File #: Res 0201-2010    Version: * Name: Develop a more equitable method of billing New York City for placement of its youth in state run facilities in order to allow the city to reinvest monies into alternative-to-placement programs.
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Juvenile Justice
On agenda: 4/29/2010
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature and Governor Paterson to develop a more equitable method of billing New York City for placement of its youth in state run facilities in order to allow the city to reinvest monies into alternative-to-placement programs.
Sponsors: Sara M. Gonzalez, Brad S. Lander, Margaret S. Chin, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Lewis A. Fidler, Letitia James, Stephen T. Levin, Deborah L. Rose, James Sanders, Jr., Albert Vann, Jumaane D. Williams
Council Member Sponsors: 11
Attachments: 1. Committee Report 4/21/10, 2. Hearing Testimony 4/21/10, 3. Hearing Transcript 4/21/10, 4. Committee Report 4/26/10, 5. Hearing Transcript 4/26/10, 6. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 4/29/10
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
4/29/2010*Sara M. Gonzalez City Council Approved, by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
4/29/2010*Sara M. Gonzalez City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/29/2010*Sara M. Gonzalez City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/26/2010*Sara M. Gonzalez Committee on Juvenile Justice Hearing on P-C Item by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/26/2010*Sara M. Gonzalez Committee on Juvenile Justice P-C Item Approved by CommPass Action details Meeting details Not available
4/21/2010*Sara M. Gonzalez Committee on Juvenile Justice Hearing on P-C Item by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/21/2010*Sara M. Gonzalez Committee on Juvenile Justice P-C Item Laid Over by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available

Preconsidered Res. No. 201

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature and Governor Paterson to develop a more equitable method of billing New York City for placement of its youth in state run facilities in order to allow the city to reinvest monies into alternative-to-placement programs.

 

By Council Members Gonzalez, Lander, Chin, Comrie, Fidler, James, Levin, Rose, Sanders Jr., Vann and Williams

 

                     Whereas, The Office of Children and Family Services (“OCFS”) is the state agency responsible for residential and community treatment of New York’s court-placed youth; and

                     Whereas, Seventy-six percent of youths in New York state correctional facilities are from the New York City area; and

                     Whereas, The OCFS facilities can cost between $140,000 and $200,000 per youth per year; and                     

                     Whereas, The number of New York City youths sent to OCFS operated facilities declined sharply from approximately 1,100 youth in 2005 to approximately 650 youth in 2009; and

                     Whereas, New York City was billed forty-seven million dollars in 2005 and fifty-nine million dollars in 2009 despite a decline in the number of its youth placed in these facilities; and

                     Whereas, New York City continues to reduce the number of young people it sends to OCFS operated facilities, yet the city has failed to realize the cost savings that should have resulted from this decrease; and

                     Whereas, As long as the city’s costs for state placement of youth continue to rise, the city will be unable to utilize more of its resources for alternative-to-placement programs; and                     

                     Whereas, OCFS houses some of our neediest children, many of whom suffer from serious mental health problems, drug or alcohol problems, or developmental disabilities; and

                     Whereas, Studies show that placing youth in alternative-to-placement programs provides youth with better access to treatment and rehabilitative services than OCFS placement; and

                     Whereas, Youth placed in alternative programs have a lower rate of recidivism than those youth who are placed in state placement; and

                     Whereas, Nearly all OCFS correctional facilities are located in upstate New York, causing incarcerated youth to be moved far from their families and be cut off from the support systems in their communities they desperately need; and

                     Whereas, Alternative-to-placement programs are more beneficial to the rehabilitation process, are less costly and allow youth to remain in their communities; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature and Governor Paterson to develop a more equitable method of billing New York City for placement of its youth in state run facilities in order to allow the city to reinvest monies into alternative-to-placement programs.

WJH

4/7/10

LS #797