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Letter of appreciation to the New York State Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) for telephone meeting of October 23, 2009
November 4, 2009
Gladys Carrión
Commissioner
Bill Gettman
Executive Deputy Commissioner
Bill McLaughlin
Director Regional Operations and Practice
NYS Office of Children & Family Services
Capital View Office Park
Rensselaer, NY 12144-2796
Dear Commissioner Carrión, Executive Deputy Commissioner Gettman and Director McLaughlin:
Thank you all so much for your valuable time and insight during last week’s conference call with the members of the Care Management Coalition of Western New York, Inc. It left us all feeling as if our dedication and continued efforts to provide top-level care to this region’s most at-risk youth and families is well recognized by each of you.
As was stated often during this conversation, it is our hope and intent to work more closely with you and your department in delivering increasingly more positive outcomes for these constituents. The Care Management Coalition truly wants to be a readily available and valuable resource in support of your difficult mission. We want you to clearly know that we share your commitment to make a significant positive impact on these children and families and that we are here to work with you in any relevant way to help this happen. Our agencies deliver quality services throughout the eight counties of Western New York and our Coalition has earned a solid reputation as an effective advocate for families and for setting a standard of providing the highest quality of community services possible.
These difficult times are often referred to as the ‘perfect storm.’ As our societal problems increase, the funds necessary for treatment continue to decline. We have learned and demonstrated that providing up-front, well-planned preventive dollars, along with adequate resources for successfully re-integrated residentially placed youth back into their families and communities, results in shorter stays, less recidivism and ultimately saves substantial dollars. This has also resulted in a more integrated, well coordinated regional relationship with the Erie County Office of Mental Health, Department of Social Services and Judicial System. With the closings of some OCFS facilities, these residents will now be cared for by local private agencies. By ultimately re-investing half the resultant dollars saved back into these community providers, the system will resultantly produce more positive outcomes for less overall cost.
Thank you for also agreeing to notify the respective Erie County officials about the planned continuation of the COPS funding stream. This news should have a dramatic effect on countless services currently on hold here. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance in helping you deliver that positive news.
We are excited to follow-up on all of the topics discussed during the call, including providing any possible support from currently non-represented Western New York region for your Juvenile Justice Task Force. With the growing successes being demonstrated here, particularly in Erie County with the Wraparound Program, these additional resources should prove tremendously beneficial in shaping the future model for New York State. Our coalition also remains poised to assist your office with potential educational opportunities that may be viewed as essential as a result of the ongoing systematic assessment. We are collectively ready, willing and able to be a strong voice and advocate for any of these societal issues.
Finally, we would like to re-state our sincere desire to have you visit ‘upstate’ Buffalo and allow us the opportunity to plan a full Care Management Coalition of Western New York meeting around your visit. I think you’ll agree that there’s a lot more going on here than great chicken wings and what’s left of the Buffalo Bills! There is, in fact, a growing, well-planned and integrated delivery system of child and family services that is growing in scope and effectiveness each day. It is absolutely our intent and commitment for this to continue. It is also our sincere hope that it could be the example you need to truly help implement state-wide changes where needed.
Thank you again for all you are doing for New York’s children and families. We look forward to hearing from you soon and meeting with you in person at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors/Members
The Care Management Coalition of Western New York, Inc.
Vito J. Borrello, President
James M. Sampson, Vice President
James J. Casion, Treasurer
James W. Coder
Brenda W. McDuffie
Deborah A. Merrifield
Diane L. Rowe
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