Join us again this year for this opportunity to bring together peers, advocates, and policymakers to champion the rights and well-being of youth and families. Come to the Capitol to rally, share your story, and engage in meaningful dialogue with legislators as we inspire positive change in policies affecting families across New York State.

Lunch will be provided.

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

Submit Your Presentation Idea

Families Together in New York State (FTNYS) is seeking passionate individuals with lived experience for several positions across specific locations.

Family Policy Advisor – Help develop child welfare policies (Syracuse, Long Island, Statewide).
More information about FPA Positions

Each of these roles requires candidates to be based in the specific listed locations.

Family Workforce Development Coordinator - Represent/support the voice of families and needs of FPAs in New York State (Statewide).
More information about the WF Development Coordinator Position

Youth Public Policy Coordinator - Supports statewide advocacy efforts by engaging families, youth, and providers, analyzing legislation, and amplifying youth perspectives through policy development, public testimony, and collaborative systems change initiatives (Statewide).
Apply for Youth Public Policy Coordinator

Learn more employment opportunities

SAVE THE DATE

Upcoming Events

Raising Resilient Families

February 25, & March 7, 2025 10:00 AM

Learn More & Register

FANS Basic Training

March

11 & 12, 2025

10AM - 3:30PM

Learn More

Western Region Youth Job Fair

April 7, 2025

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Learn More & Register

Capital Region Youth Job Fair

April 15, 2025

4:00 - 7:00 PM

Learn More & Register

FANS Technical Assistance Office Hours

Multiple Dates

Learn More

FANS Supervisor Training

March 27, 2025 10:00-11:30am

Learn More & Register

GET ON THE BUS FOR FAMILY EMPOWERMENT DAY

Families Together is offering FREE round-trip bus transportation to individuals interested in attending the Family Empowerment Day Rally on March 3, 2025.

Bus stops are available in the following regions:

-NYC

-Central

-Long Island

-Westchester

-Western

The Family Empowerment Teach-In!

This month, FTNYS hosted a "Family Empowerment Teach-In," a webinar meeting where we went over the state of the current budget proposals from the governor's office. This is a great brief on what we will be fighting for during Family Empowerment Day. The full video is available here!

Healthy Minds, Healthy Kids Advocacy Day!

Families, young people, and advocates united at the New York State Capitol to demand action on the growing mental health crisis impacting children and youth across New York. Together, we called on state leaders to invest in behavioral health services, reduce wait times, and strengthen the workforce needed to meet these urgent needs. Demonstrators emphasized the need for a $195 million increase in children’s mental health funding and a shift toward peer-led crisis response instead of police interventions.

Families Together CEO Paige Pierce Testifies on the Urgent Youth Mental Health Crisis

Families Together in New York State (FTNYS) CEO Paige Pierce delivered powerful testimony at the FY 2026 Mental Hygiene Hearing, highlighting the urgent need for investments in youth behavioral health services.

Paige spoke on behalf of families struggling to navigate a broken system—where workforce shortages, low reimbursement rates, and insurance barriers leave children and youth without critical care. She called on lawmakers to increase funding for peer support, expand Medicaid and commercial coverage, and address the severe lack of access to mental health services.

Read the Testimony

Our Issues in the News:

2025 FTNYS Policy Priorities

These policy priorities are a comprehensive list of our legislative asks to improve the lives of New York's families and youth. Some of the highlights include.

