named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Center for Excellence for Evidence-Based Programs (CfE)
Initiative supporting the implementation of evidence-based practices in child and family services through training, technical assistance, and community of practice development.
Curriculum and Materials Development
Development and revision of training curricula, manuals, and job aids for child welfare professionals on topics including safety, risk assessment, family engagement, and permanency.
Directors of Services Leadership Training Forum
Two-day professional development forum for Local District Social Services (LDSS) Directors of Services focusing on leadership, management, child welfare best practices, and policy implementation; includes expert speakers and peer learning.
Emerging Needs Response
Rapid-response service to support OCFS with time-sensitive training, research, and program development needs across child welfare, juvenile justice, and family services.
Grant Management Support
End-to-end grant development and administration services for OCFS, including funder research, proposal writing, budgeting, and reporting to government, foundation, and corporate funders.
Home Finding Summit
Seminar for home finders and supervisors to enhance skills in recruiting, selecting, and developing foster and adoptive parents through training, workshops, and networking.
Voluntary Agency Summit
Annual conference bringing together leadership from OCFS voluntary authorized agencies and contracted providers to discuss challenges, best practices, and policy changes in child welfare and residential services.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Child Welfare Professional Training & Capacity Building 2 activities
- Develops and delivers direct training programs and materials for child welfare professionalsDesigns, develops, and revises child welfare training curricula, manuals, Safety Guides, and reference cards for use by OCFS, local social service districts, and provider agencies. Delivers webinars, professional development events, and leadership forums focused on child welfare supervision, safety, and management.
- Provides training and capacity building in child welfare and related fieldsAdvances the effective delivery of evidence-based programs by providing comprehensive training and learning opportunities across multiple modalities—including classroom instruction, online sessions, workshops, simulations, seminars, symposia, and conferences—in child welfare, juvenile justice, childcare, adoption and foster care, youth development, protective services, and services for the blind.
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Youth and Community Research Initiatives 1 activity
- Conducts research to inform child and family services policy and practiceConducts research in partnership with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and other public or private organizations to develop best practices, program models, and policy recommendations that improve services for youth and families. Responds to emerging needs with rapid implementation of time-sensitive research projects.
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Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
- Funds and administers grants to support emerging human services prioritiesSeeks, secures, and administers public and private funds and partnerships to support emerging priorities in human services. Provides grant development and management support to OCFS staff, including identifying funding opportunities, preparing applications, and managing reporting and compliance.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Organizes and manages conferences and large-scale events for child welfare stakeholdersProvides full event and meeting support for OCFS, including statewide conferences, focus groups, and an annual two-day leadership forum for approximately 75 Local District Social Services Directors. Developed remote access systems during the pandemic to host virtual events for up to 500 participants using WebEx platforms.
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Organizational DEI Capacity Building 1 activity
- Promotes inclusive policies and practices for diverse communitiesSupports OCFS and its partners in developing inclusive policies and best practices to better serve diverse populations within the child and family services system.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Supports rapid response to emerging human services needsProvides timely support to OCFS and its partners by developing and implementing improved methods for service delivery and access in response to new and emerging human services priorities across New York State.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$13.28M
Contributions & grants$13.12M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$124K1%
Other revenue$34K
expenses
Total expenses$13.29M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$8.68M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.84M
Cash$2.41M
Investments$0
Liabilities$2.77M
Net assets$1.07M
Liquid reserves2.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +19.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASSIE PUSTILNIK | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 38 | $222K |
| WENDY CALABRESE | VP OF PROGRAMS | 38 | $184K |
| JULIE AVERSA | VP OF FINANCE AND OPERATIO | 38 | $165K |
| GREGORY KWACZALA | VP OF STRATEGY, EQUITY, AN | 38 | $148K |
board members · 9
- CARA CROWLEY — MEMBER
- DAMIA HARRIS MADDEN — COMMISSIONER
- KATHARINE BRIAR-LAWSON — BOARD CHAIR
- KEITH ALFORD — MEMBER
- MICHAEL WHALEN JR — MEMBER
- MYUNG LEE — MEMBER
- STEPHEN SHEFFER — MEMBER
- TONY RIVERA — MEMBER
- TONYA BONIFACE — ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- Adelphi University Partner — Collaborates with YRI by providing financial or in-kind support and expertise for research and program implementation.
