Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC)

OTDA Home Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC)

Governance

The New York State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC), established by Governor Hochul under the Child Poverty Reduction Act, is responsible for:

  • analyzing child poverty in New York
  • making policy recommendations to reduce child poverty by 50 percent over ten years
  • measuring and reporting on the State's progress towards that goal

Statutory Members

The Council consists of 17 members. Any vacancies in the advisory council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made.

List of CPRAC Statutory Members
Appointed By Affiliation, Title, Expertise Member County of Residence
Statute Governor's Office, Assistant Secretary to the Governor for Human Services and Mental Hygiene Alyson Grant Tarek (co-chair) Albany
Statute NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), Commissioner Barbara Guinn (co-chair) Albany
OTDA NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA), Administrator Scott French New York
OTDA Erie County Department of Social Services (DSS), Commissioner Marie Cannon Erie
Governor's Office NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), Commissioner DaMia Harris-Madden Westchester
Governor's Office NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, Deputy Commissioner for Processing and Taxpayer Services Kristin Dence Albany
Governor's Office NYS Council on Children and Families, Executive Director Vanessa Threatte Albany
Governor's Office Non-profit organization focusing on poverty issues Vacant Vacant
Governor's Office Statewide non-profit poverty advocacy organization (Robin Hood Foundation, CEO) Richard Buery New York
Governor's Office Community member, non-NYC Candace Cabral Monroe
Governor's Office Community member, NYC Pamela Walcott Bronx
Governor's Office Regional Economic Development Council (REDC), Mohawk Valley Shelly Callahan Oneida
Governor's Office Regional Economic Development Council (REDC), Southern Tier Kathy Connerton Broome
Senate Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAANY), President and CEO Kate Breslin Albany
Senate Westchester Children's Association, Executive Director Allison Lake Westchester
Assembly The Children's Agenda, Director of Policy Peter Nabozny Monroe
Assembly Context Matters Strategy Group, Partner Dia Bryant Essex, New Jersey

The members of the advisory council receive no compensation for their services but are allowed reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Expenses for members through October 2023, total $813.92.

Public Meetings

For information about Council meetings, including meeting minutes and agendas, dates and locations of all meetings held, and to be held visit OTDA's Public Meetings webpage.

Required Reports

Social Services Law 131-zz requires the following reports:

  • One-time report including a review of various policy proposals and their effects on child poverty, as well as a timeline and benchmarks for reducing child poverty in the State by 50 percent
  • One-time report setting out recommendations for achieving the poverty reduction goal
  • Annual progress reports detailing the progress that the State has made reducing child poverty in New York
  • Annual report to the Chairs of the Senate Finance Committee and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee analyzing proposals in the Governor's executive budget that may impact child poverty

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