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Informational Letter
Transmittal: 10-OCFS-INF-03
To: Commissioners of Social Services
Executive Directors of Voluntary Authorized Agencies
Issuing Strategic Planning & Policy Development
Division/Office:
Date: May 27, 2010
Subject: New Brochure: “Know Your Options: Relatives Caring for Children”
Suggested Directors of Social Services
Distribution: CPS Supervisors
Foster Care Supervisors
Homefinding Supervisors
Adoption Supervisors
Staff Development Coordinators
Contact Any questions concerning this release should be directed to the
Person(s): appropriate Regional Office:
Buffalo Regional Office – Mary Miller (716) 847-3145
Mary.Miller@ocfs.state.ny.us
Rochester Regional Office – Karen Buck (585) 238-8549
Karen.Buck@ocfs.state.ny.us
Syracuse Regional Office – Jack Klump (315) 423-1200
Jack.Klump@ocfs.state.ny.us
Albany Regional Office – Kerri Barber (518) 486-7078
Kerri.Barber@ocfs.state.ny.us
Spring Valley Regional Office – Pat Sheehy (845) 708-2498
Patricia.Sheehy@ocfs.state.ny.us
NYC Regional Office – Patricia Beresford (212) 383-1788
Patricia.Beresford@ocfs.state.ny.us
Native American Services – Kim Thomas (716) 847-3123
Kim.Thomas@ocfs.state.ny.us
Attachments: Yes - Know Your Options: Relatives Caring for Children
(English and Spanish versions)
Attachment Available Online: http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/publications/Pub5120.pdf
http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/publications/Pub5120-
S.pdf
10-OCFS-INF-03 May 27, 2010
Filing References
Previous Releases Dept. Regs. Soc. Serv. Law Manual Ref. Misc. Ref.
ADMs/INFs Cancelled & Other Legal
Ref.
09-OCFS-ADM-04
I. Purpose
The purpose of this Informational Letter is to advise Child Protective Services staff and
other Child Welfare staff of a new publication that can be used to assist relatives who are
considering caring for a child. Entitled “Know Your Options: Relatives Caring for
Children,” this brochure is being made available as an additional tool to help relatives
better understand their options in providing care to a child. The brochure provides a brief
summary of these options, and as such can supplement the handbook “Having a Voice
and a Choice: A Handbook for Relatives Raising Children.” The use of this brochure
does not change the requirements for use of the Handbook as described in 09-OCFS-
ADM-04 (“Handbook for Relatives Raising Children”).
II. Background
The Handbook was designed to support implementation of various state laws enacted
within the last few years regarding kinship, as well as provisions of the federal law
known as The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
[Public Law (P.L.) 110-351]. The federal and state statutes require that kin be notified of
a child’s placement and be provided with information about of their options to provide
care.
A recent survey conducted by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) about
use and dissemination of the handbook has shown that the handbook has proven useful to
clients and caseworkers alike, as well as to other stakeholders. However, there have been
some requests for a simpler, shorter document to summarize the options and provide key
points about each choice. These suggestions led to the development of the “Know Your
Options: Relatives Caring for Children” brochure.
The “Know Your Options: Relatives Caring for Children” brochure is a supplementary
document that may be provided to relatives and others with an interest in understanding
the options for relative care. It is available in both English and Spanish. The brochure
may be given with the handbook when that document is required, or at any other time or
to any other person who may have a need for the information it contains. OCFS will not
be printing copies of the “Know Your Options: Relatives Caring for Children” brochure
2
10-OCFS-INF-03 May 27, 2010
for ordering purposes. Social services districts and voluntary agencies are free to
reproduce copies as desired. English and Spanish versions are posted on the OCFS
website at:
http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/publications/Pub5120.pdf
http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/publications/Pub5120-S.pdf
Issued By:
Name: Nancy W. Martinez
Title: Director
Division/Office: Strategic Planning and Policy Development
3
Know Your Options:
Relatives Caring
for Children
understanding their
Fully
Know Your Options: Relatives Caring for Children
When Relatives Care for Children
Sometimes children need to be placed in the care of a relative because
they cannot stay home with their parents. Because of concerns about the
child’s safety, or for other reasons, the child’s relatives may be asked if they can
provide a temporary home—a home that is safe, stable, and nurturing.
When the local child welfare agency decides to remove a child from
the home, the agency must notify relatives and ask if they are interested in
caring for the child. In New York State, the child welfare agency is usually
called the Department of Social Services (DSS). In New York City it is known as
the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). In this brochure, “the agency”
means the local child welfare agency.
2. The relative may have a very limited time 6. The foster care payments may not arrive
period to decide whether to become a right away, but payments are retroactive
kinship foster parent. The relative should to the date of placement. The agency will
ask the agency caseworker how much time send a notice about the foster care rate
there is to decide. to the foster parent within 30 days of
placement.
