The proposed 2018 Monroe County budget includes notable progress for children and youth:

– The budget contains funding and plans for implementation of the 8-point Child Protective Services (CPS) reform plan announced in October 2017.

– Increased appropriations for preventive services designed to avoid child welfare system entry and foster care placement will support more at-risk children and families in 2018.

– A change that advances accountability and transparency is a new section of the budget document that summarizes expenditures and number of individuals served for all County programs that touch the lives of children and families.

In this report, we provide recommendations and commendations for the County and important findings from our review of the 2018 Proposed budget.