The Children and Family Services program strives to create a team supported environment, and encouraging active participation in the planning and decision making for the child.

Ultimate goal is to increase the child’s ability to remain in the family, school and community while giving families the opportunity to develop the skills they need to empower themselves.

To report suspected child abuse / Child Maltreatment in New York State, call 800-342-3720. This is the toll-free number for the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment, operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services.

suchocki@nycap.rr.com

Adult Protective Services (APS) is a state-mandated case management program that arranges for services and support for physically and/or mentally impaired adults who are at risk of harm. APS seeks to promptly resolve the risks faced by eligible clients with service plans that will enable these individuals to live independently and safely within their homes and communities.

This program, currently offered by Cattaraugus Community Action and Parent Education Program, involves a strength-based approach for families and others to come together to make a plan for their child(ren) to keep them safe and provide permanency. It enables children to strengthen relationships and vital attachments with family, community, and culture. During the conference, an information sharing time is spent with the family and other key supports (either personal or professional), who review the family strengths and concerns, and to exchange information. The family then spends time to discuss and make a plan of their own. The plan is then discussed, and the Department of Social Services agrees with the plan as long as it keeps the child(ren) and is in his/her (their) best interest.

Chenango Health Network’s Community Health Advocate Program is part of the Community Service Society of New York statewide network of agencies helping New Yorker’s use their health insurance and access the health care they need.

Chenango Health Network (CHN) Advocates help individuals and families to resolve their health insurance problems regardless of whether they are privately insured, publicly insured, or uninsured. Advocates also answer questions, provide information and offer support on a variety of health-related issues so that individuals and families get the health care they need.

Adult Protective Services is a mandated program created by law to protect vulnerable adults over the age of 18 from harm due to their inability to care for themselves or because of neglect or abuse by others. After receiving the report of an individuals suspected to be at risk, a unit worker will complete a home visit to assess the individual and current situation, then work with the individual and family to coordinate any recommended services.

Adult Protective Services (APS) are provided to individuals over the age of 18 years who are at the risk of harm due o their inability to care for and/or protect themselves or are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation of others.

To meet the criteria required for an APS investigation the individual must:

- Have reduced capacity for self-care.

- Be at risk or harm or have an unmet essential need.

- Have no appropriate person able or willing to assist them.

Staff investigates allegations, including but not limited to, mental, emotional, sexual, and physical abuse, self-neglect, unsafe living conditions, and financial exploitations. APS worker develop service plans for individuals to remedy an identified unmet and or essential need. Services are provided either directly through the Adult Protective Services Unit or through referral to community based agencies.

Every adult is treated with respect, knowing that they have the right to make their own decisions. It is important to note that Adult Protective Services itself has no legal authority on its own to remove any person from their home or other setting or to take any involuntary action. In limited cases and those with the most serious need, individuals are place by the Court under the guardianship of the Commissioner of the Department of Family and Community Services.

To make a referral to APS:

- Call 315-798-5968 during the hours of 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday

You can call 1=844=697=3505 to reach OCFS Human Services Call Center Helpline for the Bureau of Adult Services. Call center staff can answer basic questions and provide contact information about the Family Type Home for Adults programs and Adults Protective Services Program. They can also take messages to be sent the the local district.

Helping Hands Caring Heart is a crisis center to help families with children in need of secure housing, clothing & baby items. This center helps pregnant women, single mothers or fathers, families in crisis, grandparents raising grandchildren, and foster parents. This agency helps connect these individuals with programs to get them out of their crisis situation.

Overseen by the Department of Social Services (DSS), Child Protective Services (CPS) is aimed at identfication, treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect. Investigates reports of abuse/neglect and arranges provision of services nessessary to ensure protection of children and to stabilize family life whenever possible.