Tioga County Department of Social Services
1062 State Route 38
PO Box 240
Owego, New York 13827
(607) 687-8300

Commissioner, Shawn Yetter
Deputy Commissioner, Gail Barton
Director of Employment and Transitional Supports, Valerie Nitti
Director of Administrative Services, Gary Grant
Youth Bureau Director, Maureen Hawley

Mission Statement:
To promote self-sufficiency and protect citizens by providing financial and social services to eligible Tioga County residents through program development, application of the law and encouragement of responsibility in an empathetic, timely and customer focused manner.

For information on New York State Social Services programs:
www.dfa.state.ny.us

The Tioga County Department of Social Services is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, providing the following services:

• Temporary Assistance - The Division of Temporary Assistance is responsible for administering the following financial aid programs:
• Family Assistance - A cash benefit program providing payments to eligible households. Benefit levels are based on the household size, income and resources available and upon the needs and expenses of the household as defined by State and Federal schedules and regulations.
• Safety Net - A program of financial assistance to needy individuals and families who do not meet the requirements for Family Assistance or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• Medicaid - A program designed to help individuals pay for their medical care. Individuals may be eligible for Medical Assistance if they meet certain income, resource, age, disability and various other requirements. Chronic Care benefits primarily cover individuals residing in nursing home facilities. Income and resource eligibility levels for Chronic Care are different from income and resource levels for other Medicaid programs. Individuals in receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are automatically eligible to receive Medical Assistance.
• Food Stamps - This program is administered under the direction of the US Department of Agriculture. Eligibility is based on income, resources, living situation and family size of household. Food Stamp benefits are accessed by using a benefit ID card and a personal identification number (PIN) at an approved retail site, generally a grocery store. The benefit is issued on a monthly basis and is designed to supplement the household's food needs. Restrictions apply and Food Stamps are not allowed to be used for purchase of tobacco, alcohol, paper products, pet food or medication.
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) - A program designed to help eligible households with heating and utility costs and with certain essential home heating equipment repairs. Eligibility is based on income and household size. Certain households such as Public Assistance, Food Stamp and Supplemental Security Income recipients may be categorically eligible.
• Managed Care - A program available to most Medicaid recipients. A Managed Care participant accesses Medicaid services through the Managed Care Organization (MCO) he/she selected. The goal of Managed Care is to enhance access to, and availability of, primary care services, expand the network of medical services available, ensure quality health care, and establish a cost-effective health care system for Medicaid recipients.
• Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus
  www.health.state.ny.us

For more information on New York State Temporary Assistance programs:
www.dfa.state.ny.us/nysotda

Child Support - The Child Support Enforcement Unit (CSEU) is mandated under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act to ensure that legally responsible persons, to the best of their ability, contribute toward the support of their children. The CSEU office is located at 20 Court Street, Owego with an intake worker located at the main DSS office four days per week. The CSEU's responsibilities include:

· Locating absent parents and putative fathers.
· Establishing paternity for children born out-of-wedlock.
· Establishing a fair and equitable order of support.
· Collecting, accounting for, and disbursing child support payments.
· Enforcing support orders should the legally liable parent become delinquent in paying support.
· Establishing and enforcing medical support obligations.
· Periodically reviewing and adjusting child support orders to ensure support obligations continue to be fair and equitable.

Tioga County Child Support Information (Power Point Presentation)

For more information on New York State Child Support Enforcement:
www.dfa.state.ny.us/nysotda/csms

Children's Services - The following services are available to children and their families:

Child Protective/Preventive Services - The local CPS Unit is the unit responsible for investigating reports of suspected abuse/neglect and may utilize other agencies as needed. Law enforcement may assist in investigations as necessary or when a criminal act is also committed. Preventive services to prevent placement in foster care are also provided by the Department of Social Services.

The duties of Child Protective units include:

1. To receive reports from Albany 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2. To start some form of investigation within 24 hours.
3. To assess whether or not a report is true or false (founded or unfounded) within 60 days.
4. To offer and provide protective and preventive services to families.
5. To use Family Court when necessary.
6. To send all follow-up reports to the State Central Register in Albany. All reports, records, etc. are confidential.

The State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment, located in Albany, may be called toll free at 1-800-342-3720, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to report suspected abuse or maltreatment.

www.dfa.state.ny.us/cps

Foster Care/Adoption Unit - This Unit provides the following services:

· Adoption: Legally freeing children for adopting; certifying adoptive parents; preparing adoptive families; placing adoptive children in permanent homes. Also supervising the placement until finalization in Court.

· Foster Care Children: 24-hour care away from a child's natural family. Foster Care ideally is a temporary placement in a foster family, a group home, or a residential facility. A permanency plan must be developed for each child to reunite them with their biological family, free them for adoption when applicable, or prepare them to live independently after leaving foster care. A foster child can be voluntarily surrendered for adoption or can be declared abandoned or permanently neglected by the Courts.

· Foster Care Homes: Recruiting and certifying individuals or couples interested in providing foster care. Foster parents receive monthly payments for room, board, and clothing.

For adoption information go to:

www.dfa.state.ny.us/adopt

Services Definitions

Adult / Adolescent Unit - This Unit provides the following services:

1. Adult Services: Protective services for adults provided to persons over the age of 18 who are at risk of harm due to mental or physical impairment. Representative Payee services for recipients of SSI who are unable to manage their own finances.
2. Long Term Care: Services to assist the elderly and disabled remain at home or in the community.
3. PINS Diversion: Services to assist families where a youth is at risk of a "Person In Need of Supervision" petition. These services include respite and crisis intervention.

Employment - The Employment Unit handles welfare to work activities, focusing on enabling public assistance and food stamp applicants and recipients achieve self-sufficiency through work. The Unit provides a range of services, including group orientation and assessment, one-to-one service planning, motivational training, job search and placement assistance, job readiness training, supportive services including day care and transportation, approved vocational training and Work Experience. The Employment Unit is located at the Tioga Employment Center at the HHS Complex 1062 State Route 38, Owego. Services are supported and coordinated with the other Center members, which include Work Force Investment Act (WIA), Child Care Subsidy Program, New York State Department of Labor, Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), New York State Department of Labor Veterans' Employment Program and the federal ProAction program for persons 55+.

Child Care Services - Child Care services are provided to low-income working families and recipients of Public Assistance. This program, staffed by a DSS Day Care Specialist, is located at the Tioga County Employment Center.

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