The Center for Development of Human Services (CDHS) was a sponsored nonprofit program of the Research Foundation of the State University of New York located at Buffalo State College.

History

Origin

CDHS/ Research Foundation began in 1976 when a small group of

Buffalo State College The State University of New York Buffalo State University (colloquially referred to as Buffalo State University, SUNY Buffalo State, Buffalo State, or simply Buff State) is a public college, public university in Buffalo, New York. It is part of ...

faculty was successful in obtaining a $100,000

social services Social services are a range of public services intended to provide support and assistance towards particular groups, which commonly include the disadvantaged. Also available amachine-converted HTML They may be provided by individuals, private and i ...

training grant to provide instruction to those employed in the field of social work. The Social Services Training Project, as it was then called, evolved into CDHS/Research Foundation, now a nationally recognized provider of human services training. CDHS/Research Foundation used to manage over 30 human services training projects representing $50 million in grant-funded activities that serve the residents of

New York State New York, also called New York State, is a state in the northeastern United States. Bordered by New England to the east, Canada to the north, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south, its territory extends into both the Atlantic Ocean and ...

and was the largest such provider in the state.

Expansion

From 1999 to 2010, under the leadership of Robert Spaner, Project Director and Principal Investigator, CDHS expanded from a $16 million operation with under 100 staff to a $60 million Center with 400 staff and 40 separate projects. In April, 2010 Mr. Spaner retired. CDHS used to be headquartered in Buffalo, with satellite offices in Rochester,

Syracuse Syracuse most commonly refers to: * Syracuse, Sicily, Italy; in the province of Syracuse * Syracuse, New York, USA; in the Syracuse metropolitan area Syracuse may also refer to: Places * Syracuse railway station (disambiguation) Italy * Provi ...

, Albany, and

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. A large number of CDHS staff worked with state and local government agencies statewide.

Replacement

At the end of 2018, The Center for Development of Human Services officially ceased all operations when the college's contract with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services expired. CDHS has largely been replaced by the Learning Engagement and Development Services office (LEADS) at SUNY Buffalo State.

Activity

Through research partnerships with faculty and staff of Buffalo State College and the

University at Buffalo The State University of New York at Buffalo (commonly referred to as UB, University at Buffalo, and sometimes SUNY Buffalo) is a public university, public research university in Buffalo, New York, Buffalo and Amherst, New York, United States. ...

, local campuses included in the

State University of New York The State University of New York (SUNY ) is a system of Public education, public colleges and universities in the New York (state), State of New York. It is one of the List of largest universities and university networks by enrollment, larges ...

, CDHS/Research Foundation trainers and staff are provided with access to professional expertise and the most current scholarly research in the areas of education and social services. This research is used in curriculum development, training, and technical assistance provided for state and local government agencies, including the New York State Department of Children and Family Services, the New York City Administration for Children’s Services, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the

New York State Department of Health The New York State Department of Health is the department of the Government of New York (state), New York state government responsible for public health. Its regulations are compiled in title 10 of the ''New York Codes, Rules and Regulations''. ...

, and the Erie County Department of Social Services.

Training

Training Units

CDHS included these training units: * The New York State Child Welfare/Child Protective Services Training Institute provided training in the area of

child protection Child protection (also called child welfare) is the safeguarding of children from violence, exploitation, abuse, abandonment, and neglect. It involves identifying signs of potential harm. This includes responding to allegations or suspicions ...

, training for

mandated reporter A mandated reporter is a person who is required by law to report crimes, typically if they know or suspect a child or vulnerable adult has been or is at risk of being abused or neglected. Mandatory reporting laws can also extend to vulnerable ad ...

s in New York State, and training to keep child welfare workers informed regarding the most current legal requirements associated with child protective services, family-centered social work, and issues such as

domestic violence Domestic violence is violence that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes r ...

substance abuse Substance misuse, also known as drug misuse or, in older vernacular, substance abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods that are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder, differing definition ...

, and family reunification. * The Adolescent Services Training Project provides life skills training for youth aging out of the child welfare system. * The Foster/Adoptive Parent Training Project offers a variety of courses for

foster care Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home ( residential child care community or treatment centre), or private home of a state- certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent", or with a family mem ...

providers and those considering

adoption Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, fro ...

, including courses on

developmental disabilities Developmental disability is a diverse group of chronic conditions, comprising mental or physical impairments that arise before adulthood. Developmental disabilities cause individuals living with them many difficulties in certain areas of life, espe ...

and

child sexual abuse Child sexual abuse (CSA), also called child molestation, is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include engaging in Human sexual activity, sexual activit ...

for foster and adoptive parents. * The HIV/AIDS Training Institute provided training and educational seminars for caregivers of children living with

HIV The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of '' Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the im ...

AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

and youth considering being tested. * The New York State Public Health Insurance Training Institute trained workers who help families obtain free or low-cos
health insurance for children
as well as those who work in the areas of

Medicaid Medicaid is a government program in the United States that provides health insurance for adults and children with limited income and resources. The program is partially funded and primarily managed by U.S. state, state governments, which also h ...

and long-term health care. * The Management Leadership Institute provides staff

professional development Professional development, also known as professional education, is learning that leads to or emphasizes education in a specific professional career field or builds practical job applicable skills emphasizing Praxis (process), praxis in addition t ...

training and technical assistance to social services agencies, including the Erie County Department of Social Services and the New York City Human Resources Administration. As part of its mission of “strengthening human services through training, organizational and technical assistance, technology, and evaluation” CDHS/Research Foundation developed and delivered

culturally sensitive Cultural sensitivity, also referred to as cross-cultural sensitivity or cultural awareness, is the knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of other cultures and others' cultural identities. It is related to cultural competence (the skills needed fo ...

, outcome-based training in keeping with the most current adult learning theory and federal mandates, including the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA), as well as the most current New York State legal requirements. Training is offered in the form of both direct and virtual classroom delivery and also through seminars and conferences facilitated by CDHS/Research Foundation statewide.

External links

Center for Development of Human Services

Research Foundation of the State University of New YorkResearch Foundation of SUNY at Buffalo State CollegeState University of New YorkBuffalo State College

University at BuffaloNew York StateNew York State Office of Children and Family ServicesNew York State Office of Temporary and Disability AssistanceNew York State Department of HealthNew York City Administration for Children’s ServicesNew York City Human Resources AdministrationErie County Department of Social Services
{{DEFAULTSORT:Center For Development Of Human Services Social work organizations in the United States