Human Services Committee approves child‑advocacy contracts, seeks state victim‑services funding and youth bureau allocations

The Allegany County Human Services Committee on Jan. 15 approved several contracts for the county’s Child Advocacy Center and social‑services programs, accepted state funding for the child‑advocacy operation and authorized next steps for youth bureau grants.

Dan Horn, commissioner of social services, reviewed multiple contracts budgeted for 2025. For the Child Advocacy Center the committee approved service contracts that include maintenance/cleaning with Cattaraugus County Rehabilitation Center (Olean office), medical director services with Dr. Coyne ($30,000 annual contract), forensic‑nurse examiner services at $300 per exam (Brandice Gaylor and Sheryl Weier), laboratory services billed at Medicaid rates with Olean General Hospital, and psychological services with Dr. Zuckerman ($12,000 annual contract). The committee approved these contracts by voice vote.

Horn also presented a county award from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) for $66,600 to support the Child Advocacy Center. Horn said the funds will cover software/subscription costs (for Cellebrite device extraction used with law enforcement) and partial salary/fringe costs for two Child Advocacy Center employees. The committee voted to accept the OCFS award.

On social‑services contracts, the committee approved a DNA testing agreement with Laboratory Corporation of America (Laboratory Corp) at $170 per test with a maximum county payment of $18,000; a contract for a Southern Tier traveling teacher program to support equivalency diplomas ($142,160 budgeted); Legal Assistance of Western New York as the mandated legal service referral (maximum $10,000); psychological assessment services with Dr. Anderson at $170/hour (maximum $18,000); and a contract with Allegany County Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse for a mandated on‑site drug and alcohol counselor (maximum $69,500). Horn said many of these services are reimbursable through state and federal funding streams.

The committee approved preventive‑services and family‑support contracts, including Together for Youth (after‑school mentoring), Catholic Charities of Rochester for supervised visitation and parenting classes (budgeted at $292,861), Hillside Children’s in‑home parenting ($123,600), Families First parent education ($94,160) and Families Together (more intensive parent education program). Horn said preventive services are mandated and are intended to be more cost‑effective than foster‑care placements.

The committee also authorized four qualified‑individual vendors to perform assessments required under the Families First Prevention Services Act for children placed in qualified residential treatment programs; Horn said timely assessments (30‑ and 60‑day reviews) preserve federal Medicaid reimbursement eligibility.

Youth bureau actions: the committee authorized the chairman and treasurer to sign the resource allocation plan (RAP) so the county can issue RFPs for youth sports and youth‑development program funds; Horn said 13–14 organizations applied in the prior round for sports allocations.

Finally, the committee granted permission to apply for a three‑year Office of Victim Services (OVS) grant to support the Child Advocacy Center. Horn said the center’s operating cost at a bare minimum runs about $700,000–$750,000 per year and that a local match of up to 25% might apply; he said the county had previously received match waivers and would seek them again if available.

Votes at a glance - Child Advocacy Center service contracts (medical director, forensic nurses, lab services, psychologist, maintenance): approved (voice vote: aye; carried). - Acceptance of $66,600 OCFS award for Child Advocacy Center: approved (voice vote: aye; carried). - Social‑services contracts (Laboratory Corp DNA testing; Southern Tier traveling teacher; Legal Assistance of WNY; Dr. Anderson psychological services; Allegany County Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse): approved (voice vote: aye; carried). - Preventive‑services and family‑support contracts (Together for Youth; Catholic Charities of Rochester; Hillside Children’s; Families First; Families Together): approved (voice vote: aye; carried). - Authorization for four qualified‑individual vendors for Families First assessments: approved (voice vote: aye; carried). - Authorization for youth bureau RAP signature and issuance of RFPs: approved (voice vote: aye; carried). - Authorization to apply for three‑year Office of Victim Services grant (possible up to 25% match): approved (voice vote: aye; carried).

Horn and other staff answered committee questions about funding sources, reimbursement (Medicaid and state/federal grants) and the rationale that preventive services reduce the likelihood of more expensive foster‑care placements. The committee did not change eligibility policy or adopt new mandates; actions were approvals of contracts, grant acceptances and authorizations to proceed with procurement and grant applications.