Add an additional $5.5 million in flexible State Aid to Localities funds under program code 1650 for Family and Youth Peer Support Services to provide unrestricted, community-based support for families and young people, regardless of their insurance status.
Add $195M to rates for outpatient clinics, CFTSS and HCBS youth mental health services for children under Medicaid and CHP to expand access to 26,000 additional children, youth and families.
Add a 7.8% increase to rates and contracts for mental health, substance use disorder, and other human service programs which includes a 2.9% CPI increase (July, 2024) and the difference between human services COLA’s of the past three years (12.2%) and the CPI increases (17.1%) over that same period.
Pass the Solutions Not Suspensions Act (S.134 / A.118) and add $5M to support professional development of educators in order to reduce reliance on suspensions, restorative practices to replace punitive disciplinary measures and foster inclusive learning environments that address the root cause of school and student conflicts.
Create the Child and Family Well-Being Fund of $30M to establish a funding stream dedicated to community resources outside of the CPS system, driven by communities most impacted by poverty and child welfare, and promotes social fabric.
Create a $50 million Youth Justice Innovation Fund (A767 / S643) so that trusted, community-based organizations can apply directly to the state to provide a continuum of services from prevention, early intervention, to alternatives to detention, placement and incarceration for youth aged 12 through 25. This could fund all communities, including New York City. To date, only $569 million of the total $1.55 billion allocated for Raise the Age implementation has been spent.

FTNYS Policy Priorities

Credential Verification Tool for Youth and Family Peer Advocates

Do you know your

YPA or FPA credential expiration date?

Youth and Family Peer Advocates, their supervisors, and agencies can check the current status of any Provisional or Professional Credential using our online verification tools anytime!

FPA Credential Verification tool

YPA Credential Verification tool

Job Boards for Peer Professionals

Visit the National Association of Peer Support Professionals (N.A.P.S.) job board for peer support professionals seeking employment and employers seeking to hire peer support professionals in NYS and nationwide.

Learn More

Post your agency employment opportunities with us!

Visit the Families Together in NYS, Inc. (FTNYS) job board for peer support opportunities by region.

Learn More

New Webinar!

Pathway to a Family Peer Advocate Professional Credential (FPA-C)

Tuesday, 2/25 11AM - 12:30PM

Join us while we provide a detailed overview of the Family Peer Advocate (FPA) credentialing process. During this webinar, we will walk together through the 6-steps to an FPA Professional Credential. Attendees will learn about the qualifications, required training, and the application process. We will cover frequently asked questions, common mistakes, and technical assistance available through Families Together in New York State to support you on your journey of becoming an FPA and receiving the Professional Credential.

New Webinar!

Pathway to a Youth Peer Advocate Professional Credential (YPA-C)

Thursday, 2/27 11AM - 12:30PM

Join us while we provide a detailed overview of the Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) credentialing process. During this webinar, we will walk together through the 6-steps to a YPA Professional Credential. Attendees will learn about the qualifications, required training, and the application process. We will cover frequently asked questions, common mistakes, and technical assistance available through Families Together in New York State to support you on your journey of becoming a YPA and receiving the Professional Credential.

Are you interested in growing your Family Peer or Youth Peer Program?

Check out our new video series on programmatic and organizational growth and capacity building! This two-part series features five videos and resource handouts covering key practices like identifying funding sources, developing grants, and collaborating with community partners. You'll also learn about core principles of capacity building and peer leadership.

Explore the Resources Here

Learn More

Lift Every Voice and Sing

The song was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 to honor Abraham Lincoln's birthday and

was first performed by students at the segregated Stanton School in Jacksonville, Florida.

The song became a rallying cry during the Civil Rights Movement.
The song's lyrics express hope for freedom, safety and liberty, while also acknowledging the grief, loss & trauma Black Americans have faced.
The song includes references to the era of slavery, including the murders, beatings, family separations and other atrocities endured by enslaved people
The song's lyrics also allude to the rise of the Klu Klux Klan and the lynchings & legally sanctioned violence that accompanied it

The Black National Anthem is timeless. It echoes with the same power it did 125 years ago. In today’s polarized world, it stands as an anchor of resilience amidst the struggles families face navigating support for their children, the fear for the future of our safety nets and our civil rights.

This Anthem is a beacon of hope, unity, and resistance, it both inspires and calls to everyone who believes in human rights, equity, and inclusivity to lift every voice, and push back against the forces that affect marginalized communities and stand strong in the face of systemic and social challenges.

