Community Service Society Of New York

THE MISSION OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK (CSS) IS TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS WHICH CREATE A PERMANENT POVERTY CLASS IN NEW YORK CITY, AND TO ADVOCATE THE SYSTEMIC CHANGES REQUIRED TO ELIMINATE SUCH PROBLEMS. CSS WILL FOCUS ON ENABLING, EMPOWERING AND PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR POOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY, AND TO REALIZE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL OPPORTUNITIES.

CSS'S HEALTH INITIATIVES DEPARTMENT CONDUCTS HEALTH COVERAGE POLICY RESEARCH, ADVOCATES FOR QUALITY AFFORDABLE COVERAGE FOR ALL, AND PROVIDES EDUCATION AND DIRECT HEALTH COVERAGE ASSISTANCE TO NEW YORK CONSUMERS. CSS'S HEALTH COVERAGE-RELATED DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAMS INCLUDE: COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATES; THE CSS NAVIGATOR NETWORK; THE INDEPENDENT CONSUMER ADVOCACY NETWORK; THE ABD-FE PROGRAM; THE MANAGED CARE CONSUMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MCCAP); HARLEM HEALTH ADVOCACY PARTNERS; AND COMMUNITY HEALTH ACCESS FOR ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE PROJECT (CHAMP). FOR MANY OF THESE PROJECTS, CSS SUBCONTRACTS WITH NETWORKS OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE CONSUMERS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE. TOGETHER, IN FY 2022, CSS'S HEALTH COVERAGE DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAMS SERVED CONSUMERS IN OVER 150,000 CASES. THE HEALTH INITIATIVES DEPARTMENT HAS 10 TRAINED AND ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS.

RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP)605 VOLUNTEERS IN THE RSVP CORE PROGRAM SERVED AT OVER 90 COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS. SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS: - 130 RSVP VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE AT FOOD PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS AND MEAL DELIVERY PROGRAMS. - 45 RSVP VOLUNTEERS CONDUCTED VIRTUAL VISITS WITH THOSE THAT ARE HOMEBOUND OR IN NURSING HOMES. - 25 RSVP VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTED ADULT EDUCATION AND LITERACY BY SERVING AS VIRTUAL TUTORS, TEACHERS, AND CONVERSATIONS PARTNERS. - 20 RSVP VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND MENTORING TO VETERANS AND/OR ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

CSS'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOCUSES ON REPRESENTING INDIVIDUALS WITH CONVICTION HISTORIES WHO FACE DISCRIMINATORY BARRIERS TO JOBS, LICENSES TO PRACTICE A TRADE, STABLE HOUSING, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND TO FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE LIFE OF THIS CITY AND STATE. WE REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OF PERSONS IN STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE FORA, AND ENGAGE IN POLICY ADVOCACY (ALONE AND IN COALITION WITH GROUPS ACROSS THE STATE) TO BRING ABOUT SYSTEMIC CHANGE: WE CURRENTLY CO-LEAD THE CLEAN SLATE NY CAMPAIGN, ADVOCATING FOR AUTOMATIC CONVICTION RECORDS SEALING LEGISLATION, AND ARE SEEKING TO REMOVE THE LIFETIME BAN ON JURY SERVICE THROUGH LITIGATION AND LEGISLATIVE CHANGE. WE ALSO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME NEW YORKERS THROUGH OUR NEXT DOOR PROJECT, OBTAINING, CORRECTING MISTAKES IN AND CLOSELY REVIEWING OFFICIAL CONVICTION RECORD "RAP SHEETS," TOGETHER WITH OTHER ASSISTANCE.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE:UNHEARD THIRDHOUSING RESEARCHYOUTH POLICYLABOR MARKET STUDIESCAPACITY BUILDINGCITYLIMITSINCOME SUPPORTBENEFITPLUSHIICAP