Budget includes good and bad for OCFS

By DARCY WELLS
Gov. David Paterson’s budget proposal includes plans to close the
Tryon Residential Center for boys in Fulton County, consolidate the
Annsville and Taberg Residential Centers in Oneida County and
“rightsize” the Lansing Residential Center in Tompkins County,
as part of $2.9 million in spending cuts at the state Office of Children
and Family Services (OCFS).

But the news is not all bad. The proposal to downsize Lansing is not
expected to include any loss of jobs and would increase the staff-to-
youth ratio. The governor also wants $9 million in new spending to add
169 positions for mental health and substance abuse services.

As proposed, it appears OCFS would have a net loss of 79 positions,
but it’s unclear how many of those would be PEF members and whether these reductions would be achieved through attrition or layoffs.

“We are encouraged the governor recognizes the need for additional staff in the areas of mental health and substance abuse services.”
— Kenneth Brynien, PEF President

The state Division of Budget estimates an overall savings of $3 million for fiscal year 2010-11 and $15 million the following year.

The closing and consolidations would not take place until January 2011, in accordance with the one-year closing notification agreement.

“For years, we have highlighted the need to reform the juvenile justice system,” said PEF President Ken Brynien.

“We are encouraged the governor recognizes the need for additional staff in the areas of mental health and substance abuse services. These are services our members provide, and the same services the U.S. Department of Justice and the governor’s task force on transforming juvenile justice found to be lacking at OCFS facilities. With the right mix of counselors, psychologists and teachers you can turn these youths’ lives around.

“We agree these much needed additions would help move the agency toward a more therapeutic, rather than a correctional, model of rehabilitation,” Brynien said.

But the budget proposal cites high vacancy rates as the reason for targeting certain facilities for closing and consolidation, and this is an area of concern.

Brynien said the union recognizes the excess capacity, but is concerned it is a result of Commissioner Gladys Carrion’s personal agenda of handing off troubled youths to community-based programs that have no performance standards and no real accountability.

“The commissioner has systematically emptied the targeted facilities with a goal of closing them. We need to make sure potentially dangerous youths aren’t being put on the street without adequately addressing the safety and service needs.

“We remain committed to preserving the vital services our members provide and ensuring troubled and sometimes dangerous youths are not recklessly cast into communities without adequate support,” Brynien said.

As part of it’s budget fightback, PEF is educating legislators and launching an ad campaign, warning of the risks of dumping troubled youths into ill-prepared community-based programs.