Social services innovators honored at City & State event

With summer underway, 50 innovators leading New York’s social services sector were honored on Tuesday night at City & State’s 2024 Above & Beyond in Social Services event, held at 3 West Club in Manhattan. The event celebrated visionaries in advocacy, nonprofit, government and the private sector who have demonstrated a tireless commitment to improving their communities.

Jess Dannhauser, commissioner of the New York City Administration for Children’s Services led the event with a keynote highlighting the efforts of his fellow honorees.

“I know none of you do this work for an award, but I do think it's important to take a moment…to honor you for your dedication to uplifting New Yorkers in every community in our great city and beyond,” he said. “ACS is not known as the easiest job in the city. So when people ask me why I do this work and why I stay in this work, I most often talk about what a privilege it is, and a great fortune to do this work side by side with people who are on a mission, who are deeply committed to service.”

During his speech, Dannhauser mentioned efforts that ACS has made to include unaccompanied migrant children in its programming and to expand services to mentor youth into early adulthood. 

“In the past 18 months, (ACS) increased the number of children, including our newest New Yorkers, enrolled in child care with low-income vouchers five-fold from 7,000 to over 45,000,” he said. “With you, we're opening 30 family enrichment centers throughout the city, and we're easing access to support for families without a (Child Protective Services) investigation wherever possible. Our teams are also partnering with many of you to reach and stick with more young people in foster care and juvenile justice.” 

Barbara Guinn, commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, delivered a second keynote address. She spoke about the agency’s role in the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, a group established by Gov. Kathy Hochul under the Child Poverty Reduction Act that aims to make policy recommendations to reduce child poverty by 50% by 2031.

“Later this year, the council will deliver its first set of recommendations, and we remain optimistic that these recommendations will be given serious consideration,” Guinn said. “I'm sure that you all know how much easier the work that you do every day would be, if families and children did not live in poverty. Far too often, these families and children who live in poverty, often unjustly, end up having limited opportunities that limit their potential.”

Before Jill Bragg, senior vice president at staffing firm Tandym Group, presented the awards to honorees, Guinn emphasized the importance of social services work.

“In the world of Human Services, sometimes recognition doesn't come very often. … Through your persistence, you have helped to advance policy changes and secure necessary funding investments in social services,” Guinn said. “In our sector, meaningful change rarely happens after one try or by one person, it often takes many attempts for many years by a collective of voices to finally get those in power to acknowledge the need and support action necessary to create change. Your work exemplifies the absolute best in each of us.”