Description:

Administrative departments of DSS support the staff of the agency.  Michele Mulverhill is the Commissioner of DSS and was appointed in 2014.  The Commissioner is appointed by the Board of Legislators and serves a 5 year term.  Other Administration Departments are as follows:

Accounting & Administrative:  Responsible for all financial functions of the agency and ensures proper internal controls for agency transactions.  Claims filing for reimbursement on agency expenditures.

Computer Systems and Services:  Responsible for maintaining various NYS systems and local DSS systems.  Maintains 150+ computers, laptops and printers on both State and County networks; maintains a Document Imaging System which provides electronic retrieval and storage of all client data; provides all systems' troubleshooting and network support to all DSS employees.

Fraud Investigations:  Investigates all complaints of client fraud and monitors certain programs for compliance.
Legal Services:  Represents the agency on all legal matters pertaining to Family Court matters for youth in DSS custody, child support legal matters and other miscellaneous legal matters of the agency.

Staff Development & Employee Services:  Responsible all employee trainings to ensure staff and management are current on Social Services laws, regulations and procedures.  Plans in-housing training and coordinates travel for out-of-county training.  Oversees the operation of the Youth Bureau and its programs.

County Fair, 1966 Photo Courtesy Franklin County Historical Society

Description:

Adolescent Unit provides preventive and/or foster care services to children who have been deemed a Person in Need of supervision(PINS) or Juvenile delinquent (JD).  Caseworkers work in collaboration with the probation unit to work on the negative behaviors and to prevent out of home placement.

If out of home placement is ordered through family court the child is placed in a certified foster home and the Caseworker works with the child and family to return child home or find a suitable alternative living arrangement for the child.

For Information contact:
(518) 481-1615

Deer River Flow Photo Courtesy Franklin County Tourism

Description:

Adoption Services are provided without regard to income to both those seeking to surrender a child for adoption and those who are desirous of adopting a child.  Parents who are unwilling or unable to care for their child are assisted in the surrender process as well as counseled and advised of their legal rights.  They are also offered services as an option to surrendering the child. This unit will also institute legal proceedings to terminate parental rights in situations that warrant such action.

Adoptive parents are recruited and carefully screened. They are counseled, trained and provided services during the adoption process and for a period of twelve (12) months after finalization of the adoption. Subsidies are provided to those families that meet the criteria for eligibility.

For Information Contact:

(518)481-1812

Links:

Office of Child & Family Services-Child Demographic Search

Description:

Adult Services provides a variety of support services to the adult population of Franklin County.  Each worker is assigned to a geographic area.

Protective Services for Adults (PSA) - is responsible for identifying and assisting individuals 18 years of age and older who are unable to function independently. Often, they are adults with mental impairments and/or physical illness or disabilities, who do not have someone willing or able to help meet their needs.

The PSA staff provides the client with services such as case counseling, arranging for supportive services such as transportation or shopping for the homebound, and provides assistance in obtaining benefits such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income.  Caseworkers also manage clients' finances (if appropriate) to make sure their income and resources are protected.

Staff members make referrals to community agencies that assist in identifying problems and providing help to potentially vulnerable adults.  The Department of Social Services works in conjunction with other agencies in order to plan cooperatively for adults in need of protection due to abuse and neglect by others or due to their own behavior. A guiding principle in PSA is that the least restrictive intervention should always be initiated.

Residential Placement Services for adults includes assisting adults who need supervised living to find appropriate housing. Often these adults are being discharged from a hospital, although case management services are provided by the adult homes, some clients need assistance from PSA in accessing necessary benefits.

For more information, contact (518)481-1815 .

Links:

• Office of Children & Family Services-Application for Approval Family-Type Home for Adults
• Office of Mental Health
• Elder Abuse Center

"Downtown" Bombay Photo Courtesy Franklin County Historical & Museum Society

Description:

Provided to eligible clients through two major entitlement programs. The cash grant for each program includes a basic allowance, a rent or shelter allowance and an energy allowance. The amount of the grant is based on family size. Clients in receipt of cash benefits may be eligible for Medical Assistance and Food Stamps.
 
For Information Contact:

Applications (518) 481-1846
Active Cases (518) 481-1798

Links:

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

Chateaugay River Photo Courtesy Franklin County Tourism

Description:

Child Protective Services (CPS) is responsible for the investigation of reports of suspected child abuse and maltreatment.  Coverage is provided 24 hours a day.  During non-business hours, workers are reached by the New York State Central Registry through a beeper service.  Investigations are begun within 24 hours of the receipt of a report and in most cases immediately upon receipt, depending on the nature of the report.

