Families Together in New York State

What Families Together in New York State does

Families Together in New York State (FTNYS) is a private nonprofit organization headquartered at 737 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY, that represents, supports, and advocates for the voices of youth and families with lived experience in New York's child-serving systems, including mental health, addiction, child welfare, juvenile justice, developmental disability, education, and social services. Founded in 2017, the organization operates a statewide membership-based network and is recognized for policy contributions including the Raise the Age legislation enacted on April 10, 2017. Its purpose is policy and systems change to reduce waitlists, expand access to services, and ensure family and youth participation in how those systems are designed.

FTNYS's core product is a peer-support credentialing franchise, built around the Family Peer Advocate (FPA) and Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) credential programs, with provisional, professional, and renewal pathways, codified codes of ethics, supervisor resources, and a public credential verification tool. These credentials are wrapped by monthly technical assistance trainings, Lived Experience Cafes, Supervisor Cafes, statewide virtual job fairs, an annual conference, and a youth-led initiative called Youth Power that publishes tip sheets, guides, and recorded webinars. The organization also runs Family Empowerment Day rallies, Family Empowerment Townhalls with state agency commissioners, and publishes annual policy and budget priorities targeting Medicaid peer-support reimbursement and outpatient clinic rates. FTNYS does not develop proprietary technology products; its platform surface is the ftnys.org website, a credential verification utility, and Zoom-delivered programming.

FTNYS's revenue model is a hybrid of small-dollar individual and organizational membership dues ($15 individual, $20 family, $50 family-run organization, $75 other organization annually) and substantially larger state-government revenue channels pursued via advocacy, including State Aid to Localities funding, Medicaid reimbursement rate policy, and contracts/grants in partnership with NYS OMH, OASAS, OCFS, the Children's Technical Assistance Center (CTAC), and SUNY Empire State University. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: statewide advocacy events, townhalls, monthly trainings, virtual job fairs, and the annual conference drive both member engagement and policy influence across New York State.

Name

Families Together in New York State

Legal name

Families Together in New York State Inc.

Website

https://ftnys.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Families Together in New York State is a statewide nonprofit that supports and advocates for youth and families with lived experience in child-serving systems through FPA/YPA peer support credentialing, policy advocacy, and workforce development, including the Raise the Age campaign.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Peer Support and Behavioral Health Advocacy Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK), Parent Mental Health, Stress Management & Wellness Programs (EDACALAJ)

Keywords

• Peer support credentialing
• Family advocacy services
• Youth behavioral health
• Family peer advocate training
• Peer workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from individuals, families, and organizations provide operational support and voting rights for governance.
2. Government Funding Advocacy: FTNYS advocates for increased state funding for behavioral health services including Medicaid reimbursement rates, peer support services, and mental health programs under NY State Aid to Localities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Families Together in New York State operates a statewide nonprofit network that credentials Family Peer Advocates (FPA) and Youth Peer Advocates (YPA), delivers monthly technical assistance trainings and networking cafés, and conducts policy advocacy on behavioral health, juvenile justice (Raise the Age), and family systems change. The organization also runs the Youth Power program providing peer support, advocacy training, tip sheets, and webinars for youth ages 12-30 with lived experience in child-serving systems.

Product overview

Families Together in New York State operates as a statewide nonprofit network offering a portfolio of peer support credentialing programs and training services for families and youth. The core offerings include the Family Peer Advocate (FPA) and Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) credential programs, which certify individuals with lived experience to provide peer support. Supporting these credentials are monthly TA training sessions, Lived Experience Cafe networking groups, and Supervisor Cafes for professional development. The Youth Power program provides youth-led advocacy resources and original materials including tip sheets, guides, and webinars. The organization also conducts policy advocacy work around behavioral health, juvenile justice (Raise the Age), and workforce development, with membership available to individuals and organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Power: A program of Families Together in NYS focused on empowering youth and young adults through peer support, advocacy training, and youth-guided practices. Includes Youth Peer Advocate credentials and services.

