Monday, March 16, 2026, 9:30 a.m. (New York City time), Council Chambers - City Hall
Committee: Committee on Children and Youth
The Committee on Children and Youth held a FY2027 preliminary budget hearing in two parts: first with the Administration for Children's Services (ACS), then with the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), followed by public testimony. Council members questioned ACS on child care voucher waitlists (~17,000 children), juvenile detention population growth and the Horizon Juvenile Center annex, Raise the Age state reimbursement, foster care cost shifts, kinship placements, and the Children's Center staffing plan. DYCD questioning covered Summer Rising baseline funding and redesign, the Compass after-school expansion, runaway and homeless youth bed rates, Beacon and Cornerstone contracts, SYEP, and agency staffing. No votes were taken; the hearing was an oversight and budget discussion. Several dozen members of the public and organization representatives testified, largely requesting funding restorations, enhancements, and baseline investments.
0:08 Morning. Good morning and
0:08 welcome to the New York City
0:09 council and hearing for the
0:10 community, children and youth,
0:11 please. Science all self only
0:12 trying to devices if you wish
0:13 to participate in today's
0:14 hearing. Please fill an
0:15 appearance card with the
0:16 sergeant arms, if you need
0:17 anything else, please contact
0:19 us are at arms moving forward.
0:20 No one is to approach the days
0:22 just dean's. We're ready t
0:27 obegin. Good morning, everyone
0:28 and welcome to the first part
0:29 of today's budget hearing my
0:31 name is counsel dorothea
0:32 Stevens and I serve as the
0:33 chair of committee on children
0:35 and use the first part of
0:36 today's committee hearing is
0:37 on fiscal 20 27 preliminary
0:41 budget and the 20 26 slimmer
0:42 and the polonium mayors
0:44 management report for the
0:46 administration for children's
0:47 services or thank you. So the
0:49 interim commissioner melissa
0:50 has this for joining us today.
0:52 We're also joined by deputy
0:55 speaker Nantasha. Williams
0:56 financial chair Linda Lee the
1:01 testimony the following
1:02 testimony. Questions from we
1:03 will hear from me at 12 noon
1:06 and then public testimony
1:07 around two. 30. Thank you t
1:10 oall my all the advocates and
1:11 the community members who have
1:13 joined us today, I will keep
1:15 my comments here brief as I
1:16 always do and request that the
1:18 interim commissioner to kee
1:19 pall testimony as brief as
1:20 possible. So we can move t
1:22 othe questions from council
1:25 members schools 20 27
1:28 preliminary budget is or 90%
1:34 greater than the fiscal 20 26
1:36 adopted budget. The
1:37 preliminary plan includes
1:39 increased investments in
1:39 several areas, including child
1:43 care about detention programs
1:43 in foster care payments no
1:45 20 26 in a playground plan
1:51 growing of additional funding
1:54 in fiscal 22 30 is the center
1:58 of so many issues important t
2:00 othe council this budget cycle
2:03 providing free or low cost
2:04 child care strengthening our
2:08 City systems, our cities,
2:09 threats and I'm 13.
2:10 Uncertainties from hostile
2:12 federal government shining
2:12 light on areas where under
2:15 mandate or cost. Originally
2:17 braun by the state have deeply
2:19 affected our City agencies. I
2:21 was delighted to see that the
2:22 data in the m r. Showed a 3
2:27 98% increase in child care
2:27 about you. Enrollment in the
2:30 first four months of fiscal 2
2:32 022 when compared to 20 25 2 2
2:34 the sexual I'll successful
2:36 outreach and much more
2:38 efficient application process.
2:41 In fact, demand for chalker
2:42 about just have grown so much
2:43 that the now maintains a
2:45 weightless for over 1600 olivo
2:49 eligible children providing
2:50 free or low cost childcare is
2:52 one of the most important
2:52 challenges our City faces or
2:56 one of them, and I loo
2:57 kforward to discussing work in
2:58 this area as well as the
3:00 urgent need to maintain the
3:02 agency's current caseload in
3:04 the weightless juvenile Justin
3:06 is also area of ongoing
3:07 concern to the council,
3:10 according to the ppm are for
3:11 the first time since fiscal 20
3:15 22, has seen a decrease in
3:16 detention admitted it admit
3:19 saw admissions to juvenil
3:20 edetention is declined by 3.7%
3:23 and the first four months of
3:24 20 26, compared to the same
3:26 period fiscal 20 25 immodest a
3:30 modest but meaningful
3:30 improvement. I speak, sir. The
3:31 importance of the agency's
3:34 preventative services at the
3:35 same time they the agency's
3:37 daily population in juvenile
3:40 detention increased by 21.5%
3:44 for the first four months of
3:44 fiscal 20 26 asked compared t
3:46 othe same period fiscal 202
3:49 5this decrease in emissions
3:51 prepared with increased this
3:54 dip decrease in admissions
3:55 paired with the increased
3:57 average daily population can
3:58 be explained by longer average
4:00 looms of state by juvenile
4:01 detention facilities for use
4:02 ,I would like to learn more
4:05 about of this increased youth
4:08 population with more complex
4:09 or serious cases requiring
4:10 extended periods inhe t I
4:12 would also let's learn about
4:14 the agency's plan to ensur
4:14 ethat the trauma, informed and
4:16 community based treatments is
4:19 provided whether whenever
4:20 possible, and preventive volvo
4:21 and juvenile system in the
4:22 first place I look forward to
4:25 hearing about dealing with
4:26 staffing issues as well as
4:27 capital upgrades and
4:28 conditions at the two securit
4:32 ydetention facilities. Horizon
4:33 crossroads. I look forward t
4:37 otoday's discussion and budget
4:38 actions, including the
4:40 preliminary plan performance
4:41 matrix, including the are
4:44 capital plan and virtual
4:46 programs such as child vital
4:48 programs such as child care
4:49 prevention services and foster
4:51 care. I'm particularly
4:52 interested in hearing to mee
4:54 tthe mostly fats that needs at
4:58 risk families across the City
4:58 and working to increase
5:00 utilization and preventative
5:02 services, I ensure health and
5:03 safety and stability for our
5:05 families. It is the council's
5:07 responsibility to ensure that
5:08 City budget is fair,
5:09 transparent, accountable t
5:10 oall New yorkers asked the
5:13 chair of children youth. I
5:14 will continue to push for
5:15 accountability, accuracy and
5:16 too sure that the budget
5:17 reflects the needs and
5:19 interests of our cities youth.
