New York Department of State is with New York State Office for New Americans and NYS Department of State Division of Consumer Protection.
Five DOS programs, one mission: making sure New Yorkers know about the resources available to them. From the Office for New Americans, Consumer Protection, Faith to our Cultural Commissions, our DOS programs showed up at Caucus weekend to support community voices across the state.
What the Message Refers To
The New York State Department of State (DOS) shared a message highlighting five DOS programs that engaged with communities during Caucus weekend to raise awareness of state resources. This appeared on the agency’s social media platforms (e.g., Instagram and Facebook) and emphasizes outreach efforts by multiple DOS divisions aimed at connecting New Yorkers with critical services.
🧭 The Five DOS Program Areas Highlighted
While the exact five programs aren’t listed in the social post itself, the departments referenced generally include the following DOS divisions that routinely conduct outreach and resource promotion:
- Office for New Americans (ONA)
- Provides free services to immigrants statewide, including citizenship help, English learning, workforce supports, legal consultations, and connections to community partners. ONA operates Opportunity Centers and the New Americans Hotline (1-800-566-7636).
- Division of Consumer Protection
- Offers consumer education, a helpline (1-800-697-1220), complaint mediation, fraud and scam awareness, and marketplace protection services to New Yorkers.
- Office of Faith & Nonprofit Development Services
- Supports faith-based and nonprofit organizations with information, state grant access, coalition building, and community capacity efforts.
- Cultural Commissions & Community Programs
- DOS oversees various commissions (such as heritage or arts and cultural advisory bodies) that support cultural initiatives and community voices statewide (mentioned in the outreach messaging). [implicit from social post]
- Other DOS Outreach & Community Resource Efforts
- These may include broader DOS community services like the Know Your Resources, Know Your Rights guide (a statewide resource accessible to all residents), address confidentiality services, and multilingual support links.
📢 Purpose of the Outreach at Caucus Weekend
The DOS outreach at Caucus weekend was meant to:
- Connect New Yorkers with state services — ensuring people know how to access programs on consumer protection, immigrants’ rights and services, support for faith and nonprofit sectors, and cultural engagement.
- Support community voices across the state — engaging with diverse populations and promoting resource awareness among constituents and advocates (including legislators attending the caucus events).
📍 Why This Matters
The initiative reflects an active push by the Department of State to make government services more visible, accessible, and understandable — especially for immigrants, low-income consumers, nonprofit partners, and culturally diverse communities throughout New York
Sources: New York Department of State New York State Office for New Americans and NYS Department of State Division of Consumer Protection ,