Depending on the outcome of the CPS investigation children may be temporarily removed from their home if they are in danger, or left with a parent or relative while services and supervision are implemented. Cases of Child Abuse and Neglect are handled through the Family Court System.

IF YOU BELIEVE A CHILD IS BEING MALTREATED YOU MAY CALL THE CHILD ABUSE REGISTRY AT 1-800-342-3720

For Information Contact:
(518)481-1760

Links:

Office of Child & Family Services-Child Protective Services

Goodman Road in 1896, Malone Photo Courtesy Franklin County Historical & Museum Society

Description:

Child Support Enforcement Unit (CSEU) was established pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act of 1975.  It is the single organization unit responsible to establish paternity for children born out of wedlock, locate and investigate non-custodial parents in order to establish support obligations, obtain Third Party  Health Insurance for dependent children and to enforce, collect and disburse court-ordered support payments for each case where an appropriate application has been completed and accepted.

The Child Support Enforcement Unit provides equal services for all DFS cases (TA, MA, IV-E, CW) and non-DSS cases (CSS) alike, pursuant to guidelines established by Federal, State and local governments.

The Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) which took effect on September 15, 1989 gave CSEU a mandatory statewide guide to determine a non-custodial parent's ability to provide support.  The CSSA chart determines the minimum support obligation based on a percentage per child of the non-custodial parent's income.  Additional obligations can also be established for child care, health and educational expenses. This act establishes the premise that every parent is responsible for supporting his or her children.  If a parent's income is limited, he may fall into the poverty level guidelines.

If you need assistance for Child support you may call the customer service helpline at 1-888-208-4485 or you may connect to website at https://newyorkchildsupport.com. The teletypewriter phone number for the hearing impaired is 1-866-875-9975 and the 800 number which can be used to check on payment information only 1-800-846-0773.

Village of Saranac Lake Photo Courtesy Franklin County Tourism

Description:

**PUBLIC NOTICE**  

The Franklin County Department of Social Services is proposing to amend its Child and Family Services Plan 2015, Annual Plan Update. 

Franklin County DSS is proposing the following changes to Appendix L –Other Eligible Families if Funds are Available:

Franklin County DSS will now pay daycare for families with income up to 200% of the State Income Standard when child care services are needed for the child’s caretaker to participate in a program providing basic remedial education in reading, writing, mathematics, and oral communications for individuals functioning below the ninth month of the eighth grade level, in a program providing literacy training, or parent/caretakers who are satisfactorily participating in a four year college or university program leading to a bachelor’s degree and that is reasonably expected to lead to an improvement in the parent/caretaker’s earning capacity as long as the parent/caretaker is also working at least 17 ½ hours per week.

Franklin County DSS is proposing that parents/caretakers in an approved college program must maintain a GPA of 2.0 in order for daycare to provide services for that category.

Franklin County DSS is proposing the following changes to Appendix Q: Additional Local Standards for Child Care Providers such as implementing a local standard that will require legally exempt child care providers/programs to verify that they have given the parent/caretaker complete and accurate information regarding any report of child abuse or maltreatment in which they are named as an indicated subject.

Franklin County DSS is proposing the following changes to Appendix R:  Payments to Child Care Providers for Absences.

Number of absences allowed during base period:
PERIOD
ONE MONTH
Routine Limits (# of days)
            4
Extenuating Circumstances (# of days)
            2
Total Number of Absences Allowed (# of days)
            6
BASE PERIOD
SIX MONTHS
Routine Limits (# of days)
            24
Extenuating Circumstances (# of days)
            12
Total Number of Absences Allowed (# of days)
            36

The public is invited to comment on the proposed Plan Amendment until June 25, 2015 to the following address:
 
                                    Franklin County Department of Social Services
                                    Commissioner Michele Mulverhill
                                    355 West Main Street, Suite 331
                                    Malone, NY  12953           
 
Transitional Child Care is a support subsidy for those leaving Temporary Assistance due to new employment or increased income.  The recipient receives a day care subsidy allowance of up to the fair market rate for Franklin County, per child in day care regardless of income for a period of twelve months.

Low Income Child Care Program provides child care subsidies for the working poor and attendance in educational and/or training programs whose income is up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.  This programs pays up to the fair market rate for Franklin County, per child, for day care provided by a registered day care provider or legally exempt provider. 

For Information Contact:
(518) 481-1815

Links:

Office of Children & Family Services-Child Care Services

Taylors Laundry Academy Street Malone Photo Courtesy Franklin County Historical & Museum Society

Description:

Transitional Opportunities Program (TOP)

As the name implies, TOP is a transitional opportunities program for assisting clients who have recently left the TA roles during their transition to developing a self-sufficient lifestyle and personal growth.  Clients must be receiving income from part time or full time employment to be eligible.   TOP is more intense casework with client families to provide supports to stay employed and/or improve employment opportunities.

