Bill > A00063

This bill establishes the Child and Family Well-Being Program, a comprehensive initiative designed to support families in communities with high rates of child protective system involvement. The program creates a special fund and an advisory board to distribute grants to community-based nonprofit organizations that can help families through voluntary, community-led support services. The bill specifically targets communities with the highest rates of child protective investigations, removals, and racial disparities, aiming to address systemic challenges that disproportionately affect African American and Latinx families. The program will identify ten communities (no more than one per county) and select local "community anchor entities" to lead an asset-based community development process, which will assess local needs and distribute grants to "grantee entities" that provide voluntary support services. The advisory board will be composed of nine members appointed by the governor, senate, and assembly, ensuring diverse representation including parents, youth, attorneys, and community leaders with direct experience in child welfare. The program emphasizes a holistic approach to family support, focusing on addressing poverty-related challenges, preventing child protective system involvement, and promoting family preservation and healing. An annual report will be required to track the program's progress, grant recipients, and recommendations for broader systemic improvements.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A63