Social Services to receive state adoption and kinship guardianship incentive funds to cover recruitment and safety needs

Tompkins County's Department of Social Services will receive $13,414 in adoption and legal guardianship incentive funds to support recruitment of foster and adoptive parents and to help kinship caregivers meet certification and safety requirements, officials said at the Aug. 14 committee meeting.

Britney (DSS representative) told legislators the funds will cover recruitment activities and help families meet approval standards by purchasing items such as smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, car seats and sleeping arrangements when needed. She said the grant reduces the need for those caregivers to buy such items themselves or for the department to absorb them as administrative expenses.

The committee voted unanimously to adopt the budget adjustment to accept the grant. Committee members noted the award is budget‑neutral because it is a restricted grant that must be spent on the specified program activities.