Economic Impact Tour is available at: http://www.realeconomicimpact.org/REI-Tour.aspx

The Real Economic Impact Tour (REI Tour) is a national initiative delivering free tax preparation and filing assistance, along with other asset building strategies to low-income persons with disabilities. The REI Tour is a public-private collaboration designed to provide Americans with disabilities insight, tools and resources to improve their lives through financial education, training and counseling.

Spread the Word! 
We have added sign-up boxes for the ENGAGE Newsletter to all CCF ENGAGE web portals (links provided above) and have shared the HTML sign-up subscription code with all of our partner agencies so they can help us sign up contacts interested in receiving updates on cross-systems activities and progress. You can help spread the word by forwarding this e-mail or telling people to visit the Children's Plan web portal to subscribe.
 
We have a lot of exciting joint initiative work underway and we thank you for your interest in our cross-systems initiatives. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please e-mail us any time at [email protected].
 
Sincerely,
Bill Przylucki
Director, NYS Children's Plan 
 
Brooke Schewe
Statewide Systems of Care Director