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2025 Family Strengthening and Support Training Institute

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 Can training institute registrations be shared between staff?
A1 No, multiple staff cannot share a registration slot.

Q2 Are travel expenses for program staff in attendance covered?
A2 Yes for the HFNY program staff, but no for the Prevention Programs staff and social services district staff. Through the contract with The Research Foundation For The SUNY, eligible travel expenses will be covered for HFNY program staff (please review the travel and accommodation policies). Staff from programs funded by the federal Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) program and state Children and Family Trust Fund will use grant funds to cover travel expenses. Social services district staff overnight accommodations and travel expenses are the responsibility of your district to pay for and arrange.

Q3 Are attendees required to stay overnight?
A3 No, attendees can choose to commute to and from the training institute daily, but please review the travel policy so you are aware of eligible reimbursable travel expenses. Note: For HFNY Programs, the mileage reimbursement rate is below the state rate. Please talk to your OCFS Program Contract Manager about using grant funds for reimbursement for the difference. Prevention Programs may reimburse at the current state rate as the expense will be covered by your OCFS grant.

Q4 What is the process for travel expense reimbursement?
A4 Please read the Travel and Accommodation page as there are differences for HFNY program staff, Prevention Program staff, and social services district staff. In addition, HFNY Program staff will receive more information on the process to submit for travel expense reimbursement at the institute.

Q5 Will workers or supervisors need to share rooms, or will everyone have their own room?
A5 The default accommodation is double-occupancy rooms to maximize the number of participants who can attend. There is a limited number of single occupancy rooms available at a cost to the program/participant of $58.50 per night. If a staff person will be in a double room but does not have a roommate from their program when their registration is submitted, the program will note that they need a roommate in their registration. OCFS will share the list of programs who have staff that need a roommate with those programs. It will be the responsibility of those programs to coordinate amongst each other to make roommate arrangements.

Q6 Do presenters or panelists count in the number of attendees that each program is assigned?
A5 Yes, presenters and panelists do count towards a program's number of attendees.