Rosa Boone Talks About Westchester’s Faith-Based Community Partnership
Deputy Commissioner of Social Services, Rosa Boone, is relatively new to government operations. She’s only been at her county post for one year and four months. However, Boone’s many years of experience working in the not-for-profit environment as former executive director of Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless, Inc., her compassion for those in need, dedicated work ethic, seemingly limitless supply of energy and expansive network of people and organizations made her the logical choice when County Executive Robert Astorino, reached out to her to act as liaison for the county’s faith-based partnership initiated in January.
Boone happily stepped up to take on the added responsibilities. For Boone, her work is “an incredible journey and a privilege.”
In the years just prior to taking the job working for Westchester Social Services, Boone says the Great Recession was having a visible impact on the demographic of the people she served.
“We were seeing the newly unemployed and the under-employed, people who had no idea, no clue what to do and they needed help,” Boone remembered, a situation that has continued and remains a reality for those needing the support of the Social Services Department today.
“When I was working for the not-for-profit, I knew the county had services and I worked with the district offices, but I had no idea of the magnitude and scope of what could be done,” Boone said.
Boone is sensitive to the needs of the customers who come to the county for help. One of her priorities is making sure those customers feel respected and that the job of the department gets done.
“Because of the economy and a lack of resources we have many customers who are hungry. Many are single mothers,” she adds.
Boone is serious about informing the public about what is available to them and that’s where the faith-based partnership comes into play.
“As someone who has worked closely with community organizations for almost two decades, I know the great work done by religious groups,” said Boone. “Budgets are always tight. Sharing ideas, expertise and resources is a way we can leverage programs and services to do more for those who need our help.”
“The church is the pulse of a community,” Boone explains. The clergy know what people need, from simple things like food and clothing to affordable housing. I was working with 100 ministers and organizations that run soup kitchens when I was with the Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless. There is a give and take a two-way street.”
Astorino had begun reaching out to local faith organizations when he first took office as county executive and continues that outreach today. His intention in creating the faith-based partnership is to help these organizations cut through government red tape and share information.
At the county-level Boone is working to build those relationships. “Because the clergy are connected with their communities, they have a greater chance of helping because people feel safe going to them. We have worked with ministers who came to us when members of their congregations were in danger of becoming homeless. We were able to cut through the process and keep them in their homes,” she said.
“It can be difficult to navigate the 38 different departments in Social Services. By calling one person, it is easier to find a path through the different channels,” Boone contends. At the same time, with New York State changing policies, it’s not easy to stay on top of what’s new and Boone’s department can deal with that as well.
The goal is to bring everyone in the community to the table. The county already has solid relationships with some religious organizations such as Grace Episcopal Church that runs men’s and women’s shelters and programs to move clients back out into society.
Boone said she was very excited when she came upon grass roots shelters in New Rochelle that were ready, willing and able to collaborate. “The services are out there in the communities,” she says. “The pastors running the local churches are well educated. Many have multiple master’s degrees in psychology and sociology. They are accountants and doctors. We can help each other to help the customer.”
Boone spends a good deal of her time reaching out to the community, meeting people and making connections. Her work will include involvement with the Safer Communities Initiative established by the county last week to ensure a safer environment for children in our schools.
Over 30 organizations have signed up for the faith-based partnership since January 16, when the program started. There is a website, www.westchestergov.com/Faith, with information and an application. Boone encourages interested parties to check it out. “The greatest part of being here,” she says, “is working with people who can really make things happen.”
