Committee approves May proclamations and accepts foster-care and drinking-water grants

The Saratoga County Health and Human Services Committee on April 1 approved a series of routine resolutions: a proclamation declaring May 2025 Mental Health Month, a proclamation declaring May 2025 Older Americans Month, a resolution accepting $25,000 in adoption and legal-guardianship incentive funds from the Office of Children and Family Services, and a resolution accepting a drinking-water enhancement grant from the New York State Department of Health.

Committee members moved and seconded each item and recorded the usual "ayes" to approve the measures. The minutes from the committee's previous meeting were also approved at the start of the session.

Commissioner Johnson asked the committee to adopt the Mental Health Month proclamation; committee members said they would coordinate related activities, including tabling with the public health department and social media outreach. Deputy Director Taylor, speaking on behalf of Director Cross, requested the Older Americans Month proclamation, noting the county has more than 60,000 residents age 60 or older and that this year's theme is "Flip the Script on Aging." Both proclamations were approved.

Commissioner Maxwell told the committee the county received $25,000 from the Office of Children and Family Services on Feb. 14 and must spend it by June 30. Maxwell said the funds will support foster-parent recruitment (advertising, materials and event costs) and efforts to help kinship foster parents meet approval requirements — for example, paying for fire and safety improvements, sleeping arrangements, car seats, medical clearances and transportation. Maxwell provided department statistics: 26 children currently in foster care, 28 direct placements (placements with family outside the child's home), five children ready for adoption now, six adoptions in 2024 and 21 foster families currently certified by the Department of Social Services. The committee approved a resolution to accept the funds and amend the county budget.

Dr. Kools told the committee the New York State Department of Health award is slightly more than $150,000 and will offset costs related to enforcing state regulations for public water supplies, including staff salaries. Kools said the grant runs five years at about $150,000 per year and that the amount for this year is already included in the county budget. The committee approved acceptance of the drinking-water enhancement grant.

All four measures were approved by voice vote at the meeting; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the committee transcript.