3. To become a kinship foster parent, the
relative must be approved as a foster 7. Foster parents also may be eligible for
parent. The relative and all family child-related tax credits.
members living in the home age 18 or over
must undergo background checks. These 8. The kinship foster parent is expected
checks include (a) a criminal history to cooperate with the agency, allow the
record review in New York State and caseworker to visit the child and the home,
nationally through the FBI, and (b) a child agree to the child’s visitation plan (even
abuse/maltreatment history clearance if it limits contact between the child and
in New York State and any other state in his/her parent), and meet regularly with
which the relative or any family members the child’s caseworker.
age 18 or over have lived in the previous
five years. Other requirements include a 9. Any visits between the child and the
medical exam for the caregiver/family and parent must be approved by the agency
a home inspection to determine that the and must comply with any orders of the
relative has safe and appropriate housing. Family Court.
Usually the agency will require that anyone
wishing to be a foster parent attend foster 10. The kinship foster parent must cooperate
parent training. Each year the agency will with the agency about any services that
conduct a review in order to renew the the child may need.
relative’s approval as a foster parent.
11. The Family Court will periodically review
4. A child may be placed with a kinship the case of a child placed in foster care
foster parent on an emergency basis, at a permanency hearing. The agency
pending full agency approval of the must provide written permanency hearing
relative. A caseworker will visit the home reports to the Family Court eight months
to determine if the relative is willing to after removal and every six months
care for the child, make sure it is safe for thereafter. The kinship foster parent will
the child, and obtain information for the receive a copy of each report and will be
approval process. invited to each of the permanency hearings.
5. This is the only option where the relative 12. If found to be in the child’s best interests,
receives foster care payments. Kinship the agency can remove the child from
foster parents also receive a clothing the foster home after giving notice. The
allowance for the child and may receive foster parents may request a conference to
certain other special payments, such as a review the action, and if they do not agree
diaper allowance for a young child and/or with the removal, they have the right to
school-related expenses for an older child. appeal the decision at a fair hearing.
Contact Information:
Phone Number:
Supervisor:
Phone Number:
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York State Office of Children and
Family Services will make this material available in large print or on audiotape upon request.
El conocimiento de sus
opciones es la
mejor manera de tener
voz y voto.
Cuando los independiente de un abogado(a)
o de un programa de parentesco
Familiares Cuidan (véase el recuadro “Para Obtener Más
Información” en la página 2).
a los Niños La agencia y el Tribunal de
Relaciones Familiares puede que
A veces los niños necesitan ser decidan ubicar al niño(a) temporalmente
ubicados en el hogar de un familiar o en la casa de un familiar mientras el
pariente para su protección porque pariente decide sobre una opción. Sin
no pueden quedarse en casa con sus embargo, las prácticas de la agencia
padres. En situaciones donde existe local de protección de niños y el tribunal
preocupación sobre la seguridad del puede que no favorezcan la ubicación
niño(a), o por otras razones, se puede del niño(a) con un familiar hasta que el
recurrir a los familiares del niño(a) y pariente haya escogido una opción. En
pedirles que le proporcionen un hogar todos los casos, la agencia y el tribunal
temporal que ofrezca seguridad, tendrán que asegurarse de que el hogar
estabilidad y cariño. del pariente sea seguro y que el familiar
Cuando la agencia de protección sea una persona apropiada para cuidar
de niños local decide retirar a un niño(a) del niño(a).
de su hogar, la agencia debe notificar Nota: Cuando un familiar decide no
a los familiares y preguntarles si están cuidar a un niño(a), el niño(a) puede ser
interesados en cuidar del niño(a). En el ubicado con otro pariente, o con padres
Estado de Nueva York, la agencia de sustitutos o de crianza sin parentesco
protección de niños suele conocerse o no emparentados con el niño(a). Si
como el Departamento de Servicios los derechos de los padres llegan a
Sociales (Department of Social Services— terminarse más adelante, el niño(a) será
DSS). En la Ciudad de Nueva York se elegible para ser adoptado, y la persona
la conoce como la Administración de con quien el niño(a) haya vivido durante
Servicios para Niños (Administration for los últimos 12 meses será la preferida para
Children’s Services—ACS). En este folleto, adoptar al niño(a).
el término “la agencia” se refiere a la Este folleto describe en breve las
agencia de protección de niños local. tres opciones más comunes a disposición
de los familiares que desean cuidar a un
Opciones de niño(a) que ha sido retirado de su hogar
y ubicado en otro:
los Familiares A. Ubicación privada (custodia con
Cuidando a Niños expediente N)
B. Custodia legal o tutela
Cuando la agencia contacta a los
familiares de un niño(a) que necesita C. Cuidado de crianza con un familiar
cuidado, la agencia debe informar o pariente (Kinship)
a los familiares sobre sus opciones. También incluye alguna
Cualquier familiar que esté considerando información relacionada al retraso o
cuidar de un niño(a) debe preguntar cambio de decisión en la provisión de
al trabajador(a) del caso cuáles son cuidado a un niño(a).
sus opciones y cuánto tiempo tiene (Las opciones para los padres sin
para tomar una decisión. Un familiar derechos de custodia sobre el niño(a)
también puede obtener asesoramiento son distintas a las descritas aquí).
Contacto:
Número de Teléfono:
Supervisor(a):
Número de Teléfono:
De acuerdo a la Ley para los Norteamericanos con Incapacidades (Americans with Disabilities Act),
la Oficina de Servicios para Niños y Familias del Estado de Nueva York hará disponible este
material ya sea en letras de imprenta grandes o en cinta magnetofónica, según se solitice.