Departments

Social Services

Allegany County Department of Social Services
7 Court Street
County Office Bldg. Rm. 127
Belmont, NY  14813
Fax: 585.268.9479
Phone: 585.268.9622

Edna Kayes, Commissioner
Donald Horan, Deputy Commissioner

Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Leadership Philosophy

“Strengthen workers by building quality relationships, fostering open two-way communication, and providing the training, tools and resources to create empowered and effective professionals.”

Department Mission

“We preserve families, protect individuals, and promote self-sufficiency.”

Food Resources
EA SNAP Ending
NY State of Health
New Support Cards
Free Community Meal

Check out new information in Social Services!
Food Resources – New locations have been added in the Canaseraga area.
Emergency Assistance SNAP Benefits – February 2023 is the last month that supplemental EA benefits will be issued, and your SNAP benefits will return to the normal amount in March 2023. The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and your local social services district do not have control over this change. The links above provide food resources in Allegany County and information on the emergency allotments ending.
NY State of Health – Need health insurance? Click the button for more information or to get started.
Child Support Debit Cards – Be on the look out for your new child support debit card in the mail. Deposits to the old cards will stop March 30, 2023 so activate the new one as soon you get it.

Adult Services

Services Division
7 Court Street
Belmont, NY 14813

NYConnects

Phone: 585.268.9316
Fax: 585.268.9415

Our Services division assists those who may be homeless, in need of food or clothing, or have various other types of emergency needs. We provide some emergency services directly, making referrals to other providers as required to meet the needs of the individual or family.

585.268.9316

Vulnerable adults, both the elderly and those with disabilities, are sometimes abused or neglected by their caregivers or others. The Department of Social Services employs specially trained caseworkers to investigate and respond to reports of physical, emotional, or financial abuse and various types of neglect. Workers in this area are particularly sensitive to an adults’ right to make his own decisions, even when we do not agree with them. Except in rare instances, services are voluntary.

Reports of potential adult abuse are accepted at

585.268.9319

Adult abuse can sometimes be prevented through the provision of services. Casework services are available for this purpose. Caseworkers generally make personal contacts with the potentially abused adult, family members, and other care providers. Referrals are frequently made for other needed services.

Financial Management Services

Some adults are not able to manage their personal finances. This may result in unnecessary eviction, utility shut off, hunger, or other problems. We provide direct financial management for these adults, paying their bills directly. Most are referred by the Social Security Administration, although self referrals and other referrals will be considered.

Drug and alcohol screening and assessment are predominantly designed for recipients of financial or medical assistance from our Department. A Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor meets individually with referred adults to determine if an alcohol or substance problem will interfere with employment. If so, referrals are made to local agencies specializing in the treatment of these diseases. Participation in such treatment is required for continued receipt of benefits.

We make referrals to the local food pantry network for people with emergency food needs or those who do not qualify for food stamps. Comprised predominantly of churches, food pantries have limited storage space and generally provide canned and dry goods.

Emergency Food Pantries

2-1-1 HELPLINE provides comprehensive information and referral services for Allegany County, connecting callers to available services, programs and volunteer opportunities throughout the region. Dial 2-1-1 (or 800.346.2211)

Caseworkers are available to assist anyone with unmet needs and are knowledgeable about services available in and around Allegany County. We are skilled at directing people to appropriate resources to assist with such issues as domestic violence, mental health, developmental disabilities, and landlord-tenant disputes, to name just a few.

585.268.9316

Personal Care Services

Adults with chronic illnesses or disabilities may require personal assistance in order to safely remain in their homes. Personal care services may provide help with such things as grocery shopping, meal preparation, cleaning, and bathing. Complete individual assessments are required prior to beginning services and periodically thereafter. Services are generally limited to several hours per week. People must have Medicaid to qualify for this service. Two types of services are possible: (1) traditional care, with a licensed agency sending in specially trained staff, and (2) consumer directed care, with the person needing services recruiting, hiring, training, and supervising the aides themselves.

Private Duty Nursing

Disabled adults or children may require the services of a private duty nurse in their homes in order to remain at home, or to assist family in the care of the disabled individual. Caseworkers assist those with Medicaid or certain Medicaid-waiver programs to acquire and authorize these services. Complete assessments are required prior to the onset of services and periodically thereafter.

Alternatives to Nursing Home Care

Many older or disabled adults prefer to remain in their homes instead of considering nursing home placement. In addition to providing more familiar surroundings and greater degrees of personal decision making, home-based care is usually substantially more cost effective than nursing home care. Through cooperation with the Allegany County Department of Health, we may provide access to skilled nurses who make regular home visits. The nurses provide a wide range of services in the home, including injections, dressing changes, and medication monitoring. Other services may also be available, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, respite, nutritionist services, and lifeline. Eligibility is based on insurance availability and need. Complete assessments are required prior to the onset of services and periodically thereafter.

