New York Tests Cash Assistance For Families Involved With Child Welfare Services

The New York Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) launched a three-county pilot in July 2023 to provide a monthly stipend of $500 to families involved with child protective services who meet the state’s eligibility criteria for Family Assessment Response (FAR). The Direct Cash Transfer Research Pilot is taking place in Monroe, Onondaga, and Westchester counties. It will provide 50 families in each county with a stipend for 12 months through July 2024. The goal is to determine the impact of a universal cash stipend on subsequent child welfare system involvement during and up to the six . . .