Program Description
Foster Care is provided to children under the age of 18 who are in need of an alternate living arrangement. Placement may be the result of a judicial determination or voluntary request of the parent or legal guardian. While in care, the child and family are provided supportive and rehabilitative services designed to minimize the time the child is out of his/her own home. The Foster Care Program staff also recruits, evaluates and recommends the certification of new foster homes. Also, for anyone interested in becoming a foster parent, please contact Robine Snow at (315) 867-1545. MAPP Certification Training is available.
Eligibility Criteria: Families who have children in Foster Care placement.
Referral Procedures: Court Order
Client Fees: None
Regarding the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of December 2015, Dawn Bernholz, Supervisor of Services, will be the point of contact at Herkimer County DSS. Dawn's phone number is (315) 867-1216 and her email address is dawn.bernholz@dfa.state.ny.us.
Child Preventive Services and the SIP Program provide supportive assessment and referral services to Prevent the placement of a child into foster care ,Return a child currently in foster care to his/her parents sooner than would otherwise be possible and to Prevent the re-placement of a child into foster care
Each county in New York State has a Child Protective Services (CPS) Unit, which investigates reports of suspected child abuse and neglect received from the New York State Child Abuse and Maltreatment Register (Hotline) located in Albany.
The Child Support program provides custodial parents with assistance in obtaining financial support and medical insurance coverage for their children by locating parents, establishing paternity, establishing support orders and collecting and distributing support payments.
Foster Care is provided to children under the age of 18 who are in need of an alternate living arrangement.
In an effort to help income eligible individuals cope with higher fuel bills of winter, NYS participates in the Federal funded "Home Energy Assistance Program", commonly known as HEAP.
The Commissioner of Social Services is responsible for the burial of any Herkimer County resident that meets the criteria outlined in the Indigent Burial Policy adopted by the Herkimer County Legislature on September 11, 2019.
Herkimer County currently has a mandated Medicaid Managed Care program through three Medicaid Managed Care health plans.
Medical Assistance is help for people who cannot pay for all of their medical care.
The Family Support PINS Diversion Program began in February 2003 and is the point of entry for PINS Diversion services in Herkimer County. Services provided include a formal assessment, in home counseling, case management, family support, respite and mentoring for at-risk youth.
SNAP, a program of the US Department of Agriculture, is provided to insure that the nutritional needs of income eligible persons are met.
Temporary Assistance is temporary help for needy adults and children. If an applicant is unable to work, can't find a job or his/her job does not pay enough, Temporary Assistance may be able to pay for some household expenses.
Adult Protective Services is a service provided to individuals who are 18 years of age or older, Unable to protect his/her own interests due to lack of awareness or incompetence, Incapacitated due to a physical or mental impairment , In danger of being harmed or threatened with harm , Have an unmet need such as failure to receive adequate food, shelter, or clothing, Have no one willing or able to assist responsibility
The Alternatives in Long Term Care Program provides a central access point to long term home care services for all Herkimer County residents with chronic long-term home care needs.
Day care assistance is an income eligible program available to assist working parents. The Day Care Unit keeps a current listing of registered day care homes in Herkimer County, which is available to the general public.
Services range from assessing a child to securing an adoptive home, to assisting parent(s) under appropriate circumstances to surrender a child, to the recruitment and evaluation of prospective adoptive parents.
The goal of the Employment Unit is to help applicants and recipients of Temporary Assistance and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to achieve self-sufficiency.