- Bluesky Partner — Platform used for public communication and outreach
- Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR) Partner — Partners with YRI to advance research and policy development related to guaranteed income and family well-being.
- Chapin Hall Partner — Collaborates with YRI on research and policy initiatives to improve outcomes for children and families.
- Docs for Tots Partner — Supports YRI projects through funding, in-kind contributions, and subject matter expertise.
- Edward Zigler Center in Child Development & Social Policy at Yale Partner — Contributes expertise and support to YRI's research and policy development efforts.
- Energage, LLC Partner — Third-party survey partner that administers employee engagement assessments for Top Workplaces recognition
- Facebook Partner — Platform used to share news and connect with the broader community
- Family Training Institute of Miami (FTTIM) Partner — Provides expertise and support for YRI’s research and program implementation efforts.
- HSLC NYS Partner — Partners with HSLC NYS to manage staff registration for training courses through hslcnys.org.
- LinkedIn Partner — Platform used to share updates and engage with the professional community
- MoCaFi Partner — Supports YRI initiatives through funding, in-kind resources, and technical expertise.
- New York Office of Children and Family Services Government — Primary state agency partner that YRI supports through research, training, and program implementation
- New York Office of Children and Family Services Partner — Primary government partner; YRI supports OCFS in program implementation, research, and policy development.
- New York State Office of Children and Family Services Partner — Collaborates with YRI to develop inclusive policies and best practices for children and families.
- OCFS Government — Collaborates with OCFS to deliver training courses aligned with project funding sources and target populations.
- OCFS Partner — Partner agency for which YRI provides grant development and management support
- OCFS Partner — Partner in conducting research to develop best practices and policy recommendations for youth and family services in New York State.
- Office of Children and Family Services Government — Collaborates with YRI to develop training curricula, webinars, and practice materials for New York State's child welfare system.
- Office of Children and Family Services Government — Primary partner organization supported through research and policy recommendations
- Office of Children and Family Services Partner — Contracts with YRI to deliver event and meeting support, including statewide conferences and professional development forums.
- Redlich Horwitz Foundation Funder — Provides financial support for YRI research and development projects.
- Robin Hood Foundation Partner — Provides financial and in-kind support and expertise for YRI research and development initiatives.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collaborative Research and Policy Co-Developmentmethodology: collaborative-policy-researchBy partnering directly with government agencies and stakeholders to co-develop research, the organization ensures that findings are actionable and aligned with real-world policy needs, because shared ownership increases adoption and system-level impact.
- Evidence-to-Practice Translationmethodology: evidence_based_policy_developmentBy building capacity for implementing evidence-based programs and shaping policy through R&D partnerships, the organization bridges the gap between research and frontline practice, because structured support enables sustainable adoption in complex public systems.
- Family-Engaged Practice Integrationmethodology: family-engaged practice integrationBy embedding family engagement and well-being into training curricula and service models, the organization improves child welfare outcomes, because involving families as partners leads to more responsive, effective, and culturally grounded practices.
- Poverty Interruption via Service Connectednessmethodology: poverty-interruption-through-service-connectednessBy connecting families to integrated services in care, education, and employment, the organization disrupts cycles of poverty, because coordinated access to critical supports improves family stability and economic mobility.
- Rapid-Response Research for Emerging Needsmethodology: rapid-response-researchBy leveraging organizational agility to conduct timely research, the organization addresses urgent challenges in youth and family services that larger bureaucracies cannot, because speed and responsiveness enable influence during critical policy or program decision windows.