7551 Court Street,
PO Box 217
Elizabethtown, NY 12932
Angie Allen Commissioner
Renee Bruno Deputy Commissioner
What we do:
Essex County Department of Social Services Children’s Services provides support and assistance to empower families with children who are at risk of out of home placement due to family and/or social challenges. Services are intended to prevent and reduce incidents of child maltreatment and to help strengthen the family unit.
Who we are:
Essex County Department of Social Services, Children’s Services provides families with support and trauma-informed services to reduce/eliminate the need for out of home placement for at-risk Essex County youth.
What services we provide:
Child Protective Services: investigate reports of child abuse and maltreatment initiated from the State Central Registry. During the investigation imminent safety of the child is determined and addressed. CPS caseworkers provide support, coordinate with providers involved with the family, refer families to needed resources, and make a determination of the case within 60 days.
PINS Diversion Program: (Person in Need of Supervision)The program works with youth prior to being involved in the Family Court system who are exhibiting behaviors such as school truancy, running away, breaking curfews, or severe disobedience at home or in the community. The goal of the Diversion program is to provide the youth and family with access to comprehensive services,
enhance relationships between youth and authority figures, and obtain greater information regarding the youth, his/her needs, behaviors, and strengths to reduce the need for Family Court involvement.
Contact Person:
Wendy Sargent:
Director of Social Services
(518) 873-3409
Wendy.Sargent@dfa.state.ny.us
Preventive Services and PINS:
Kathleen Decker
(518) 873-3425
Kathleen.Decker@dfa.state.ny.us
Day Care Subsidy:
Susan Drew
(518) 873-3495
Susan.Drew@dfa.state.ny.us
Child abuse or maltreatment, Mandated Reporter Hotline: 1-800-635-1522
Social Services
Temporary Assistance:
Temporary Assistance, also known as public assistance, is cash assistance for needy adults who cannot find a job, are unable to work, or do not earn enough at their jobs to pay for their basic needs, as well as for needy children. For adults, temporary assistance is intended to provide short-term help as individuals seek work, participate in training or treatment necessary to enable work, or obtain disability benefits.
SNAP:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Provides Nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase health food and move towards self-sufficiency.
HEAP:
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps low-income people pay the cost of heating their homes. If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year and could also be eligible for emergency HEAP benefits if you are in danger of running out of fuel or having your utility service shut off.
Medicaid:
New York’s Medicaid program provides comprehensive health coverage to more than 7.5 million New Yorkers (as of December 2023.) Medicaid pays for a wide-range of services, depending on your age, financial circumstances, family situation, or living arrangements. These services are provided through a large network of health care providers that you can access directly using your Medicaid card or through your managed care plan if you are enrolled in managed care. Some services may have small co-payments, which can be waived if you cannot afford them.
Fraud:
Public Assistance programs like Medicaid are a vital source of help for many Essex County residents who need and deserve assistance. Unfortunately, there are those who take advantage of these programs and the people they serve by intentionally obtaining money and services, for which, they are not entitled.
Children’s Services
Child Care Subsidy:
The Department of Social Services is committed to aiding with childcare costs to eligible families through the Child Care Subsidy Program. Childcare subsidies can help parents/caretakers pay for some or all of the cost of childcare services. In general, families are eligible for financial assistance if they meet the states low- income guidelines and need childcare to work, look for work, or attend employment training. Child Care Subsidy Program: The Child Care Subsidy Program helps eligible families in Essex County with the cost of child care. Child care subsidies may cover some or all of the cost of care, depending on the family’s eligibility and circumstances.
Families may qualify for assistance if they meet income guidelines and need child care to work, look for employment, or participate in employment training. Current income eligibility is up to 300% of the federal poverty level. For example, a family of four may earn up to approximately $99,000 per year and still qualify.
Department of Social Services administers the Child Care Subsidy Program to help make quality child care more affordable and accessible for families.
PINS:
PINS Diversion Program (Person in Need of Supervision) The program works with youth prior to being involved in the Family Court system who are exhibiting behaviors such as school truancy, running away, breaking curfews, or severe disobedience at home or in the community. The goal of the Diversion program is to provide the youth and family with access to comprehensive services, enhance relationships between youth and authority figures, and obtain greater information regarding the youth, his/her needs, behaviors, and strengths to reduce the need for Family Court involvement.
Preventive Services:
Preventive Services are voluntary unless court ordered, and strength-based with a goal of self-sufficiency. Although they are provided without regard to income, the recipients must meet programmatic eligibility standards.
Preventive Services are services designed to prevent foster care placement or replacement by offering Case Management, Parent Aide/Homemaker support, Preventive Respite, Youth Advocate Program, and assistance with coordination of transportation needs.
Child Protective Services:
Child Protective Services is responsible for investigating on behalf of children (persons under the age of 18) who are named in a report under investigation or an indicated report of abuse and/or maltreatment.
Foster Care:
Foster Care Services: Foster Care Services work to achieve permanency and stability for children who are unable to safely remain in their homes. By law, the first goal is to reunite children with their families by addressing the circumstances that led to their placement in foster care. ECDSS works with children, parents or guardians, and foster families to provide a safe, supportive environment while developing a plan for permanency.
Foster care provides temporary, safe, and stable out-of-home care when parents or guardians are unable to meet a child’s safety and well-being needs. The goal is to support the child and family while working toward safely returning the child home or establishing another appropriate permanency plan when reunification is not possible.
Child Support:
The Essex County Child Support program provides the following services to custodial parents and their children:
Child Welfare:
Child welfare practices are intended to achieve outcomes and demonstrate the values and core competencies listed.
Adult Services:
Adult Protective Services:
APS is a mandated service provided by local Social Services districts. It involves intake, investigation, and assessment of referrals of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of impaired vulnerable adults who live in the community. APS workers develop services plans for eligible clients to remedy physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or to address unmet, essential needs of adults.
Guardian- ship:
The court may appoint a guardian for a person if the court determines (1) that the appointment is necessary to provide for the personal needs or to manage the property and financial affairs of the person, or both, and (2) that the person agrees to the appointment or that the person is incapacitated. A determination of incapacity requires clear and convincing evidence that a person is likely to suffer harm because:
Long-Term Service:
Long-term care services may include the medical, social, housekeeping, or rehabilitation services a person needs over months or years to improve or maintain function or health. Such services are provided not only in nursing homes, but also in patients´ homes or in community-based settings such as assisted-living facilities.