While it has been five years since Raise the Age was implemented, less than one-third of the $1.5 billion funding has been used to help youth access age-appropriate services and support families. The NYS Legislature has introduced a bill, S.9312 (Cleare) / A10290 (Solages), to address this issue.
We urge the legislature to pass this needed legislation to enhance community safety and produce better outcomes for our youth. Join our efforts by using the link below to quickly send messages urging your lawmakers to support this legislation.
See below for more information from Families Together in New York State.
 EMPOWERING FAMILIES. COORDINATING SYSTEMS. Tell Albany to Pass Bill Supporting Raise the Age  Last fall marked five years since Raise the Age was first implemented across New York State, ending a shameful chapter in our history of prosecuting 16- and 17-year olds as adults regardless of the offense. Before Raise the Age, these youth were systematically locked out of age-appropriate services in family court programs designed to meet the needs of adolescents and avoid the barriers of an adult criminal record. Unfortunately, most of the money for Raise the Age has not been spent, and New York City is not eligible to access this funding at all. As of March 2024, it’s been publicly reported that less than one third of the $1.5 billion has been used to help youth and families. To address these issues, we are urging the New York State legislature to pass bill A9312 (Cleare) / A10290 (Solages). This legislation does the following * create a Youth Justice Innovation Fund, which would allow community-based organizations to directly access funding and provide services for young people; and * lift restrictions on the appropriation to ensure that all communities across the State (including New York City) can access existing Raise the Age funding equitably. These bills are crucial to protecting vulnerable young people and promoting community safety across New York State! Click Here to Contact Your Lawmakers Today!  Support Aged-Out Foster Youth Older youth leaving foster care face significant challenges. Social service agencies often fail to provide the court-mandated services necessary for independent living, leaving these young adults unprepared and at risk of homelessness. The Safe Landings Act aims to change this. It would ensure agencies comply with orders to help youth transition, including securing housing, employment, education, and a driver’s license. This act extends Family Court jurisdiction, allowing youth to seek enforcement of orders issued before they left care. Urge New York State leaders to pass the Safe Landings Act and support the wellbeing of youth aging out of foster care. Take Action  Click each social media application to access our page! X YouTube Families Together in New York State 518.432.0333 Connect with us    |