County Executive Robert P. Astorino and his newly appointed commissioner of Social Services, Kevin McGuire, made a visit Tuesday, Jan 4 to Children's Village in Dobbs Ferry, one of the agencies that works with the county to provide services to children and youth.
It was McGuire's second day on the job, having been appointed to the position a week earlier. They were joined by Commissioner of Community Mental Health Grant Mitchell, who until this week had also served as acting commissioner of Social Services.
The county officials met with Dr. Jeremy Kohomban, president and CEO of the agency, who gave them an overview and tour of Children's Village.
Children's Village provides a number of services to children and youth, including residential treatment and education services and transitional housing for older youth.
Astorino said that he is constantly looking for ways to do things better and that Children's Village was a leader in its field.
"Spending more money does not necessarily mean that things will be better," he said. "We want to make sure that what we spend goes to delivering the most effective services at the most affordable price. Partnering with agencies like Children's Village is a way for the county to continue to fund innovative solutions for serving kids in need.
Kohomban said, "I appreciate the County Executive's hands-on approach. These are difficult times for all of us and I understand that tough choices need to be made. It is clear that County Executive Astorino understands the delicate balance we must achieve when making required investments in children and families, while concurrently managing the stark reality of what we can truly afford."
He added, "The good news is that when it comes to children and families in need, we can do more by being strategic. We can shift funding away from the expensive high-end services that keep children and families apart and invest in community services that keep children safe, families together and economic resources flowing into the neighborhoods where these resources are most needed. I look forward to the County Executive and Commissioner McGuire's leadership on these important issues, and we stand ready to serve."
Photo cutline (l-r) : Anthony, one of the boys of Children's Village; Commissioner of Mental Health Dr. Grant Mitchell; Commissioner of Social Services Kevin McGuire; Dr. Jeremy Kohomban, president and CEO of Children's Village; Nicholas and Todd, two other boys of Children's Village; County Executive Robert P. Astorino.