Non-Parent Caregivers (Grandparents, Other Relatives, Friends) Caring for Children
Foster Children Placement with DSS Staff
Conflict of Interest Policy in DSS
Adoption
Contact Person
Wendy Morrill, Grade B Supervisor | St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services
Phone: (315) 379-2265
Brief Description of Services:
Recruits, trains and certifies foster and adoptive homes. Works with children freed for adoption to place them in adoptive homes, facilitates adoptions.
Post Adoption:
Post-Adoption Services - CHJC - Family Permanency Program of the North Country - Website - Brochure
2022 Post Adoption/Post Kinship Guardianship Letter
Child Protective Services
Contact Person:
Rebecca Emlaw, Grade A Supervisor | St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services
Phone: (315) 379-2106
Brief Description of Services:
This unit investigates all reports of child abuse and neglect and makes appropriate assessments of needs to alleviate the situation.
After hours access for Child Protective Services, please call the St. Lawrence County Sheriff at (315) 379-2222 and ask for the on-call caseworker.
Preventive Foster Care Services
Contact Person:
Kim teRiele, Grade A Supervisor | St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services
Phone: (315) 379-2137
Brief Description of Services:
Works with children in Foster Care and birth parents in order to remedy problems and reunite family if possible. Works closely with foster parent and other service providers.
Supportive Services
Contact Person:
Kim teRiele, Grade A Supervisor | St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services
Phone: (315) 379-2137
Brief Description of Services:
Works with parents and children in their own homes to help remedy problems and coordinate services to eliminate need of out of home placement of children. Is also provided when child returns home from Foster Care in an effort to avoid the possibility of replacement in Foster Care.
Non-Parent Caregivers (Grandparents, Other Relatives, Friends) Caring for Children
Non-parent caregivers, who are caring for children without a parent living in their home, may be eligible for Temporary Assistance. Temporary Assistance for children not living with a parent is often referred to as “non-parent caregiver” or “child-only” grants, and includes Medical Assistance (MA). If the non-parent caregiver wants assistance only for the children, the non-parent caregiver’s income is not used to determine eligibility and there are no Temporary Assistance work requirements for the non-parent caregiver. Non-parent caregivers may apply for temporary assistance at their local social services office.
In addition to financial assistance, non-parent caregivers (also called kinship caregivers) often have a need for information and assistance related to food stamps, the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), custody, guardianship, foster care, adoption, schooling, school enrollment, and other forms of assistance such as child care, social security, respite, case management and service programs.
For information about services and assistance programs please visit the following websites:
The NYS Kinship Navigator’s Website offers legal fact sheets, state and local kinship resources, and other information. In addition, the Navigator operates a toll free phone line at 1-877-454- 6463. Kinship Specialists are available from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. A message may be left during non-business hours and calls will be returned when business hours resume.
The NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).
MyBenefits is an online tool to help you learn about eligibility for financial assistance and other benefit programs. A simple, 10-minute prescreening from any computer with Internet access at any time, determines whether you are likely to qualify for Food Stamps, HEAP, the Earned Income Tax Credit, child dependent care credits, school lunch and other programs.
The NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) provides contact information and links to the Kinship Caregiver Programs funded through OCFS, as well as a variety of resources for families and staff, including the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP), a subsidy program available to kinship caregivers who are foster parents.
Your local Social Services District (SSD) and local area Office for the Aging (OFA) are also resources for information on kinship care.
