• Sustain and increase funding for Healthy Families New York and support a comprehensive system of home visiting. Especially in this economically challenging time, New York must ensure smart investments in children and families. Healthy Families New York is one of the few programs funded by New York to meet the test of a stringent evaluation. Those findings show positive outcomes for high-risk families of young children, both in children’s health and development and in parents’ positive, non-abusive parenting. Sustaining and increasing funding for Healthy Families New York and other evidence-based home visiting programs is imperative in ensuring the future health and well-being of New York’s most vulnerable children.
  
  
• Protect child welfare financing and retain the Community Optional Preventive Services (COPS) monies by extending these funding streams until 2012. COPS compliments funding for programs such as Healthy Families New York, Nurse Family Partnership and other important services for prevention. To ensure this funding is properly used, mechanisms to monitor COPS should be created. Child welfare is financed by federal, state, and local government. Prior to 2008-09, funding was provided through a “65/35” uncapped formula. Unfortunately, during the 2008-09 budget negotiations, and in the face of a worsening economy, this formula was altered to 63.7% state share and 36.3% local share, which resulted in loss of services for children and families. New York should extend the current financing structure, returning to 65% state and 35% local, until 2012 to take advantage of a broader review of the system.
  
  
• Maintain $2 million for the William B. Hoyt Memorial Children and Family Trust Fund, which spurs the development and replication of innovative community-based services to prevent child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse. The Trust Fund’s seed funding has been responsible for the start-up and replication of some of New York’s most effective, research-proven programs, including Healthy Families New York, and the nationally renowned Shaken Baby Prevention Program started at Buffalo Children’s Hospital. Read our Preventing Family Violence policy briefing about the successes of the Hoyt Trust Fund (PDF).
  
  
• Enact legislation to allow personal income tax and corporate franchise tax check-offs to support child abuse prevention. It is estimated that New York government spends as much as $2.5 billion each year to treat the damages of child abuse, alcohol and drug abuse in later life, increased Medicaid costs, incarceration, foster care, prostitution and more. Child abuse can be prevented and several programs to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect are already in operation in New York State. The addition of a check-off box on the Personal Income Tax forms to support Prevent Child Abuse New York will greatly support these crucial programs and provide a convenient way for people to contribute to the prevention of child abuse and neglect in New York State and in their communities.

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