You are on this page: 2017 Policy Directives
Administrative Directives (ADM) are external policy statements designed to advise local service districts and voluntary agencies of policy and procedure which must be followed and require specific action.
Informational Letters (INF) are external policy statements that clarify or amplify existing procedures. They may provide general educational information, transmit a new brochure, distribute a revised list of contacts, or announce newly enacted Federal or State legislation.
These are shared with local districts and appropriate voluntary agencies.
Local Commissioners Memorandums (LCM) are external policy releases that transmit information to the local social service districts commissioners on specific topics. An LCM generally affects all local social services districts statewide. Information transmitted by an LCM may include notification of funding, statewide audit results, or instructions pertaining to existing program or administrative procedures.
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Administrative Directives
- 17-OCFS-ADM-01 - Immunity From Liability When Applying the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard
- 17-OCFS-ADM-02-R1 - Changes to the Family Court Act Regarding Child Protective and Permanency Hearings, Including Changes Affecting the Rights of Non-Respondent Parents (revised 2/28/23)
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-02-R1 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-02-R1 ] - 17-OCFS-ADM-03 Entry of Incident Date for Substantiated Allegations
- 17-OCFS-ADM-04 Legally-Exempt Child Care: Regulatory Requirement for Pre-service Health and Safety Training
- 17-OCFS-ADM-05 - Use of the Foster and Adoptive Home Development (FAD) Stage in CONNECTIONS
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-05 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-05 ] - 17-OCFS-ADM-06 - Providing Services to Children of Undocumented Immigrants Cancelled May 2, 2023. Replaced by 23-OCFS-ADM-06
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-06 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-06 ] - 17-OCFS-ADM-07 - Child Directly Relinquished to a Voluntary Authorized Agency: Change in Adoption Subsidy, Non-Recurring Adoption Expenses, and Medical Eligibility
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-07 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-07 ] - 17-OCFS-ADM-08 - Implementing Federal and Corresponding State Indian Child Welfare Act Regulations Cancelled February, 18, 2021. Replaced by 21-OCFS-ADM-02.
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-08 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-08 ] - 17-OCFS-ADM-09 - Per Diem Chargeback Rates for OCFS-Operated Facilities and Programs – CY 2015 Final Rates
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-09 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-09 ] - 17-OCFS-ADM-10 - Extension of Maximum State Aid Rates for Foster Care Programs and Residential Programs for Committee on Special Education Placements - Effective April 1, 2017, through June 30, 2017
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-10 ] [ PDF ] - 17-OCFS-ADM-11 - Maximum State Aid Rates for Foster Care Programs and Residential Programs for Committee on Special Education Placements - Effective July 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-11 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-11 ] - 17-OCFS-ADM-12 Provision of Dental Services for Children and Youth in Foster Care
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-12 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-12 ] - 17-OCFS-ADM-13 Administrative Actions Reporting Mechanism (AARM)
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-13 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-13 ]- Administrative Actions Reporting Mechanism (AARM) Quick Reference Guide [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-13-Attachment ]
- 17-OCFS-ADM-14 Family Visiting Policy for Children in Foster Care
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-14 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-14 ] - 17-OCFS-ADM-15 Relief from Duplicate Reports of Incidents to the Vulnerable Persons Central Register by Mandated Reports
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-15 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-15 ] - 17-OCFS-ADM-16 Mandated Reporters, Background Checks; Publicly-Funded Emergency Shelters for Families With Children
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-ADM-16 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-ADM-16 ]
Informational Letters
- 17-OCFS-INF-01 Free Certified Copy of a United States Birth Certificate for Youth in Foster Care
- 17-OCFS-INF-02 2017 Income Standards for the Child and Family Services Plan
- 17-OCFS-INF-03 New York State Processes Related to Notifications of Victims of Human Trafficking
- New York State Referral of Human Trafficking Victim Form
- OCFS-3920 Child Sex Trafficking Indicators Tool
- OCFS-3921: Rapid Indicator Tool to Identify Children Who May Be Sex Trafficking Victims or At Risk of Being a Sex Trafficking Victim
- OCFS-3922: Law Enforcement Report of a Child Sex Trafficking Victim Form
- Sample Sex Trafficking and CSEC Referral Flow Chart: For youth in the care, custody or supervision of an LDSS, Voluntary Agency, or OCFS
- DSS Quick Reference Guide for compliance with 15-OCFS-ADM-16
- Foster Care Forms on the OCFS intranet
- Forms on the OCFS internet
- 17-OCFS-INF-04 - Release of Social Security Number of a Child in Foster Care for Section 8 Rental Assistance
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-INF-04 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-INF-04 ]- OCFS-4743a - Foster Parent Request for the Release of the Social Security Number of a Child in Foster Care for Purposes of Section 8 Rental Assistance [ Word document for OCFS-4743a ] [ PDF ]
- 17-OCFS-INF-05 - Changes to the OCFS-4930ASFA Request for NYS Fingerprinting Services Form for Foster Care and Adoption
