Plugged In To Education

August 22, 2024

Coverage of updates in lower education, higher education & human services.

What’s Inside

  • Governor Hochul Announces Nearly $40 Million for Next Phase of Youth Employment Program to Help New York Continue Bringing Down Gun Violence
  • $200 Million Environmental Bond Act Funding Now Available for Zero-Emission School Buses
  • New York’s First-Ever Chief Service Officer Appointed
  • Governor Hochul Announces Nearly $200 Million in Food Assistance for Children
  • New York State Department of Health Advances Child and Adult Care Food Program
  • Over 2,000 Students Completed Newly Expanded Learn-to-Swim Classes
  • Social Care Networks Program Announced to Deliver Social Services and Improve Health Outcomes for Millions of Low-Income New Yorkers
  • Funding Opportunities
  • State Register
  • Coming Up

Governor Hochul Announces Nearly $40 Million for Next Phase of Youth Employment Program to Help New York Continue Bringing Down Gun Violence

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced nearly $40 million has been awarded for the next phase of the Youth Employment Program, which will help New York continue reducing gun violence by providing job opportunities and training to at-risk youth in communities across the state. The $38.8 million awarded today includes investments in year-round jobs and training opportunities for young people in regions that receive support from the GIVE initiative. This funding is expected to provide paid work and training opportunities for approximately 2,500 low-income, at-risk youth across these areas of the state from September 2024 to June 2025.

$200 Million Environmental Bond Act Funding Now Available for Zero-Emission School Buses

An additional $200 million is now available to school districts and bus operators for zero-emission school buses through the second installment of funding from the historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (Bond Act). The funding, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and distributed through the New York School Bus Incentive Program (NYSBIP), provides support for the purchase of electric buses, charging infrastructure or fleet electrification planning as public schools transition to zero-emission technologies that improve air quality and reduce pollution in communities.

New York’s First-Ever Chief Service Officer Appointed

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the appointment of Matt Schaffer as the State’s first-ever Chief Service Officer. The Chief Service Officer is tasked with leading the Office of Service and Civic Engagement (OSCE), which was announced as the sixth proposal from Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State agenda. Mr. Schaffer, whose first day as Chief Service Officer was August 5, 2024, came to the OSCE after serving 15 years as a leader promoting service and civic engagement at City Year, a national educational non-profit that trains and prepares young adults for a year of service in schools, where he most recently served as the Managing Director of Government Partnership.

Governor Hochul Announces Nearly $200 Million in Food Assistance for Children

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York has issued nearly $200 million in food assistance to more than 1.5 million low-income children as part of the new Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program. New York is sending $120 per child to eligible families to help pay for healthy meals. Some eligible families have already begun to receive this assistance and the benefits will continue to be sent in the coming weeks. New Yorkers are encouraged to learn more about eligibility and apply before the September 3 deadline.

New York State Department of Health Advances Child and Adult Care Food Program

The New York State Department of Health is promoting New York’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). All children and adults who attend programs that participate in CACFP receive the same meals at no separate charge. CACFP is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and with $238 million provided in 2023 New York State is expanding the program’s eligibility requirements to better serve the community. This work continues New York’s commitment to promote the health and well-being of its residents. If you are currently not participating, please use this pre-screening tool to see if you are eligible.

Over 2,000 Students Completed Newly Expanded Learn-to-Swim Classes

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that over 2,000 swimmers took advantage of free Learn-to-Swim lessons at New York State Parks this summer with 22 facilities hosting lessons across the state – tripling the number of facilities from previous years.

Social Care Networks Program Announced to Deliver Social Services and Improve Health Outcomes for Millions of Low-Income New Yorkers

Nine organizations statewide will receive a total of $500 million in awards over the next three years to create a new Social Care Network (SCN) program in New York State. The program will address health disparities in low-income communities by leveraging federal funding to facilitate Medicaid members access to nutritional meals, housing supports, transportation and other social services that can have a significant impact on an individual’s health. By integrating social care and health care, this program advances a key initiative under the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) waiver amendment. The SCNs will be core to facilitating the delivery of health-related social needs, including nutrition, housing supports, transportation, and case management for eligible Medicaid members, which are essential to addressing health disparities and improving population health.

