NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5536
SPONSOR: Jackson TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to increasing sala-
ries for foster care direct care workers; and making an appropriation
therefor
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This purpose of this legislation is to provide salary enhancements for
direct care workers employed by voluntary foster care agencies.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Provides legislative intent.
Section 2: Section 398-a of the social services law is amended by adding
a new subdivi- sion (2-d) which would provide payments made by local
social service districts to voluntary foster care agencies to increase
salaries during the 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28 rate years that will
be funded through the foster care block pant
Section 3: The sum of seventeen million is appropriated from moneys in
the general fund for reimbursements under the foster care block grant to
support salaries for direct care staff, caseworkers/case planners, as
well as the salaries of these workers' supervisors, working in the
foster care programs.
Section 4: Establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the child welfare workforce with-
in, the foster care system. Direct care workers have continued to come
to work every day throughout the pandemic, care of our most vulnerable
children, and are part of our essential workforce. While other essential
workers have been recognized or provided enhanced salary payments in
other human service programs (i.e., OPWDD, OMH, and OASAS), direct care
staff, case workers/case planners and their supervisors have not
received the same type of support through the Office of Children and
Family Services (OCFS).
Moreover, the agencies that employ the foster care workforce have been
historically underfunded by the state and as a result the compensation
provided to workers does not provide a living wage. Recent surveys
conducted by the Council of Family Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA), a
network of over 100 voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agencies
across the state, found that:
* Front line, direct care workers earned an average statewide annual
salary of $30,361 or approximately $14.60 per hour;
* Annual turnover for direct care workers is 49.4%;
* Caseworkers earned an average statewide salary of $40,752 or approxi-
mately $19.60 per hour (with a BA);
* Caseworkers employed by the state (NYS Grade 21) made more than
$24,000 more than caseworkers employed by voluntary foster care agen-
cies; and
* As of December 2021, residential foster care had a 20% vacancy rate in
positions.
Quality in the child welfare workforce is directly tied to the quality
of care and overall experience of child and families in the child
welfare system. If voluntary foster care agencies cannot recruit staff;
service levels are impacted. Staff turnover impacts treatment and causes
longer lengths of stay for children in foster care - this is an unac-
ceptable outcome for New York's children and families, and it is costly
for the state and counties as it extends a child's time in care.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A3411 of 2023-24: Referred to Children and Families/S3101: REFERRED TO
FINANCE
A10104-A of 2021-22: Reported to Ways and Means/S8851-A RECOMMITTED TO
FINANCE
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Yes
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
