Seeking New York City Parents

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

Upcoming Events

Raising Resilient Families

February 5, 13, & 25, & March 7, 2025 10:00 AM

Learn More & Register

Family Empowerment Day

March 3, 2025

Learn More & Register

Western Region Youth Job Fair

April 10, 2025

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Learn More & Register

FANS Basic Training

Feb 4th & 5th

10AM - 3:30PM

Learn More

FANS Technical Assistance Office Hours

Multiple Dates

Learn More

COMING SOON

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.

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

Governor Hochul Delivers 2025 State of the State

This week, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her State of the State (SotS) address kicking off this year’s legislative session! Linked below is the the State of the State Book that summarizes her key announcements. As a reminder to our network, the SotS is part 1 of the Governor’s opening move where she highlights some of her priorities this session. We expect her Executive Budget Proposal by January 21st where there will be additional proposals in much more detail.

FTNYS Highlights:

Promising!

Major expansion of New York State’s Child Tax Credit by expanding eligible incomes and doubling or tripling the credit amount in certain circumstances. (TCA one pager linked here)
Creation of the
New York State Birth Allowance for Beginning Year (or the BABY Benefit) for pregnant or new parents currently accessing public assistance.
Expansion of Childcare facility construction grants to improve access
Universal school breakfast and lunch in all New York Schools which can help families save $165 a month on their grocery bill
Expanding the Network of Clubhouse Programs and Youth Safe Spaces
Expanding Medicaid coverage to provide pre- and post-release services for juveniles in carceral settings under 21 years of age and up to 26 for those formerly in foster care.
Expansion of Youth Mental Health First Aid and mental health linkages in afterschool programs
Expansion Intensive Support Engagement Team (INSET) program and Hospital-Based Peer Bridger Program

Concerning!

Expansion of involuntary mental health interventions such as Assisted Outpatient Treatment.
Possible School cell-phone bans that rely on punishment and suspension of students

Missing! (so far)

A 7.8% rate and contract increases for community human service agencies
$195M investment in the outpatient, home, and community-based youth mental health continuum, including Family and Youth Peer Support.
Mandating commercial insurance coverage for services currently offered under Medicaid but not private insurance (including CFTSS and HCBS.)
$5.5M in state aid for Family and Youth Peer Support programs (1650 programs)
Youth Justice Innovation Fund to fund local community-based programs
Child and Family Wellbeing Fund to empower communities most impacted by poverty and child welfare involvement to decide what assets they want to fund within their community.

Do you have thoughts on the State of the State proposals? Let us know! Email bhansen@ftnys.org.

Read the Full SOTS Book Here!

Healthy Minds, Healthy Kids Responds to Governor Hochul’s State of the State

The HMHK Campaign applauds Governor Hochul’s focus on youth mental health but is disappointed by the lack of attention to community based services to children. Two recent studies highlight extensive waitlists and unmet needs, underscoring the urgent need for $195 million to reform outpatient care and expand access for thousands of children across New York.

Read the full press release here.

Click Below for all of our advocacy letters!

Here’s how you can help:

Use the template below to send an email to legislative.secretary@exec.ny.gov
Personalize the highlighted sections with your information
Feel free to add your personal story or connection to mental health services, if comfortable

Email Template:

Subject: Mental Health Services Funding Advocacy

Dear Governor,

My name is [NAME]. I am from [CITY], New York. I have attached some letters that need your attention. New York is in a mental health crisis and we need investments from the state in order protect our youth and families. Thank you for your time.

Best,

[NAME].

Coverage Parity

Sign On Funding

Peer Support Ask

Children's Behavioral Health

Carve Out

Schuyler Center updates on CPRAC and Tax Credits

The annual State of New York’s Children Report provides a snapshot of the wellbeing of New York’s children and families and the challenges New York families are facing, as well as the recommended investments and policy solutions.

The 2025 Data Book includes the latest data and policy recommendations on the following:

Child Poverty:

Child Health:

Child Welfare:

A Family-First Approach to Child Welfare in New York State

Child Care:

Read The Full Report Here

Our Issues in the News:

Upcoming Advocacy Days!

It's that time of year! We have a bunch of upcoming advocacy days that FTNYS is either a part of or encourage you to get involved with!

Annual Child Care Advocacy Day

January 28, 2025 | Albany, NY

Join the Empire State Campaign for Child Care at the New York State Capitol to show that New York's children, families, and the child care educators they rely on deserve to be a top priority in this year's state budget!

$Right2RemainSilent &Youth Justice and Opportunities Act

February 11th, 2025

Join us for a day of action to pass the Youth Justice & Opportunities Act (S.3426/A.4238) and the Right2RemainSilent Children’s Early Access to Counsel bill (S.1099-A/A.8923-A).

Young people and advocates from across New York State are headed to Albany for an Advocacy Day on Tuesday, February 11th to protect the futures of our young people under the age of 26, enhance community wellbeing and provide emerging adults the opportunity to move forward in their lives without a criminal conviction by pushing to pass the Youth Justice & Opportunity Act. We are also fighting to protect all young people under the age of 18 by making sure they have nonwaivable early access to a lawyer.

Food and transportation will be provided. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email Aaliyah (aguillory-nickens@youthrepresent.org), Kate Rubin (krubin@youthrepresent.org) or Julia Davis (jdavis@childrensdefense.org).

Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids

Jan 22nd, 2025 |Albany, NY

The Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids (HSMFA NY) campaign is organizing an Advocacy Day calling for New York to establish a permanent statewide universal free school meals program in the FY 2026 State Budget.

