You are on this page: 2020 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
- 20-OCFS-ADM-01 - New York City Domestic Violence State Aid Rates for July 1, 2019, Through June 30, 2020
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-01 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-01 - 20-OCFS-ADM-02 - Per Diem Chargeback Rates for OCFS-Operated Facilities and Programs – Calendar Year 2018 Final Rates
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-02 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-02 - 20-OCFS-ADM-03 - Runaway and Homeless Youth Provider Training on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Queer Cultural Competency
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-03 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-03 - 20-OCFS-ADM-04 - Replacement Clothing for Children in Foster Care
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-04 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-04 - 20-OCFS-ADM-05 - Requirement to Make Information Available to Nonparent Caregivers Relating to Available Services and Assistance Programs
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-05 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-05 - 20-OCFS-ADM-06 - COVID-19 Guidance for Child Care Subsidy
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-06 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-06 - 20-OCFS-ADM-07 - CARES Child Care Scholarships for Essential Workers
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-07 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-07 - 20-OCFS-ADM-08 - Approval of Emergency Foster Boarding Homes and Expanded Waiver Authority
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-08 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-08 - 20-OCFS-ADM-09 - Child Care Services for Sleep Time - Revised
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-09 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-09 - 20-OCFS-ADM-10 - Rest-of-State Domestic Violence State Aid Rates for January 1, 2020, Through December 31, 2020
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-10 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-10 - 20-OCFS-ADM-11 - Definition of Engaged in Work for Child Care Assistance
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-11 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-11 - 20-OCFS-ADM-12 - Guidance on Child Care Subsidy Eligibility and Breaks in Activities During the COVID-19 Emergency Period
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-12 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-12 - 20-OCFS-ADM-13 - Committee on Special Education Maintenance Reimbursement
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-13 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-13 - 20-OCFS-ADM-14 - Guidance on Child Care Subsidy and Remote Learning
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-14 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-14 - 20-OCFS-ADM-15 - Adoption-Only Home Study Forms
20-OCFS-ADM-15 cancelled on 6/11/21. Replaced by 21-OCFS-ADM-13.
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-15 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-15 - 20-OCFS-ADM-16 - Child Welfare Preventive Housing Subsidy
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-16 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-16 - 20-OCFS-ADM-17 - Child Care Subsidy for Children Age 13 or Older With Special Needs
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-17 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-17-
Desk Aid - Child Care Subsidy for Children Age 13 or Older With Special Needs
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-17 desk aid | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-17 desk aid]
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Desk Aid - Child Care Subsidy for Children Age 13 or Older With Special Needs
- 20-OCFS-ADM-18 - Kin-First Firewall Practice
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-18 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-18- Kin-First Firewall FAQ (revised 3/1/2021)
Word Kin-First Firewall FAQ | PDF Kin-First Firewall FAQ
- Kin-First Firewall FAQ (revised 3/1/2021)
- 20-OCFS-ADM-19 - Blind Removal Process - Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-19
- 20-OCFS-ADM-20 - Elimination of Tuberculosis Testing (TB) Requirement for Prospective Adoptive Parents, Foster Boarding Homes and Child Care Staff Applicants
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-20 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-20 - 20-OCFS-ADM-21 - New Purchase of Service (POS) Types for Authorizing Special Payments
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-21 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-21 - 20-OCFS-ADM-22 - Persons In Need of Supervision Reform Changes
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-22 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-22- Attachment A - System Instructions for Youth Ordered to Pre-dispositional Placement in a Foster Care Setting and Post-dispositional Placement Under Article 7
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-22 Attachment A | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-22 Attachment A
- Attachment A - System Instructions for Youth Ordered to Pre-dispositional Placement in a Foster Care Setting and Post-dispositional Placement Under Article 7
- 20-OCFS-ADM-23 - Stafford Act Flexibility
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-23 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-23- Attachment A - Attestation of Title IV-E Eligibility Due to Stafford Act and Covid-19 Pandemic
Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-23 Attachment A | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-23 Attachment A
- Attachment A - Attestation of Title IV-E Eligibility Due to Stafford Act and Covid-19 Pandemic
Informational Letters
- 20-OCFS-INF-01 - New York State Bail Reform Legislation and the Implications on Domestic Violence Situations
Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-01 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-INF-01 - 20-OCFS-INF-02 - Safety related background checks for persons providing services to children in a child day care setting
Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-02 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-INF-02-
Dear Provider Letter - January 13, 2020
English: Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-02 provider letter | PDF document for 20-OCFS-INF-02 provider letter
Español: Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-02 provider letter in Spanish | PDF document for 20-OCFS-INF-02 provider letter in Spanish
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OCFS-5014 - Parental Consent Form
English: Word document for OCFS-5014 | PDF document for OCFS-5014
Español: Word document for OCFS-5014-S | PDF document for OCFS-5014-S
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Dear Provider Letter - January 13, 2020
- 20-OCFS-INF-03 - County Cooperative Agreements and Claiming Examples
Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-03 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-INF-03 - 20-OCFS-INF-04 - Office of the Ombudsman Engagement with Juvenile Delinquent-Adjudicated Youth in Voluntary Agencies
Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-04 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-INF-04-
Office of the Ombudsman General Poster
[ English document for Pub. 4764 | Español document for Pub. 4764-S ] -
Office of the Ombudsman General Police Contact Poster