877.629.8104

Medicaid recipients often do not have access to a car to get to and from medical appointments. In these situations we can help you obtain medical services by arranging for transportation.

Medical transportation may be provided on fixed route buses, specially arranged buses, taxicabs, or from an ambulance company. Regardless of the type of vehicle, all medical transportation except for emergencies must be arranged in advance. This begins with a phone call to our medical transportation unit, proceeds to a confirmation phone call the day before the scheduled trip, and concludes when you return from the doctor’s office with documentation of the appointment. Medicaid recipients must follow our guidelines to access transportation services.

Some reimbursement is possible for recipients who drive themselves to appointments. Again, contact our medical transportation unit for more information.

Child Protective & Preventive Services

585.268.9316

Reports of potential child abuse or neglect may be made by calling 800.342.3720.

Unfortunately, many American children are abused or neglected each year. The Department of Social Services maintains a team of highly skilled Child Protective Services (CPS) investigators who make personal visits to reportedly abusive or neglectful homes. Investigators interview parents, children, neighbors, school teachers, and others who have information. CPS works closely with the police in investigations of potential criminal actions.

Child Abuse Prevention Services

When our CPS unit finds actual or potential child abuse or neglect, the Department strives to prevent future problems by providing services to the family. Such services generally include home visits and parenting information and assistance, with specialized instruction or assistance in other areas provided as needed. Services are provided by trained caseworkers from the Department of Social Services and partner agencies.

For more information on child abuse, click on this link to the New York State Office of Child & Family Services.

Child Support Unit

Phone: 888.208.4485

Paternity Establishment

Prior to obtaining a court order for child support payments, mothers who were not married to their child’s father must legally establish the child’s paternity. Options for paternity establishment include signed written acknowledgement by the parties, court hearings and determinations, and blood testing. We work cooperatively with single mothers and the court to establish paternity.

Support Establishment

Once paternity is established, single parents are encouraged to seek a court order establishing a legal requirement for absent parents to financially help support their children. In addition to setting regular payments that an absent parent must make for his or her children, the court may also determine the absent parent’s responsibilities for assisting with costs of medical coverage and childcare costs. Support Unit staff help custodial parents complete the necessary paperwork, and otherwise assist them navigate the court system and its processes. This service is provided free of charge to all Allegany County residents.

Support Collection

Upon receipt of a court order for child support to be paid, the Support Collection Unit takes a lead role in obtaining the child support. Working with local employers as well as those across the state and the country, we receive payments that are withheld from absent parents’ paychecks, as well as those made personally by people who are self-employed or unemployed. Payments will then be sent directly to the custodial parent, or will be used to offset the costs of Allegany County support of the child. There is no cost to Allegany County custodial parents for this service.

Support Enforcement

Absent parents sometimes fall behind in their support payments. If this happens, the Support Unit takes action to collect past due child support and ensure future payments. This may include filing legal petitions, referral to a credit bureau or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, interception of Federal or State income tax refunds, suspension of driver’s or professional licenses, or other action. There is no cost to Allegany County custodial parents for this service.

Parent Locator Services

Absent parents can sometimes be difficult to find. The Support Unit has linkages with many outside agencies to assist in locating these absent parents. They may do searches through the US Postal Service, wage or other employment reports, Department of Motor Vehicles searches, the IRS, the Social Security Administration, the Veteran’s Administration, and many other options. There is no cost to Allegany County custodial parents for this service.

Legal Services (income-based fees)

When the child or custodial parent receives financial or medical assistance from the Department, we contract with an attorney to represent our interests and the interests of the child in child support hearings. This service is provided free of charge to these custodial parents.

We also contract with an attorney to provide low-cost legal representation to all other custodial parents who request such assistance. These parents pay for this representation through their child support payments.

For more information select a link below:

NYS Division of Child Enforcement
NYS Unified Court System
Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement

Temporary Assistance

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 SNAP, 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:
www.nysnavigator.org – 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.

http://otda.ny.gov/programs/ – The NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).

www.mybenefits.ny.gov – 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 SNAP, HEAP, the Earned Income Tax Credit, child dependent care credits, school lunch and other programs.

http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/kinship/default.asp – 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.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Child Assistance
Finance Assistance
Medical Assistance
Employment Assistance
Nutrition Assistance
Fraud Investigations

Safe Harbour Program

Southern Tier Child Advocacy Center

SNAP/Food Stamps

Foster Care

Adoption Services

HEAP