Questions? Contact Abbie Watts: awatts@foodadvocates.org

Healthy Minds Healthy Kids Advocacy Day

February 10th | Albany, NY

Every year, families, young people, and advocates come together to urge state leaders to address the mental health crisis forcing families to wait months or even years for services they desperately need today.

In fact, a new study shows that 3 in 4 New York State Children who need behavioral health care are not receiving critical services.

Our state is facing massive staff turnover and vacancies, widespread provider shortages, and unacceptable waitlists for children and families. The need in New York State cannot be overstated. The first step to stability and improved access is investing $195 million to help attract and retain 1,300 additional providers and serve 26,000 more children. This investment would put New York on the path towards meeting the profound behavioral health needs of children and youth.

Join us in Albany as we advocate for policies and investments that help support the behavioral health needs of children and families!

NYC Family Policy Center's Report on Cash Assistance Reform

The following is a summary of the report published by the NYC Family Policy Center. The full report is linked below.

Since the major 1996 welfare reform, economic assistance in the U.S. has increasingly excluded families in dire need. In New York, despite Democratic leadership, cash assistance policies remain insufficient to meet families' basic needs. Current policies often undermine economic security and autonomy, leaving many struggling to afford essentials like housing, food, and healthcare. For example, the maximum cash assistance benefit for a family of three in New York City is $789 per month—41% below the federal poverty line. Families in shelters fare even worse, receiving only $189 per month.

Stringent eligibility criteria, such as income and asset limits, force families to exhaust their resources before qualifying for aid, leaving them vulnerable to future setbacks. Reforming cash assistance requires addressing systemic barriers and improving reliability. Families often face bureaucratic hurdles, including complex applications, long processing times, and stigmatizing interactions.

In 2024, 88% of NYC benefit-related fair hearings resulted in overturned decisions, highlighting the system’s unreliability. Recommendations from the Child Poverty Reduction Accountability Council (CPRAC) include doubling cash assistance benefits, removing resource limits, and expanding child tax credits.

Simplifying applications, streamlining communication, and offering immediate benefits during processing are also critical steps to reduce the burden on families and improve their ability to plan for the future. To buffer families against economic shocks, targeted support during critical life stages, such as pregnancy or aging out of foster care, could be implemented. Expanding emergency cash assistance and allowing flexible, short-term benefits to address crises like medical emergencies or behavioral health diagnoses could reduce family stress and child welfare involvement.

These measures, combined with broader reforms like Governor Hochul’s proposed expansion of child tax credits and universal school meals, could strengthen economic security and reduce racial disparities in poverty. However, further investment in cash assistance is essential to ensure all families can meet their basic needs and achieve economic stability.

Read the Full Report Here

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 Board for Peer Support 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

Become a Credentialed Family Peer Advocate (FPA-C)!

Family Peer Advocates have ‘lived-experience’ as the parent (biological, foster, adoptive) or primary caregiver of a child/youth with a social, emotional, behavioral, mental health, or developmental disability. They receive training to develop skills and strategies to empower and support other families. They foster effective parent-professional partnership and promote the practice of family-driven and youth-guided approaches.

Family Peer Support Brochure

Learn More

Become a Credentialed Youth Peer Advocate (YPA-C)!

A Youth Peer Advocate is an individual between 18-30 years of age who has self-identified as a person who has first-hand experience with emotional (mental health), behavioral challenges, and/or co-occurring disorders as a young person or has received services in any one of the child-serving systems (juvenile justice, special education, substance use disorder, or foster care). YPAs use their lived experience to assist in supporting youth in their resiliency/recovery and wellness.

Youth Peer Support Brochure

Learn More

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

Ashe! Affirm Support Heal & Empower!

Feb 5, 2025 | 10:00 AM

Join us and learn how to support your child with positive affirming language and simple strategies to improve behavior and self-esteem.

"When we affirm our children, we aren’t just building their confidence—we are teaching them to believe in their potential."

Dadvocating!

Feb 13, 2025 | 10:00 AM

Discover tools to support fathers, build connections,

and empower fatherhood engagement.

"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!

DEI Advances Mission of Peer Support at the NYC Behavioral Health Workforce Symposium

On January 8th, 2025, Simcha Weinstein, DEI Coordinator and Community Engagement Coordinator for Families Together in New York State, participated in the Behavioral Health Workforce Symposium in NYC. The event, titled "Bridging the Gap: Challenges and Solutions for a Thriving Behavioral Health Workforce," focused on building a resilient behavioral health workforce through innovation and collaboration.

Simcha contributed to a breakout session on advancing the peer support workforce in NYC, aligning with FTNYS's mission to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). His participation reflects FTNYS’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive systems that empower families and communities across New York State.

The symposium was sponsored by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development, and NYACH (New York Alliance for Careers in Healthcare). This collaborative effort highlights the importance of innovative solutions to strengthen NYC’s behavioral health workforce.

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!

Managing Mental Health During Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month

January is Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Month, a time to raise awareness about effective treatment options, reduce stigma, and encourage individuals to start their recovery journey. Navigating treatment can bring challenges, especially for those facing co-occurring mental health disorders. You’re not alone. This month, discover practical resources to manage triggers, build resilience, and access support. Let’s approach recovery with compassion, understanding, and connection. Learn more in this guide to support those impacted by substance use disorders.

View and Share

Youth Power Advisory Council (Statewide)

Youth Power is currently recruiting young adult representatives from across New York State who have lived and/or living experiences navigating systems and services. Some systems include mental health, substance use and addictions, child welfare, juvenile justice, behavioral health, special education, and much more. All applicants must be current residents of New York State and be ages 18 to 29 years old when they apply.

Apply Now

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.

Jan-May 2024 Registration

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