For Information Contact:

(518)481-1808

Links:

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance-Employment

Documents:

Franklin County's 2020-2021 Temporary Assistance (TA) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment

Burke Milk Plant Photo Courtesy Franklin County Historical & Museum Society

Description:

Given in the form of an electronic benefit card (EBT) and are redeemable for food and are accepted by most grocery stores.

They are available to most people receiving Temporary Assistance, the elderly, the disabled and other people with low income.  The SNAP program is operated under regulations set by the US Department of Agriculture and is 100% federally funded.

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AND NEED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE DIRECTLY,  PLEASE CALL (518)481-1808

Links:

• Office of Temporary and Disibility Assistance-SNAP
• Office of Temproary and Disibility Assistance - Nutrition

Farmland in Burke Photo Courtesy Franklin County Tourism

Description:

The Foster Care Unit is responsible for providing direct case management services to children placed in the care and custody of Franklin County Department of Social Services Commissioner and their families. 

Children are placed either by Child Protective Services, Family Court or by caretakers unable or unwilling to care for their children. A child may be surrendered for adoption at any age prior to 14 (if it is in the child's best interest to be adopted).
When children are placed in foster care, they can reside in a variety of settings such as, a certified foster home, an approved relative foster home, group residence or a residential treatment center. 

Foster Care provides children, age newborn to 21, with temporary, loving and safe homes when their own families are unable to care for them.

Foster Care Case Managers work with birth parents of children regarding alleviating the concerns that led to the children's placement in care. Areas of concern such as the birth parents need for treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, sexual abuse and emotional disturbance, and physical,mental, housing and employment problems and lack of knowledge of child development and parenting techniques. 

Workers develop child and family service plans and regularly appear in Family Court. The goal for each child is safe, nurturing temporary care with return to family if possible, or adoption if the family cannot be reunited, or, if neither is possible, and then preparation for independent living or discharge to another resource.

There are currently over 40 certified foster homes available for Franklin County children and we continually recruit and need more foster parents.

For Information Contact:
(518)481-1812

Links:

• Office of Children & Family Services-Foster Care
• Office of Children & Family Services-Electronic Payments

Description:

Become a Foster/Adoptive Parent Today!!

Qualifying Foster parents become part of a countywide team working together to support, nuture, and protect children in need.  While it may not be a lifetime commitment to a child, it is certainly a commitment to have a meaningful impact on a child's life.

Children available for adoption may be surrendered by their parents for adoption or may be freed for adoption through a Family Court decision to terminate parental rights due to the failure of parents to provide a safe return home for their child in foster care.

Most children available for adoption have been in foster care and are eligible for an adoption subsidy, which is a monthly check similar in amount to Foster Care board checks.

Case Managers supervise placements until the adoption is final and counsel children and adoptive parents. Foster parents are encouraged to adopt children in their homes and many foster parents become adoptive parents; others provide temporary care.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT?

• Complete and return an Agency Application
• Complete a five-week training course
• Complete a series of background checks
• Complete a medical statement
• Provide three personal references
• Have a homestudy completed by our Agency

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

• You must be at least 21 years of age
• You can be married, single, or living in partnership
• Have your own source of income
• Provide a safe and healthy home
• Each person in the home over the age of 18 must be fingerprinted
• Each person in the home over the age of 18 must be cleared through the Child Abuse Registry

TRAINING AND SUPPORTS PROVIDED TO FOSTER PARENTS

• A stipend for food, clothing, and board, based on the child's age and need for special services
• Medicaid for the child
• Support from individual caseworker
• Ongoing trainng to learn about caring for children in foster care

BE PART OF A TEAM

Foster Parents are expected to work with our agency to help provide a temporary, safe home for children while their parents work towards the return of their children.  During that time the Foster Parents act as substitute parents to the children.
Foster Parents are expected to treat the children as they would their own children, by taking the children to doctor and therapy appointments, attending school metings, and providing love, guidance, and nuturing.

Interested in being a foster/adoptive parent?

