Social Services,  
Disabilities & Human  
Rights  
BOL Meeting Minutes -  
Published Draft  
800 Michaelian Office Bldg.  
148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor  
White Plains, NY 10601  
Committee Chair: Nancy Barr  
WestchesterLegislatorsNY.gov  
Monday, March 30, 2026  
10:00 AM  
Committee Room  
Joint with B&A  
CALL TO ORDER  
Please note: Meetings of the Board of Legislators and its committees are held at the  
Michaelian Office Building, 148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor, White Plains, New York, 10601,  
and livestreamed via the WebEx video conferencing system. Legislators may participate in  
person or via Webex. Members of the public may attend meetings in person at any of its  
locations, or view the meeting and its video recording online on the Westchester County  
Legislature’s website: https://westchestercountyny.legistar.com/. This website also provides  
the links to documents to be discussed at a given meeting.  
Legislator Jenn Puja will be participating remotely from 595 W. Hartsdale Ave.,  
White Plains, NY 10607  
With a quorum present, Chair Nancy Barr called the meeting to order at 11:08 AM.  
Others in Attendance: GUESTS: Dianne Vanadia (remote), Lou Vetrone, Jazmin Logan, Steve  
Elie-Pierre (remote), Nat Federici (remote), Carla Chaves, Sandra Brown, Sherine Kurien,  
John Befus, Michelle Bethencourt-Garcia, Leonard Gruenfeld, Francisco Tejada, Lauren  
Walsh, Jeffrey Dean (remote), Michael Swee and Paul Cheand; BOL: Legislator Nancy Barr,  
Legislator Emiljana Ulaj (remote), Legislator Jose Alvarado (remote), Legislator Jennifer Puja  
(remote), Legislator David Imamura, Legislator Margaret Cunzio Lisa Hochman (remote),  
Ethan Samuel, Althema Goodson and Dayana Gómez-Holguín  
Barr, Imamura, Williams and Williams Johnson  
Present:  
Puja  
Remote:  
MINUTES APPROVAL  
Barr, Imamura, Puja, Williams, Williams Johnson and Gashi  
Present:  
I.  
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION  
ACT-2026-62  
IMA-Preventive Respite Care & Services for Eligible Children and  
Their Families-Rockland County  
Social Services, Disabilities &  
Human Rights  
BOL Meeting Minutes - Published Draft  
March 30, 2026  
Guests: Westchester County Department of Social Services  
John R. Befus, First Deputy Commissioner  
Michelle Bethencourt-Garcia, Child Welfare Manager II.  
This item is for a regional shared services agreement four youth crisis intervention in Rockland  
County. The program provides services to eligible children at risk of foster care placement.  
Westchester's sanctuary shelter offers temporary housing and support for youths who are in  
crisis, and facilitating reunification with families. Current renovations at the shelter have led to  
temporary diversions of youth to alternative facilities in New York City and Putnam.  
On motion of Imamura, seconded by Williams Johnson, the above item was signed by  
committee and referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried unanimously.  
II.  
OTHER BUSINESS  
RECEIVE & FILE  
III.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Moved by Williams Johnson, seconded by Imamura, the Committee adjourned at 11:30 AM