We are criminal justice and immigration justice advocates, directly impacted people, legal service providers, and faith leaders who stand united in the belief that this is a critical moment in our country’s history, one that requires our state’s leaders to have moral clarity and take unequivocal action.
The New York State Child Welfare Coalition and CHAMPS-NY, two statewide coalitions comprised of policy advocates, service providers, and caregivers who advance policy and practice change in the child welfare system, call on the Governor and the State Legislature to address the heightened needs of children and families, supporting family stability and child safety, by rejecting proposed funding cuts and maintaining State support for ALL child welfare services.
In light of the recent incident in Rochester where a 9 year old girl experienced a mental health crisis and was physically restrained with handcuffs and pepper sprayed by police, we are confronted by the failure of our response to children in mental health crisis and the criminalization of Black children in New York.