Contact our homefinder at (518) 481-1812

Winter Carnival, Saranac Lake Photo Courtesy Franklin County Historical & Museum Society

Description:

This unit is responsible for all activities involved in resource and special investigation recoveries.  The Fraud Unit is responsible for intake, referral and reporting and for all fieldwork, collateral contacts and client interviews, investigates case information to determine if monies/benefits were received fraudulently.  Referrals are obtained by anonymous reports, Cintrak, RFI, new hire matches, prison matches and fleeing felon matches.  The "Fraud Squad" works to prepare completed investigations for criminal prosecution, administrative disqualification hearings or administrative dispositions while working with various law enforcement agencies, including the District Attorney's Office.  The Fraud Unit is responsible for pre- and post-inspections of rental properties for security deposits, screening of all applications for expedited food stamps and to do FEDS referrals on all TA, SN & FS applications that meet a FEDS indicator.  The Front-end Detection System (FEDS) became mandated in 1992.  This program is designed to prevent fraud at the point of intake or before a dollar loss has occurred.  Case information that appears suspicious to an examiner at the time of interview is referred to the investigation unit immediately.  The investigator then participates in the interview process, which can result in cases being closed, and applications withdrawn or denied.

This unit is also responsible for monitoring and collections on all Temporary Assistance overpayments.  Tracking resources include information obtained through the New York State Cintrak computer system which matches information regarding an individual as reported by various agencies such as 1099's from the Internal Revenue (IRS), employment, Unemployment Insurance Benefits (U.I.B.) and Social Security.

For Information Contact:
(518)481-1808

Paul Smiths VIC Photo Courtesy Franklin County Tourism

Description:

This program was instituted by Congress in 1977 to ease the financial burden that high-energy costs have placed on low income families and individuals. In 1981, the Federal government gave states the flexibility to design their own program. New York State provides energy assistance through the New York State Department of Family Services. Since 1981, Congress has continued to provide funds to assist low-income households to meet the high cost of home energy.

For Information Contact:

(518)481-1807

Links:

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance-HEAP

Malone Memorial Park Photo Courtesy Franklin County Historical & Museum Society

Description:

Homeless - A person or persons may be able to get help to stay in their present housing; to pay for the family to stay with someone other than a legally responsible relative; to arrange for the family to stay in a shelter, etc.; to pay for a restaurant allowance when the family does not have cooking facilities; to arrange any pay for a safe place to stay if a dangerous situation exists, i.e. domestic violence; to pay for storing furniture and other personal things when evicted or must move; to pay for moving expenses, rent security deposit or agreement; to pay for household items needed to set up a home; to pay to take children to and from school while the family is in emergency housing; to pay for moving expenses when the family moves to emergency housing or between emergency housing placements. 

For Information Contact:

(518)481-1808

Links:

• Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance-Housing
• Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance-Shelter

St. Regis Lake Photo Courtesy Franklin County Tourism

Description:

Medicaid (Medical insurance assistance)

Medicaid assists people who can not pay for all of their medical care.  Individuals and families who are in receipt of Temporary Assistance may be eligible for Medicaid.  Supplementary Security Income recipients are automatically eligible for Medicaid.

This unit determines Medical Assistance eligibility for individuals and families who are not in receipt of Temporary Assistance or Supplemental Security Income. It also assists clients in locating nursing home beds, arranges for proper placements and establishes eligibility for the Long-Term Home Health Care Program.

Medicaid pays for the health care needs of eligible recipients including medically related transportation.  Some recipients, because of their income, are required to incur specific medical financial obligations each month before they are eligible for full coverage.  This is known as "spend-down."

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AND NEED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE DIRECTLY PLEASE CALL (518)481-1808.

Medical Transportation

All requests for transportation reimbursement must be prior approved by MAS (Medical Answering Service).  Reimbursement is only available for travel to and from providers which can be paid under the MA program (Title XIX). 

TO ARRANGE FOR MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION WITHIN FRANKLIN COUNTY CONTACT (888)262-3975

Medical Services

Provided to Medicaid recipients who are unable to perform certain personal care chores for themselves through licensed home health care agencies with which the Department has contracts. (Rates for these services are set by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.) This program as well as the Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP) enables elderly and disabled persons to remain in their own homes rather than be placed in a care facility.

Links:

• NYS Department of Health-Medicaid
• NYS Department of Health-Child Health Plus
• NYS Department of Health-Family Health Plus
• New York Prescription Saver

Malone Deaf-Mute School Photo Courtesy Franklin County Historical & Museum Society

Description:

This unit works with families with children at risk of out of home placement. Case management services are provided by a caseworker to address identified needs with families and offer intervention services in order to avoid out of home placements.

For Contact Info:

JoAnn Burnham: (518) 481-1832

Links:

• Office of Child & Family Services-Prevention

Malone Green School 1894 Photo Courtesy Franklin County Historical & Museum Society

Description:

This unit determines client eligibility for the various financial assistance programs and/or Food Stamps. Temporary Assistance staff monitors changes in case circumstances such as employment, shelter moves and changes in the number of persons in the household. Budgets are adjusted to reflect these changes and cases are re-evaluated for eligibility on a regular basis.

For Information Contact:

(518) 481-1775

Links:

My Benefits