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Requesting Office of Children and Family Services Records Through the New York State Freedom of Information Law
If you are requesting records related to reports of child abuse or maltreatment you will need to sign into the OCFS Request For Information (RFI) Portal using your NY.gov account at:
If you do not have a NY.gov account, click on the Create an Account link and follow the instructions to register your new account. Once you are signed into the OCFS RFI Portal, you will be prompted for information that will be needed to process your request.
If you submit a request for child abuse or maltreatment records through FOIL, your request will be denied under FOIL and you will be directed to follow the process stated above.
Overview
The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), Article 6 (Sections 84-90) of the NYS Public Officers Law, provides the public the right to access records maintained by government agencies with certain exceptions.
“Record” means any information kept, held, filed, produced or reproduced by, with, or for this agency, in any physical form whatsoever including, but not limited to, reports, statements, examinations, memoranda, opinions, folders, files, books, manuals, pamphlets, forms, papers, designs, drawings, maps, photos, letters, microfilm, computer tapes or disks, rules, regulations or codes.
Make a FOIL Request
All requests for records must be made in writing to the OCFS Records Access Officer. Please be as specific as possible in describing the records you seek.
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Contact Information:
Records Access Officer
NYS Office of Children and Family Services
52 Washington Street, Room 137 North
Rensselaer, New York 12144 - Submit a FOIL Request
Right to Appeal
Under provisions of the Public Officers Law, you may appeal a FOIL determination. If you desire to submit such an appeal, you must do so within 30 days of the written response to your FOIL request. Please include a copy of the original request for records and a copy of the FOIL response letter you received with your appeal letter to:
Records Appeal Officer
NYS Office of Children and Family Services
52 Washington Street, Room 143 North
Rensselaer, New York 12144
The OCFS records appeal officer will review the request, conduct a secondary search of records, if warranted, re-examine the exemptions under which the request was denied, and/or consult with division counsel if necessary. Within ten (10) business days of the receipt of the Appeal, the records appeal officer will fully explain in writing the reason for further denial or will grant full or partial access to the records sought. Please indicate the FOIL request number when corresponding on this subject.