Albany County officials approve funding addition and contract renewals for family-centered case management and prevention programs

Albany County officials voted to add a state appropriation to the Department of Social Services (DSS) budget to implement a family-centered case management program and approved renewals of several prevention-service contracts with local providers, according to remarks during the meeting.

The county sought authorization to accept appropriations from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance for temporary assistance for needy families funding and to amend the DSS 2025–26 budget. "Department of Social Services is asking for the authorization to add appropriation for the '25, '26 budget of 496,153" a DSS representative said during the meeting. The representative described the funding as intended to hire caseworkers and launch the program in the coming weeks.

The DSS presenter said the new program will focus on families with mental illness, substance use disorders, developmental disabilities, people experiencing homelessness and domestic-violence situations. "Our target population will be those with mental illness, substance abuse disorders, developmental disabilities, our homeless population, and DV…