Products and services

• Family Peer Advocate (FPA) Credential Program Credentialing program for family members with lived experience in child-serving systems who become certified Family Peer Advocates supporting other families navigating mental health, addiction, child welfare, juvenile justice, developmental disability, and social services.
• Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) Credential Program Credentialing program for youth and young adults aged 12-30 with lived experience to become certified Youth Peer Advocates supporting other young people across New York State.
• Youth Power Program A youth-led initiative providing resources, peer support, advocacy training, and leadership development opportunities for young people ages 12-25 with lived experience in child-serving systems.
• Lived Experience Cafe Monthly networking groups for FPA and YPA professionals to share experiences, practices, and strategies supporting their peer advocacy roles.
• FPA/YPA Supervisor Cafes Bi-monthly open forums for supervisors of Family Peer Advocates and Youth Peer Advocates to discuss challenges, successes, and role clarity.
• FPA Monthly TA Training Monthly technical assistance training for Family Peer Advocates, occurring on the third Friday from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM via Zoom.
• YPA Monthly TA Training Monthly technical assistance training for Youth Peer Advocates, occurring on the third Thursday from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM via Zoom.
• Youth Power Original Materials Downloadable tip sheets, guides, and webinars for self-advocacy, systems advocacy, and working with young people, including Youth Guided Practice resources.
• Youth Power Webinars Educational webinar recordings covering topics such as hiring youth peer advocates, documentation best practices, trauma-informed care, and youth guided practice.
• Policy and Advocacy Services Advocacy initiatives including Raise the Age campaign, Family Empowerment Day rally, Family Empowerment Townhalls with state agency commissioners, budget priorities advocacy, and behavioral health policy work.
• Membership Program Individual and organizational membership providing access to advocacy events, board voting rights, technical assistance, and policy updates across four pricing tiers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Advocacy for $5.5M additional flexible State Aid for Family and Youth Peer Support Services
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Children's Technical Assistance Center (CTAC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCTAC is a training, consultation, and educational resource center for child-serving clinics in New York State. FTNYS partners with CTAC to deliver webinars and training materials on clinic regulations, financing, evidence-based practices, and business sustainability for behavioral health organizations.
• SUNY Empire State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSUNY Empire Partnership provides workforce development pathways for FTNYS members and peer advocates. The partnership offers educational programs and community partnership opportunities for individuals pursuing careers in peer support and behavioral health services.
• NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTNYS partners with NYS OMH on webinars addressing trauma-informed care and other behavioral health initiatives. The organization also participates in policy discussions with OMH commissioners during Family Empowerment Townhalls.
• NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTNYS collaborates with OASAS on behavioral health policy and services. OASAS commissioners participate in Family Empowerment Townhalls to discuss mental health and addiction services with families and youth.
• NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTNYS works with OCFS on child welfare policy and services. OCFS commissioners participate in Family Empowerment Townhalls on topics including child welfare.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Federation of Families: A national family-run organization advocating for children's mental health and families navigating child-serving systems. Directly comparable to FTNYS as both are family-led advocacy networks focused on lived-experience voice in behavioral health policy and peer support workforce development.
• Youth MOVE National: A national youth-driven organization empowering young people with lived experience in mental health, juvenile justice, and child welfare systems. Closely comparable to FTNYS's Youth Power program in mission, peer credentialing, and youth-guided practice approach.

Broad incumbents

• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): The largest U.S. grassroots mental health organization providing advocacy, education, and support across all 50 states. Comparable to FTNYS as a mental health advocacy and family support provider, though NAMI operates at significantly broader national scale with a wider portfolio.
• Mental Health America: A national community-based nonprofit addressing mental health needs through advocacy, education, and peer support. Comparable to FTNYS in peer support and policy advocacy focus, though MHA spans the full mental health continuum rather than specializing in children's systems.
• Children's Defense Fund: A national child advocacy organization working on child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health policy. Comparable to FTNYS in multi-systems child advocacy, particularly on Raise the Age-type juvenile justice reform, though CDF operates at broader national scale.

Regional players

• Federation of Organizations: A New York-based multi-service nonprofit providing behavioral health, child welfare, and developmental disability services. Comparable to FTNYS as a NY State behavioral health and family support provider operating in overlapping systems.
• New York State Coalition for Children's Behavioral Health: A New York-based association representing children's behavioral health providers. Comparable to FTNYS as a NY State advocacy and training partner for children's mental health services, with overlapping state agency relationships.

Emerging players

• Child Mind Institute: A nonprofit providing clinical care, research, and educational resources for children's mental health. Comparable to FTNYS in children's mental health focus, though CMI emphasizes direct clinical services rather than peer credentialing and policy advocacy.
• JED Foundation: A nonprofit focused on emotional health and suicide prevention for teens and young adults. Comparable to FTNYS in youth behavioral health advocacy and workforce development, though JED emphasizes campus-based and teen self-help rather than child-serving system navigation.
• The Trevor Project: A leading national organization providing crisis intervention and peer support for LGBTQ+ youth. Comparable to FTNYS in youth peer support and crisis intervention services, though Trevor focuses on a more specific youth subpopulation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ftnys
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@familiestogethernys2759
• Facebookfacebook.com/FamiliesTogetherNYS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/families-together-in-new-york-state-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/ftnys

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Families Together in New York State