Cayuga Centers Receives Over 1.3 Million Dollars Grant Funding from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
Cayuga Centers has been awarded an additional $375,000 by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to expand its FFT-TCM program
AUBURN, NY – February 24th, 2021- Cayuga Centers announced it is a 2020-2021 grant recipient from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation (MCFH) to renew its Functional Family Therapy-Therapeutic Case Management (FFT-TCM) program in Albany County. In 2019, the foundation awarded the agency two $500,000 grants to pilot FFT-TCM programs in Albany county and Onondaga county for the 2020 fiscal year. This year’s additional funding of $375,000 marks a renewal of the program in Albany county and will allow for the expansion of the evidence-based therapeutic and case management services for at-risk youth and their families in 2021.
The first program of its kind in Albany, the Cayuga Centers FFT-TCM program directly impacts families with youth ages 11 to 18 who live in disadvantaged communities and are referred by the Albany County Department for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). The youth who are referred to the FFT-TCM program often have histories of substance abuse, gang related behavior, and truancy and are at imminent risk of out-of-home placement, including incarceration and residential treatment. Compared to other treatment models, FFT-TCM is a nationally researched model that uniquely offers a holistic intervention approach and systematically applies therapeutic case management services to the entire family unit. Services include intensive family therapy, comprehensive case management, mentoring, educational and social learning, and connection to other sustainable resources. The primary goals of FFT-TCM are to stabilize school placement, improve long term family self-sufficiency, and ultimately prevent out-of-home placements.
In recent years, there has been a renewed focus on therapeutic case management models on that national and state level, leading to a number of reform efforts including the implementation of comprehensive evidence-based models such as FFT-TCM. Cayuga Centers continues to be a leader in the adoption of evidence based services in the child welfare space. In 2000, Cayuga Centers became the first accredited FFT provider in NYS and remains the longest running provider of FFT in the nation.
With MCFH’s grant support, Cayuga Centers has been able to hire and train 5 employees to meet the growing amount of referrals from Albany DCYF. During the grant period, the FFT-TCM program anticipates to serve approximately 190 youth and families. CEO of Cayuga Centers, Edward Hayes, celebrated the recent grant announcement saying, “ We applaud MCFH’s commitment to support bringing high quality, evidence-based interventions to poor communities who are often overlooked”.
The program faced a number of delays in the first quarter due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent stay at home order. As a result, Cayuga Centers was given a three month extension to the original grant term date and will continue out its 2020 programmatic plan until March 31st, 2021. Despite the initial delays caused by the pandemic, the program has been fully staffed and operational as of August 2, 2020.
Albany County has been indicated as an ideal pilot location for this program, especially as the needs among underserved at-risk youth continues to grow at an increased rate in the wake of COVID-19. Reiterating this growing concern, CEO of MCHF Gregory Mustaciuolo said, “New York’s poorest and most vulnerable communities are facing unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19. Honoring the legacy of Mother Cabrini, we intend these grants to have a significant impact in ameliorating food insecurity, helping providers as they deliver care and services in this challenging environment, offering mental health services, and sustaining other essential resources…”
With the support of the MCHF, Cayuga Centers will continue to improve the long term health and well being of the underserved youth and families identified by Albany DCYF as at-risk in 2021.
About Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization with the mission to improve the health and well-being of the vulnerable New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of targeted communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. The Foundation – which is named in memory of a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor – provides flexible support for new and innovative approaches that enhance health and wellness across New York State. For more information, visit https://www.cabrinihealth.org/
About Cayuga Centers
Cayuga Centers is a nationally accredited and awarded 501(c)(3) non-profit, human services agency headquartered in Auburn, NY. Founded in 1852, the agency has delivered quality services by following the agency’s core mission of helping individuals and families grow as independent, healthy, and productive citizens through quality counseling, out-of-home care, and support services. Cayuga Centers provides a continuum of support services in Delaware, Florida, and over 30 counties throughout NYS. The agency specializes in providing individualized, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed support to diverse populations. Cayuga Centers currently serve over 10,000 individuals and families annually. Visit www.cayugacenters.org for more information.
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