[ English document for Pub. 5162P | Español document for Pub. 5162-SP ]
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Office of the Ombudsman General Poster
- 20-OCFS-INF-05 - Education and Training Voucher Application and Eligibility Requirements
Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-05 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-INF-05 - 20-OCFS-INF-06 - Major Regulatory Revisions as of February 7, 2020
Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-06 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-INF-06-
Dear Provider Letter - Policy Changes for Licensed and Registered Providers
English: Word document for February 2020 Licensed Providers | PDF document for February 2020 Licensed Providers
Español: Word document for February 2020 Licensed Providers - Spanish | PDF document for February 2020 Licensed Providers - Spanish -
Dear Provider Letter - Policy Changes for Legally Exempt Providers
English: Word document for February 2020 Legally Exempt Providers | PDF document for February 2020 Legally Exempt Providers
Español: Word document for February 2020 Legally Exempt Providers - Spanish | PDF document for February 2020 Legally Exempt Providers - Spanish
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Dear Provider Letter - Policy Changes for Licensed and Registered Providers
- 20-OCFS-INF-07 - 2020 Income Standards for the Child and Family Services Plan
Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-07 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-INF-07 - 20-OCFS-INF-08 - COVID-19 Guidance for Child Care Providers
Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-08-
OCFS-6051 - Emergency Employment Attestation for Adults
English: Word OCFS-6051
Español: Word OCFS-6051-S | PDF OCFS-6051-S
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OCFS-6051 - Emergency Employment Attestation for Adults
- 20-OCFS-INF-09 - COVID-19 Guidance to Child Care Providers
Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-09 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-INF-09 - 20-OCFS-INF-10 - Child Welfare League of America and Lambda Legal Toolkit: Getting Down to Basics: Tools to Support LGBTQ Youth in Care
Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-10 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-INF-10 - 20-OCFS-INF-11 - Contemporaneous Documentation of Casework Contacts With Children in Foster Care
Word document for 20-OCFS-INF-11 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-INF-11
Local Commissioner Memorandums
- 20-OCFS-LCM-01 - Raise the Age Detention Startup Expenses
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-01 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-01 - 20-OCFS-LCM-02 - NCCAN Funding for Family Assessment Response - Revised
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-02 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-02 - 20-OCFS-LCM-03 - State Minimum Wage Increase and Its Effect Upon Child Care Assistance
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-03 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-03 - 20-OCFS-LCM-04 - Guidelines and Instructions for Preparing the Child and Family Services Annual Plan Update
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-04 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-04 - 20-OCFS-LCM-05 - State Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Title IV Awards
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-05 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-05-
Attachment A - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-B Subpart 1
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment A | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment A -
Attachment B - Title IV-B Subpart 1 Allocations
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment B | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment B -
Attachment C - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-B Subpart 2
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment C | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment C -
Attachment D - Title IV-B Subpart 2 Allocations
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment D | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment D -
Attachment E - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2015 Adoption Assistance
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment E | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment E -
Attachment F - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2016 Adoption Assistance
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment F | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment F -
Attachment G - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2017 Adoption Assistance
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment G | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment G -
Attachment H - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2018 Adoption Assistance
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment H | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment H -
Attachment I - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2019 Adoption Assistance
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment I | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment I -
Attachment J - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2020 Adoption Assistance
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment J | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment J -
Attachment K - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2018 Foster Care
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment K | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment K -
Attachment L - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2019 Foster Care
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment L | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment L -
Attachment M - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2020 Foster Care
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment M | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment M -
Attachment N - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2015 Kinship Guardianship
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment N | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment N -
Attachment O - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2016 Kinship Guardianship
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment O | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment O -
Attachment P - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2017 Kinship Guardianship
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment P | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment P -
Attachment Q - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2018 Kinship Guardianship
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment Q | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment Q -
Attachment R - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2019 Kinship Guardianship
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment R | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment R -
Attachment S - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2020 Kinship Guardianship
Word document for LCM 05 Attachment S | PDF document for LCM 05 Attachment S
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Attachment A - U.S. DHHS Grants – Title IV-B Subpart 1
- 20-OCFS-LCM-06 - Child Protective Services Manual Updates