This Black History Month please reflect on the words of this anthem. Does it speak to you? Encourage you to tell your story and inspire Hope? Foster a call to action? Inspire Change?

“Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.” — Thurgood Marshall, 1978 University of Virginia commencement speech

Read the first verse of this moving song and click the link below to hear it sung on the NAACP Website.

"Breaking Barriers: Ending the Stigma Around Mental Health and Disability"

Feb 25, 2025 | 10:00 AM

Stigma in mental health & disability isolates, marginalizes & silences parents, children and communities.

Join us and learn the history around this form of discrimination & obtain strategies empower your voice and uplift the voices of your children.

Empower Abilities!

Mar 7, 2025 | 10:00 AM

Practical advice and guidance for helping our children with intellectual/developmental challenges. Gain insight into systems navigation, obtain advocacy and parenting skill tips that will help create a brighter and more empowered future for your child, your family and you!

Empower Youth Success 2025 is THE event for education professionals to push the boundaries and create high-quality expanded learning and development opportunities that support New York’s youth. Join in on an exciting four days of innovative learning, engagement, and fun with the New York State Network for Youth Success!

Prioritizing Black Mental Health This February

February is Black History Month, a time to honor the resilience, achievements, and contributions of Black communities. It is also a crucial opportunity to address the rising mental health challenges faced by Black youth. Recent data shows that suicide rates among Black adolescents are increasing at an alarming rate, underscoring the urgent need for equitable access to mental health support. By recognizing risk factors such as racial discrimination, economic inequality, and lack of mental healthcare access, we can work toward meaningful change. This month, explore resources to support Black mental health and build stronger, healthier communities.

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Youth Rights Training overview & success

Many individuals have a lack of knowledge on the rights of youth. To address this, Youth Power developed a thorough training course on the legal rights of youth. This training explored topics ranging from a youth’s rights in the juvenile justice system, employment rights, rights of immigrant youth, recipient of mental health and medical services rights, and more. Recently, WNY Statewide Youth Engagement Specialists Meghann Simpson and Precious Lugo had the opportunity to educate the YPAs at Mental Health Advocates of WNY. The engaging training was an incredible success. At the end of the training, participants all felt significantly more knowledgeable in youth rights and confident utilizing the skills needed to support youth in advocating for their rights.

To learn more about youth rights and request this training for your team or youth, reach out to Youth Power at YPinfo@ftnys.org.

Youth Peers Meetings Are Here for You

YPM is a statewide meeting intended for Youth Peer Advocates, Certified Recovery Peer Advocates (CRPA), youth leaders, and others in similar peer-based roles, such as peer mentors, that work with youth. We meet monthly for an open discussion surrounding best practices, challenges, and strategies in peer advocacy. These meetings provide a platform to share experiences, gain insights, and collaborate on innovative approaches to support youth. Topics include effective communication, mental health resources, substance abuse recovery, and community engagement. By fostering a supportive network, YPM aims to empower peers to enhance their skills and impact in their roles.

March-May 2025 Registration

Featured Presenter: Muhammad Irtaza Shares His Journey in Social Services

Youth Peer Meeting for March

We're excited to welcome Muhammad Irtaza (Pronouns: He/Him/His) as our featured speaker for March. Currently serving as a Youth Peer Advisor at The New York Foundling, Muhammad brings valuable perspective with his BA in Women's and Gender Studies and credentials as a Professional Youth Peer Advocate. Muhammad is deeply committed to advocating for marginalized communities and aspires to become a community advisor developing non-carceral justice programs. His presentation will draw from his personal and professional experiences in the social service field.

Families Together in New York State Western Region Job Fair for Youth Peer Advocates & Organizations Hiring Them

For Participants: Take the first step toward your dream career at the Western Region Job Fair by exploring exciting job opportunities, networking, and accessing professional resources like headshots and workshops

Participant Registration

For Organizations: Join our Western Region Job Fair to connect with top talent, promote organizational awareness, and streamline your candidate search in an engaging environment.

Organization Registration