You are on this page: 2018 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
- 18-OCFS-ADM-01 New York City Domestic Violence State Aid Rates for July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-01 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-01 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-02 Committee on Special Education Maintenance Rates for July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018, for Out-of-State Residential Schools Approved by the New York State Education Department
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-02 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-02 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-03 Expansion of the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP) - Revised
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-03 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-03 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-04 Requirement to Forward Reports of Suspected Child Abuse or Maltreatment to the Local Departments of Social Services and Voluntary Authorized Agencies Charged With the Care, Custody, or Guardianship of a Child in Foster Care
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-04 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-04 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-05 Criminal History Record Checks of Persons 18 Years of Age or Older Residing in Foster Boarding Homes
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-05 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-05 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-06 Eligibility Forms for the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-06 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-06 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-07-R2 Foster/Adoptive Home Certification or Approval Process (Revised 9/16/24)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-07-R2 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-07-R2 ]- Pub. 5183i Foster-Adoptive Parents Certification-Approval Process Chart
- Pub. 5183ii Clearance Chart for Certified or Approved Foster Homes
- OCFS-5183A Self Assessment
- OCFS-5183B Foster-Adoptive Parent Application
- OCFS-5183C Family Adoption Registry Information (Formerly Application To Adopt)
- OCFS-5183D Foster-Adoptive Applicant Medical Report
- OCFS-5183E Safety Review (Revised)
- OCFS-5183F Household Compositions and Relationships
- OCFS-5183G Sample Genogram Template
- OCFS-5183H Personal References
- OCFS-5183I Resource Characteristics
- OCFS-5183J Foster Parent Agreement with Authorized Agency
- OCFS-5183K Final Assessment-Determination
- 18-OCFS-ADM-08 Requesting Records from the New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR) for the Certification or Approval of Foster Boarding Homes
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-08 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-08 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-09 Revised Legally-Exempt Enrollment Forms
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-09 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-09 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-10 New Enrollment Requirements & District Option to Establish Enhanced Market Rates for Legally-Exempt Group Child Care Programs
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-10 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-10 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-11 Revised Payment Rates for Bridges to Health (B2H) Home and Community-Based Waiver Services, Effective November 1, 2017
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-11 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-11 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-12 Rest-of-State Domestic Violence State Aid Rates for January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-12 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-12 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-13 Placement Module in CONNECTIONS
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-13 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-13 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-14 Health Home Referral Requirements for Children in Foster Care
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-14 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-14 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-15 Per Diem Chargeback Rates for OCFS-Operated Facilities and Programs-CY 2016 Final Rates
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-15 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-15 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-16 Providing Foster Care Placement Verification to Youth 18 Years of Age or Older Exiting Foster Care
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-16 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-16 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-17 Requirements for Use of the National Electronic Interstate Compact Enterprise (NEICE)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-17 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-17 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-18 Educational Stability and Transportation Requirements for Children in Foster Care (Cancelled January 2022. Replaced by 22-OCFS-ADM-01.)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-18 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-18 ]- Pub. 5221 - Students in Foster Care Tool Kit for Local Education Agencies and Local Social Services Agencies [ PDF document for Students in Foster Care Tool Kit ]
- 18-OCFS-ADM-19 Responsibility of Runaway and Homeless Youth Crisis Services Programs Regarding Destitute Children and Youth Formerly in Foster Care (revised 3/24/22.)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-19 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-19 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-20 Extension of Maximum State Aid Rates for Foster Care Programs and Residential Programs for Committee on Special Education Placements - Effective April 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-20 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-20 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-21 Maximum State Aid Rates for Foster Care Programs and Residential Programs for Committee on Special Education Placements - Effective July 1, 2018, through March 31, 2019
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-21 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-21 ]- Attachment A - MSARs for Foster Boarding Home Payments and Adoption Subsidies
- Attachment B - MSARs for Supervised Independent Living Programs
- Attachment C - Growth Factors Applied to Voluntary Foster Care Agency MSARs and CSE Maintenance Rates
- Attachment D - MSARs for Voluntary Foster Care Agencies
- Attachment E - In-State CSE Maintenance Rates for SED-Approved Residential Schools Licensed by OCFS
- Attachment F - In-State CSE Maintenance Rates for SED-Approved Residential Schools Licensed by Other New York State Agencies
- 18-OCFS-ADM-22 New York City Domestic Violence State Aid Rates for July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-22 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-22 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-23 New Brochure: Know Your Resources: Non-Parent Caregiver Benefits and New Requirements for Distributing Publications
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-23 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-23 ] - 18-OCFS-ADM-24 Raise the Age Residential Programs in Voluntary Agencies and the Updated Model Contract for Foster Care
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-ADM-24 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-ADM-24 ]