5:21 I would like to take this time
5:25 to think my staff that help
5:26 prepare margaret. What do you
5:29 think my name, but what shall
5:30 I think barney Frank bonds
5:35 .Lee I'm harem is assistant
5:37 director richard yates Wong,
5:40 the fellow really, really
5:44 create? Ask owen. Oh, castle
5:46 wawa. Okay. Thank you,
5:48 elizabeth arts in my entire
5:51 staff back x, the district
5:52 office and my deputy chief of
5:54 staff room ears. I will
5:55 continue. I will now turn it
5:56 over to the committee staff
5:57 after minister oath. I would
6:00 like to acknowledge Felder
6:01 council. Felder, who was also
6:05 joined us, huh? We will now
6:09 hear testimony from the
6:10 administration before we I
6:12 will administer the
6:13 affirmation. Panelists. Please
6:14 raise your right hand. I will
6:16 read the affirmation once,
6:17 then call on each of you
6:17 individually to respond. Do
6:21 you affirm to tell the truth,
6:21 the whole truth and nothing
6:22 but the truth before this
6:23 committee and to respond
6:25 honestly to Council Member
6:31 questions. Thank you. Good
6:42 morning, happy a woman's
6:44 history month. My name is
6:45 melissa hester and I am the
6:47 interim commissioner at the
6:49 administration for children's
6:50 services. I am joined today by
6:51 when that song the first
6:54 deputy commissioner margaret
6:55 plant, nick off the deputy
6:57 commissioner for financial
6:59 services and stephanie gandel,
7:00 the deputy commissioner for
7:03 external affairs. Nancy
7:04 ginsberg, the deputy
7:05 commissioner for the division
7:05 of youth and family justice
7:08 louisa Lynn eras, the deputy
7:09 commissioner for the family
7:11 services division Inna mendez,
7:13 the deputy commissioner for
7:14 family permanency services an
7:17 delizabeth welcome, meera, the
7:18 deputy commissioner for the
7:19 division of child and family
7:21 well being are also here and
7:24 available for questions I am
7:26 also joined by the David
7:28 cabinet and many of the senior
7:29 leaders who lead work and
7:32 helped us pparere for today's
7:35 hearings. Thank you. Chair
7:36 Stevens and members of the
7:36 children and youth committee
7:38 for holding today's hearing on
7:40 our preliminary budget for
7:42 fiscal year 2027. I appreciate
7:45 the opportunity to share with
7:46 you, the important work that
7:48 is to keep children safe and
7:51 to provide support to children
7:51 , youth and families. I also
7:54 want to take a moment to thank
7:56 the team and our provider
7:59 agency partners for their
8:01 commitment, compassion and
8:02 dedication to this important
8:05 work as you will hear more
8:05 about today, our preliminary
8:07 budget plan includes important
8:08 actions to help build on our
8:11 accomplishments and continue
8:12 to move this important work
8:16 forward. Childcare is a
8:17 critical support for families
8:18 and we are thrilled that the
8:20 man donny administration is
8:21 committed to strengthening and
8:23 expanding the city's early
8:25 childhood system so that
8:26 families across the City will
8:28 have access to high quality,
8:29 affordable child care starting
8:33 in 20 22, an effort to
8:37 substantially increase the
8:37 number of children enrolled in
8:39 child care with costs paid
8:41 fully or mostly by an eighth
8:43 issued childcare voucher in 2
8:47 enrolled in the issued voucher
8:53 and today approximately 71000
8:55 children are enrolled as the
8:58 council and advocates will
8:59 surely recall at this time
9:01 last year, the state had not
9:03 committed to maintaining
9:04 funding for these vouchers we
9:05 faced a billion dollars
9:07 deficit and the prospect of
9:09 thousands of families losing
9:10 their child care vouchers, is
9:12 grateful to the City Council
9:13 as well as the advocates for
9:17 your invaluable partnership
9:18 and advocating for additional
9:19 state support for the child
9:21 care assistance program
9:24 .thankfully, this joint
9:26 advocacy helped us receive
9:28 additional state support so
9:29 that has been able to continue
9:32 to recertify the vast majority
9:33 of eligible families allowing
9:35 families to maintain this
9:39 critical support. We are
9:39 encouraged by the additional
9:40 see cap funding in this year's
9:43 state executive budget based
9:44 on the city's analysis, the
9:46 governor's budget would allow
9:47 us to continue our current
9:50 policy of providing continuity
9:51 of care for most low income
9:53 families and support the
9:55 growing need among families on
9:56 cash assistance served by the