Funding Opportunities

The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets announced the availability of funds for the FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Grant Program. The FreshConnect CSA for SNAP program will allow SNAP participants to access the popular Community Supported Agriculture model by partially subsidizing the cost of weekly share purchases. Due August 27, 2024

The NYS Department of Labor (NYSDOL) announced the Teacher Residency Program (TRP) to partially or fully fund master’s degrees for teacher residents who are enrolled in a residency program registered with the New York State Education Department (NYSED). These residents must be graduate-level PK-12 teacher candidates who will complete a residency within a New York State (NYS) public school district, private school, charter school, or Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) program. Due August 30, 2024

The New York State Department of Health (the Department or NYSDOH), Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Prevention (OMH-HDP) is seeking applications to implement its Latino Health Outreach Initiative (LHOI or the “Initiative”). Since inception in 2007, OMH-HDP’s LHOI has worked to reduce barriers to health care and improve health care system access for Latinos in New York State. The LHOI has supported numerous projects translating data into solutions to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities experienced by Latino populations. Due September 4, 2024

The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) announced funding for seven Infant Toddler (IT) Regional Resource Centers, including infant and early childhood mental health consultant (IECMHC) Regional Services, and seeks to award contracts to qualified not-for-profit organizations that demonstrate the ability to provide the services described in this RFP. Due September 10, 2024

The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for not-for-profit community-based organizations to support an Access and Visitation (AV) Program. AV Programs shall support and facilitate noncustodial parents’ access to and visitation with their children by providing counseling, mediation, parent education, development of parenting plans, and/or visitation enforcement. Due September 13, 2024

The Office of Mental Health, with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, is seeking proposals from not-for-profit organizations to operate Enhanced Step-Down Programs. These programs are for Adults with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities. They must include a specialized model of critical time intervention and transitional housing to support safe discharges from inpatient units and emergency departments. OMH intends to award five programs throughout the State serving: New York City, Western New York, Central New York, Hudson River, and Long Island. Due September 25, 2024

The New York State Office of Mental Health announces the availability of funds to support the expanded implementation of HealthySteps. It is anticipated that OMH will make up to 50 awards across the state. HealthySteps is an evidence-based program that delivers dyadic services to both young children (0-3 years) and their families in a pediatric healthcare setting, which is non stigmatizing and offers universal access. Due November 5, 2024

State Register

State Education Department

Higher Education Services Corporation

  • New York State District Attorney and Indigent Legal Services Attorney Loan Forgiveness Program (Adopted)

Coming Up

2024 Regents Meeting Dates

  • August – Recess
  • September 9 – 10 (Monday and Tuesday)
  • October 7 – 8 (Monday and Tuesday)
  • November 4 – 5 (Monday and Tuesday)
  • December 9 – 10 (Monday and Tuesday)

State Board Meetings

  • Medical Physics: September 5, 2024
  • Medicine: September 6, 2024
  • Professional Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology: September 12, 2024
  • Acupuncture: September 16, 2024 (New York City)
  • Mental Health Practitioners: September 20, 2024
  • Social Work: September 25, 2024
  • Interior Design: September 27, 2024 (New York City)
  • Optometry: September 30, 2024 (New York City)

OTDA Meetings

  • October 2,2024, 1:30 p.m.: Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (HHAC)
  • December 4, 2024, 1:30 p.m.: Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (HHAC)
  • December 7, 2024, 1:00 p.m.: HEAP Block Grant Advisory Council (BGAC)

Not-for-Profit Contracting Advisory Committee (NFPCAC)

  • September 17, 2024
  • November 19, 2024

Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) 

  • September 19, 2024

Plugged In to Education is prepared by Hinman Straub P.C. and is intended to keep our clients informed about news and Legislative and regulatory developments that may affect or otherwise be of interest to them. The comments contained herein do not constitute legal opinion and should not be regarded as a substitute for legal advice. If you prefer not to receive these updates, please alert us so we may remove you from our distribution list. © Hinman Straub P.C. 2020. All rights reserved.