CAYUGA HOME FOR CHILDREN

THE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN'S PROGRAM IS OPERATED UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT (ORR). THE PROGRAM OPERATED UP TO 400 AND 500 TRANSITIONAL FOSTER CARE BEDS FOR UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN WHO ARE IN FEDERAL CUSTODY FOR THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND 2023, RESPECTIVELY. TYPICALLY, YOUTH ARE IN THIS PROGRAM FOR 14 TO 60 DAYS, DURING WHICH TIME THEY RECEIVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS, ASSESSMENTS AND CARE, TUTORING, AND SKILLS TRAINING. IN ADDITION, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARRANGE FOR THE CHILDREN TO BE RELEASED TO SPONSORS BY FINDING AND QUALIFYING SPONSORS. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINED A 35 BED LONG-TERM FOSTER CARE THROUGH THE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN'S PROGRAM THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2023. THE PROGRAM WAS BASED IN NEW YORK CITY. FIXED COSTS (E.G. RENTS), WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN THE APPROVED BUDGET, ARE FULLY FUNDED BY ORR. STAFFING COSTS, WHICH ARE RATIO BASED ON CONTRACTED CAPACITY, ARE FULLY FUNDED BY ORR. CENSUS BASED COSTS (FOSTER PARENT PAYMENTS, CLOTHING, AND FOOD), WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN THE APPROVED BUDGET, ARE FULLY FUNDED BY ORR. THE ORGANIZATION WAS AWARDED A THIRD FEDERAL CONTRACT CALLED HOME STUDIES AND POST RELEASE SERVICES FOR UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN IN DECEMBER OF 2020. THE PROGRAM HAS SIX OFFICES ACROSS THE NATION SERVING AND PROVIDING TRAUMA-INFORMED AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SERVICES TO MIGRANT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES SERVICES TO FAMILIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES VIA IN PERSON HOME VISITS, AS WELL AS VIRTUAL HOME VISITS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO GUARANTEE THE LONG-TERM SAFETY, SUCCESS, AND WELL-BEING OF UNACCOMPANIED MIGRANT CHILDREN (UMC) PRIOR, DURING, AND AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM THE ORR TO PARENTS OR SPONSORS.

THE TFFC PROGRAM PLACES AT-RISK YOUTH INTO HOMES WITH HIGHLY TRAINED AND MOTIVATED FOSTER FAMILIES. THIS IS A COST EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO GROUP OR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, INCARCERATION, OR HOSPITALIZATION. THIS PROGRAM IS ESPECIALLY BENEFICIAL FOR ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE PARTICULARLY CHALLENGED BY A GROUP SETTING. CAYUGA CENTERS OPERATES TFFC IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. TFFC PROGRAMMING IS BASED IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AND ACCEPTS YOUTH PLACED BY COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF SOCIAL SERVICES. ENHANCED FAMILY FOSTER CARE (EFFC) IS IN THE BRONX, NEW YORK AND ACCEPTS YOUTH PLACED BY NEW YORK CITY'S ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES. BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE LICENSED BY THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES.IN APRIL 2015, CAYUGA CENTERS BEGAN OPERATING A TFFC PROGRAM IN PALM BEACH AND BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA. THIS TFFC PROGRAM IS UNDER CONTRACT WITH CHILDNET, ONE OF THE COUNTY'S CHILD WELFARE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES. IN JANUARY 2016, CAYUGA CENTERS OPENED A TFFC PROGRAM IN NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE LICENSED BY THE STATE OF DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. LOCATED IN PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA, IN JULY OF 2021, CAYUGA CENTERS CONTRACTED WITH CCKIDS, ANOTHER ONE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA'S CHILD PLACING AGENCIES. LASTLY, IN JULY 2021, CAYUGA CENTERS, UNDER LICENSE WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL OF CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES, BEGAN OPERATING A TFFC PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.