Informational Letters
- 18-OCFS-INF-01 2018 Income Standards for the Child and Family Services Plan
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-INF-01 ] [ PDF ] - 18-OCFS-INF-02 Dual Certification of Foster Boarding Homes and Family-Type Homes for Adults
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-INF-02 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-INF-02 ] - 18-OCFS-INF-03/18-OTDA-INF-11 Best Practice Guidance on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Coordinated Entry Process for Victims of Domestic Violence to Access Homeless Housing Resources
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-INF-03 ] [ PDF ] - 18-OCFS-INF-04 Education and Training Voucher Eligibility Requirements
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-INF-04 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-INF-04 ] - 18-OCFS-INF-05 Statewide Central Register (SCR) Change in Jurisdictional Assignment Procedures for Additional Information (Add Info) Reports
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-INF-05 ] [ PDF ] - 18-OCFS-INF-06 Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) (P.L. 115-123)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-INF-06 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-INF-06 ]- Summary of Key Provisions in the FFPSA [ Word document for 18-OCFS-INF-06 Key Provisions ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-INF-06 Key Provisions ]
- Timeline of Key Actions in the FFPSA [ Word ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-INF-06 Timeline ]
- 18-OCFS-INF-07 Assistance and Services Provided by the Office of the Mexican Consulate to Mexican National Minors in Federal, State, and Local Custody
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-INF-07 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-INF-07 ]
Local Commissioner Memorandums
- 18-OCFS-LCM-01 Application for Child Care Assistance and How to Complete the Application for Child Care Assistance Revisions
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-01 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-01 ] (cancelled on 3/8/24, replaced by 24-OCFS-LCM-02) - 18-OCFS-LCM-02 State Minimum Wage Increase and Its Effect Upon Child Care Assistance
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-02 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-02 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-03 Guidelines for Preparing the Child and Family Services Plan
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-03 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-03 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-04 Federal Foster Care Candidacy Requirements
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-04 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-04 ]- OCFS-4777 - Federal Foster Care Candidacy Determination Form (Revised October 3, 2019)
- Candidacy for Foster Care Questions and Answers (Revised April 9, 2019)
- 18-OCFS-LCM-05 SFY 2018-19 Enhanced Child Protective Services (CPS) Funds (revised)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-05 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-05 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-06 Plan of Safe Care
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-06 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-06 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-07 Federal Fiscal Year 2018 Independent Living Allocations (Revised March 28, 2019)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-07 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-07 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-08 SFY 2018-19 Social Services Block Grant (Title XX) Allocations (Revised March 29, 2019)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-08 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-08 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-09 State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2018-19 Foster Care Block Grant Allocations
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-09 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-09 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-10 Tuition Reimbursement for Educationally Handicapped Children Placed in Institutions
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-10 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-10 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-11 Community Optional Preventive Services (COPS) Program $1,000,000 Set-Aside Funding Instructions (FFY 2017-18/SFY 2018-19)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-11 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-11 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-12 Community Optional Preventive Services (COPS) Program FFY 2017-2018/SFY 2018-2019 Funding and Claiming Instructions
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-12 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-12 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-13 TANF Funding for Non-Residential Domestic Violence Services for SFY 2018-19 (Revised March 31, 2019)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-13 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-13 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-14 Child Protective Services Manual Updates
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-14 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-14 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-15 Protocols for Signing Forms for Non-Immigrant Clients Applying for U Visas and T Visas
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-15 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-15 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-16 New York State Child Care Block Grant Subsidy Program Allocations SFY 2018-2019 (Revised March 29, 2019)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-16 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-16 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-17 Revised Client Notice Forms for Child Care Assistance
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-17 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-17 ]- OCFS-4773 - Child Care Eligibility Re-determination Coming Due (Sample Only)
- OCFS-LDSS-4782 - Notice of Intent to Discontinue Child Care Benefits (Sample Only)
- 18-OCFS-LCM-18 JJIS Child Welfare Tracking Youth Adjudicated Juvenile Delinquents in Care and Custody LDSS Commissioner
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-18 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-18 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-19 CAPTA/CARA State Grant FY2018 (Revised March 29, 2019)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-19 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-19 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-20 Raise the Age Claiming (Superseded by 19-OCFS-LCM-02)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-20 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-20 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-21 Calendar Year 2018 Local District Training Cap
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-21 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-21 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-22 Guidelines and Instructions for Preparing the Child and Family Services Annual Plan Update
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-22 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-22 ] - 18-OCFS-LCM-23 NCCAN Funding for Family Assessment Response (Revised March 31, 2019)
[ Word document for 18-OCFS-LCM-23 ] [ PDF document for 18-OCFS-LCM-23 ]
OCFS Guidance Document Listing for 2018
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.