9:57 human resources administration
10:01 while the current funding
10:02 wouldn't immediately allow us
10:03 to begin offering care to
10:04 children on the voucher. Wait,
10:07 we will continue to regularly
10:09 assess enrollment across New
10:12 York City public schools and r
10:13 a to see when this be possible
10:18 . The city's 20 27 preliminary
10:21 budget includes $1.1 million
10:23 when fully implemented for 1
10:25 0new staff to bolster our
10:27 ability to maintain program,
10:29 integrity and compliance
10:30 safeguarding the over $1
10:32 billion in federal and state
10:33 aid for seacat as a child care
10:36 system continues to gro
10:40 wsupporting and uplifting
10:41 families and communities, so
10:42 they have the resources
10:44 ,information and services they
10:46 need to thrive is our critical
10:50 mission is critical to our
10:50 mission. We want families t
10:52 oget the resources and
10:53 connections they need to
10:55 foster healthy child
10:56 development and relationships,
10:59 so there is never the need for
10:59 child protection involvement
11:03 out prevention providers,
11:05 community partnerships, family
11:06 enrichment centers and office
11:08 of child safety and injury
11:10 prevention do this in every
11:12 community of the City and
11:15 every day. We have now
11:16 completed our plan to expan
11:17 dfrom 3 2 30 family arrangement
11:21 centers with the contract for
11:24 the thirtieth getting
11:24 registered in are welcoming
11:28 walk in family centered spaces
11:30 open to all community members
11:32 everything from the name the
11:34 furniture and the offerings
11:35 are code designed with
11:38 families. These spaces are
11:39 intended to enhance the family
11:40 and child well being by
11:43 promoting protective factors
11:44 such as resilience and social
11:48 connection. The 30 in various
11:49 stages of implementation are
11:53 in various stages of implement
11:54 and are all now engaging
11:56 families and neighbors I
11:57 ntheir respective communities.
12:00 We have also been intentional
12:01 about our efforts to ensure
12:03 that families in need are able
12:05 to access services and support
12:08 through other nonprofit
12:09 community based providers. We
12:12 are continuing to collaborate
12:13 with our sister agencies,
12:15 including New York City public
12:18 schools, wife, health and
12:20 hospitals to both get the word
12:21 out about the support line and
12:24 ensure that they know how to
12:26 access services for families
12:27 without the need to make a
12:28 report to the statewide
12:32 central register. We have
12:32 trained over 27000 mandate
12:34 dreporters across schools,
12:37 shelters, hospitals and after
12:40 school programs. As a result,
12:40 we have seen a steady
12:41 reduction in the number of
12:43 reports from those we have
12:45 trained down 16% for education
12:47 and child care reporters down
12:49 16% from social service
12:51 sagencies and down 7% by help
12:58 by health in November 2023 we
13:00 launched a support line staff
13:02 by ms, whose sole purpose is
13:04 to connect callers to the
13:06 resources they need the
13:07 support line now receives an
13:09 average of over 300 inquiries
13:13 each month and I encourage you
13:14 to share this resource with
13:15 your constituents the phone
13:17 number is 2 1 2 6 7 6 7 6 6 7
13:23 with the aid of our support
13:25 line and our collaboration
13:26 with our preventionrovi pder
13:29 partners. We have also focused
13:31 on increasing community
13:32 referrals to prevention so
13:33 families can get connected t
13:35 osupportive services that help
13:37 them address difficult
13:37 challenges so that they and
13:38 their children can thrive. We
13:41 see these efforts, working
13:42 with New enrollments in
13:43 prevention up nearly 10% last
13:46 year and community referrals
13:48 increasing from 12% of
13:52 prevention referrals in
13:55 January 20 232 25% in January
13:59 2026 earlier this month, along
14:00 with the New York City
14:01 department of health and
14:03 mental hygiene and deputy
14:04 Mayor r. T. Aga announced
14:07 strong foundations are New
14:11 collaboration with for which
14:12 you will see the interest City
14:13 transfer from a c s cs to d o
14:16 h. M. This program funded at
14:18 approximately $20.1 million
14:21 over three years with $19.2
14:25 million from will end me it
14:29 programs that support New
14:30 parents and their children
14:31 reaching more families in the
14:35 community, specifically the
14:36 funding will support adrienne