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-06 - 20-OCFS-LCM-07 - Federal Fiscal Year 2020 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood: Independent Living Allocations
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-07 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-07-
Attachment A: District Allocations for the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood: 10/1/19-9/30/20
Word 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment A | PDF 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment A -
Attachment B: Definitions of Independent Living Services
Word 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment B | PDF 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment B -
Attachment C: Purchase of Service Codes Chart
Word 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment C | PDF 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment C -
Attachment D: Eligibility for Chafee Services
Word 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment D | PDF 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment D -
Attachment E: Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants
Word 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment E | PDF 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment E
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Attachment A: District Allocations for the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood: 10/1/19-9/30/20
- 20-OCFS-LCM-08 - Tuition Reimbursement for Children Who Have Educational Disabilities and Are Placed in Institutions
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-08 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-08- STAC-602-E: Request Form for Online Access to the STAC Database (Employees)
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EFRT Online Manual for OCFS/OMH Placements
Word 20-OCFS-LCM-08 Manual | PDF 20-OCFS-LCM-08 Application
- 20-OCFS-LCM-09 - Revised State Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Title IV Awards
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-09 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-09
20-OCFS-LCM-09 cancelled on 11/19/20. Replaced by 20-OCFS-LCM-17 and 20-OCFS-LCM-18. - 20-OCFS-LCM-10 - SFY 2020-21 Social Services Block Grant (Title XX) Allocations
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-10 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-10 - 20-OCFS-LCM-11 - State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2020-21 Foster Care Block Grant Allocations
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-11 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-11 - 20-OCFS-LCM-12 - New York State Child Care Block Grant Subsidy Program Allocations SFY 2020-2021
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-12 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-12 - 20-OCFS-LCM-13 - New York Statewide Central Register (SCR) Change in Intake Procedures Related to Previously Reported and Investigated Child Fatalities
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-13 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-13 - 20-OCFS-LCM-14 - Calendar Year 2020 Local District Training Cap
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-14 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-14 - 20-OCFS-LCM-15 - Community Optional Preventive Services (COPS) Program FFY 2019-2020/SFY 2020-2021 Funding and Claiming Instructions
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-15 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-15 - 20-OCFS-LCM-16 - Community Optional Preventive Services (COPS) Program $1,000,000 Set-Aside Funding Instructions (FFY 2019-20/SFY 2020-21)
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-16 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-16 - 20-OCFS-LCM-17 - FFY 2019 Title IV Awards
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-17 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-17- Attachment A – Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants – Title IV-B Subpart 1
Word document for LCM 17 Attachment A | PDF document for LCM 17 Attachment A - Attachment B – Title IV-B Subpart 1 Allocations
Word document for LCM 17 Attachment B | PDF document for LCM 17 Attachment B - Attachment C – Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants – Title IV-B Subpart 2
Word document for LCM 17 Attachment C | PDF document for LCM 17 Attachment C - Attachment D – Title IV-B Subpart 2 Allocations
Word document for LCM 17 Attachment D | PDF document for LCM 17 Attachment D - Attachment E - Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants –Title IV-E FFY 2019 Adoption Assistance
Word document for LCM 17 Attachment E | PDF document for LCM 17 Attachment E - Attachment F – Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2019 Kinship Guardianship
Word document for LCM 17 Attachment F | PDF document for LCM 17 Attachment F - Attachment G – Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2019 Foster Care Awards
Word document for LCM 17 Attachment G | PDF document for LCM 17 Attachment G
- Attachment A – Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants – Title IV-B Subpart 1
- 20-OCFS-LCM-18 - FFY 2020 Title IV Awards
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-18 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-18- Attachment A – Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants – Title IV-B Subpart 1 Disaster Relief
Word document for LCM 18 Attachment A | PDF document for LCM 18 Attachment A - Attachment B – Title IV-B Subpart 1 Disaster Relief Allocations
Word document for LCM 18 Attachment B | PDF document for LCM 18 Attachment B - Attachment C – Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants –Title IV-E FFY 2020 Adoption Assistance
Word document for LCM 18 Attachment C | PDF document for LCM 18 Attachment C - Attachment D – Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2020 Kinship Guardianship
Word document for LCM 18 Attachment D | PDF document for LCM 18 Attachment D - Attachment E – Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants – Title IV-E FFY 2020 Foster Care Awards
Word document for LCM 18 Attachment E | PDF document for LCM 18 Attachment E
- Attachment A – Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants – Title IV-B Subpart 1 Disaster Relief
- 20-OCFS-LCM-19 - CAPTA/CARA State Grant FY2020
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-19 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-19 - 20-OCFS-LCM-20 - CARES Act Funding
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-20 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-20- Attachment A - Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-20 attachment A | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-20 attachment A - Attachment B - District Allocations
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-20 attachment B | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-20 attachment B - Attachment C - Attestation of Use of CARES Act Funding
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-20 attachment C | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-20 attachment C
- Attachment A - Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants
- 20-OCFS-LCM-21 - Raise the Age Public Safety Claiming
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-21 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-21 - 20-OCFS-LCM-22 - Raise the Age Finger Lakes Southern Tier County Collaborative (FLSTCC) Claiming for Regional Detention Planning Services
Word document for 20-OCFS-LCM-22 | PDF document for 20-OCFS-LCM-22