FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Neighborhood Center Receives $1.5 Million Grant
UTICA, NY…The Neighborhood Center, Inc. has been awarded a New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Targeted Regional Permanency Resource Center grant for $1.5 million to be used over a five-year period.
The SOHO (Schoharie, Otsego, Herkimer, Oneida) Regional Permanency Resource Center (PRC) will work with local Departments of Social Services, and other providers of adoption services to aid families, so that children may be cared for in their own homes with their adoptive parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and will work to strengthen post adoptive and post guardianship families.
"The National Adoption Agency cites 'There are no unwanted children-just unfound families'. But families need ongoing support to keep their new families whole. The percentage of disrupted adoptions (between 6-16%), and the number of adoptions that are dissolved (1-5%) is unconscionable. It is an honor to work with parents and children as they create their new family like all families should be created-with love, respect, patience and support."
PRCs serve families with a newly-adopted child or those that have become legal guardians of a relative's child, providing supportive services and connecting families to resources such as parent training, peer support, mentoring, navigation for cross-system needs, therapeutic services referrals, counseling, respite care or other supports to help families address issues as they arise. PRC's help post-adoptive and post-guardianship families through the unique challenges they face following an adoption or guardianship. These families sometimes struggle and may need supports to help them avoid placing the children in foster care.
"OCFS is committed to providing post-adoptive and post-guardianship services to keep families together and to promote the well-being of children," said acting OCFS Commissioner Sheila J. Poole. "PRCs provide vital interventions and services to help families navigate the sometimes bumpy times that can occur after a child has been adopted or guardianship has been finalized."
Funding for the PRCs was made available through adoption assistance savings. The funds are being invested in post-adoption services, kinship caregiver services and services to support positive placement outcomes for children at risk of entering foster care.
The Neighborhood Center is a comprehensive Human Services Agency in Central New York. All Services are based on a philosophy of empowerment – Helping people to help themselves. Our mission is to enrich the lives of individuals and families through cooperative opportunities, resources, and advocacy which embrace diversity, promote empowerment, and foster responsible citizenship.
