“The county is not in the business of finding children for families. Rather, it is finding families for children,” says foster mother Sharon Astyk. “That sounds like a small difference but it’s an important distinction. The county is child-centered. This is not about going and picking out a kid.”
More foster homes are needed in Albany County not just because the number of children in the system has increased but also because 2018 federal legislation, which prioritizes family-based foster care, will limit reimbursement for certain residential placements in New York in 2021.
ALBANY COUNTY — On Tuesday, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy signed two local laws to help with environmental efforts: one is for a five-cent fee on paper bags at retail stores and the other creates a loan program for sustainable energy projects.
The requirement for a child’s placement should be a loving home. To deny children in need access to such homes because of prejudice codified into government rules is against the founding principles of our nation.
There are about 16,000 children in foster care in New York State, says Sandra Flach of Justice for Orphans. She wishes more churchgoers would open their homes to foster children, but says there are other ways to help.
“It’s a no-brainer to me,” said Dr. Gail Wasserman. “You want to identify risk systematically … That’s not the end game. The point is to get the needed services.”
ALBANY COUNTY — Two Albany Family Court seats are open since Margaret Walsh was elected to State Supreme Court and Gerald Maney is retiring.
Seven candidates are running in the June 25 primary to secure the Democratic line. Albany County Democrats may cast their ballots for two of the seven on Tuesday.
