Performance data collected by the CPI shows that they have surpassed targets set for improved service referrals for child care between child care providers and providers of other neighborhood services; community participation in child safety decision-making conferences, foster parent recruitment and improving the quality of family visiting for children in care by hosting visits in family-friendly neighborhood locations.
According to Robin Smith of Excellence Baby Academy, a member organization of the Bedford Stuyvesant CPI: “Having all our partners in the same room is a great way to bridge gaps, get to know what services each of us provides and how best to help the families we work with. It keeps us accountable, because we can pick up the phone and find out much more easily if families received the help they need.”
Mattingly said he was very impressed with the positive impact of the partnership and promised continued ACS support. “We support the excellent work you are doing. We consider this to be part of the work we do on the frontline in our communities, and we will fight to make sure that it continues to be fully funded. We are not out of the woods yet, but we are hopeful that we will not see additional cuts to services that support families and children.”
The Commissioner and his staff heard from two parents who were supported by community representatives at their family case conference, foster parents, community representatives trained by the CPI to support families, and family visit hosts. Adam P., a father concerned about the safety of his four-year old daughter, said the community representative was very helpful in the decision to let the child remain with her mother while receiving preventive services. Said Mr. P. “we tried everything on our own to resolve [the parenting issues] but with the help of the community representative, we were able to work through our differences and put an official stamp on how to move forward.”
Presentations were made by the Family Team Conferencing Workgroup co-leader Clare B. Longo; Child Care, Head Start and Preventive Services Coordination workgroup co-lead Robin Smith, and by Bedford Stuyvesant CPI co-chairs community advocate Christina Richburg and Aubrey Featherstone Executive Director, Edwin Gould Services.
Representatives from Edwin Gould Services for Children, Brooklyn Perinatal Network, Inc., and SCO Family of Services were among the Bedford Stuyvesant CPI partners agencies who met with Commissioner Mattingly and his staff. The Commissioner was accompanied on the tour by heads of the ACS divisions of Family Permanency, Family Support Services, Budget and Finance, the General Counsel, Community and Government Affairs and Child Care and Head Start.
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