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-INF-05 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-INF-05 ]- OCFS-4930ASFA - Request for NYS Fingerprinting Services [ Word document for OCFS-4930ASFA ] [ PDF document for OCFS-4930ASFA ]
- 17-OCFS-INF-06 - Workforce Readiness Services Available for Youth in Care
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-INF-65 ] [ PDF ] - 17-OCFS-INF-07 - Clarification on the Financial Eligibility Requirements for Transitional Child Care
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-INF-07 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-INF-07 ] - 17-OCFS-INF-08 - Updates to the Bill of Rights Cancelled September 22, 2023. Replaced by 23-OCFS-ADM-15
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-INF-08 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-INF-08 ] - 17-OCFS-INF-09 - Changes to the OCFS-3922 Law Enforcement Report of a Child Sex Trafficking Victim Form
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-INF-09 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-INF-09 ]
Local Commissioner Memorandums
- 17-OCFS-LCM-01 Child Care Providers Deduction of Union Dues in Social Services Districts Other Than New York City
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-01 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-01 ]- Attachment 1: Revised BICS Vendors Inquiry for Union Dues Exclusion and Membership
- Attachment 2: Generate New BICS Union Dues Report for Union Members
- Attachment 3: Generate Revised BICS Union Dues Report for Excluded Vendors and Update BICS Child Care Vendor ID Union Dues Exclusion Flag
- Attachment 4: Generate Revised BICS Union Dues Report for Period
- Attachment 5: WMS Codes that Include Union Dues
- Attachment 6: WMS Codes that Exclude Union Dues
- 17-OCFS-LCM-02 After-Hours Transmission Procedure for Reports of Suspected Child Abuse and Maltreatment Registered by the New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-02 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-02 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-03 Amendments to the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act by the Federal Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 and Corresponding State Requirements
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-03 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-03 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-04 State Minimum Wage Increase and Its Effect Upon Child Care Assistance
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-03 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-04 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-05 Child Care Services for Families Experiencing Homelessness and Differential Payment Rates
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-05 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-05 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-06 State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2017-18 Foster Care Block Grant Allocations
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-06 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-06 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-07 SFY 2017-18 Enhanced Child Protective Services (CPS) Funds
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-07 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-07 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-08 Federal Fiscal Year 2017 Independent Living Allocations
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-08 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-08 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-09 Federal Fiscal Year 2017 Education and Training Voucher Program - revised Aug 29, 2017
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-09 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-09 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-10 SFY 2017-18 Social Services Block Grant (Title XX) Allocations
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-10 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-10 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-11 New York State Child Care Block Grant Subsidy Program Allocations SFY 2017-2018
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-11 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-11 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-12 Community Optional Preventive Services (COPS) Program $1,000,000 Set-Aside Funding Instructions (FFY 2016-17/SFY 2017-18)
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-12 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-12 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-13 Community Optional Preventive Services (COPS) Program FFY 2016-2017/SFY 2017-2018 Funding and Claiming Instructions
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-13 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-13 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-14 Establishing a Policy for the Use and Management of Mobile Devices by Local Departments of Social Services
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-14 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-14 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-15 Statewide Central Register Jurisdictional Assignment of Sensitive Child Protective Services Intake Reports
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-15 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-15 ] -
17-OCFS-LCM-16 Calendar Year 2017 Local District Training Cap
[ Word ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-16 ] - 17-OCFS-LCM-17 TANF Funding for Non-Residential Domestic Violence Services for SFY 2017-18
[ Word document for 17-OCFS-LCM-17 ] [ PDF document for 17-OCFS-LCM-17 ]
OCFS Guidance Document Listing for 2017
The OCFS Guidance Document Listing is a list of all guidance documents upon which OCFS currently relies. The OCFS Guidance Document Listing is submitted to the New York State Department of State not less than once each year, pursuant to section 202-e of the State Administrative Procedure Act.