Adolescent Support Policies

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to establish new requirements for the training on and use of opioid antagonists in cases where reversal of opioid overdose is indicated. This type of treatment is part of the overall health and safety and first aid training required by New York State (NYS) regulations at 9 NYCRR 180-1.9 and 180-3.21.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to provide local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) with information and resources to help identify and reduce the risks of suicide in children and youth and to respond more effectively to families in crisis.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary agencies (VAs) of the application and eligibility requirements that must be met for youth to participate in the New York State Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) about funding for the Safe Harbour: NY Program for program year January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide localities with claiming instructions for certain Raise the Age (RTA) public safety expenses made in state fiscal year (SFY) 2024-25.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to advise municipal youth bureaus on the runaway and homeless youth (RHY) allocations for program year October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to advise municipal youth bureaus on the availability of Youth Sports and Education Opportunity Funding (YSEF) allocations for program year October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025.

The purpose of this Local Commissioner Memorandum (LCM) is to advise municipal youth bureaus on the availability of Youth Team Sports (YTS) allocations for the program year October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to advise municipal youth bureaus on the availability of Youth Development Program (YDP) allocations for program year October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to inform runaway and homeless youth (RHY) providers, RHY service coordinators, local departments of social services (LDSSs), and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) of the provisions of Chapter 107 of the Laws of 2023 that expand the categories of youth under the age of 18 who can consent to their health care to include homeless youth and youth who are receiving services at an approved RHY program. This change goes into effect March 23, 2023.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary agencies (VAs) of the application and eligibility requirements that must be met for youth to participate in the New York State Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) about funding for the Safe Harbour: NY Program for program year January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to advise municipal youth bureaus on the availability of Youth Development Program (YDP), Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY), and Youth Sports and Education Opportunity Funding (YSEF) allocations for program year October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024.

The purpose of this Local Commissioner Memorandum (LCM) is to advise municipal youth bureaus on the availability of a new funding allocation for youth team sports (YTS). This LCM provides notification of allocation for the program year October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, for YTS and offers guidance for utilization of the funds at the local level.

• OCFS-5011 - Universal Application for Youth Sports Funding

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide localities with claiming instructions for certain Raise the Age (RTA) public safety expenses made in state fiscal year (SFY) 2023- 24.

The purpose of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (CFCP) is to assist current and former youth in foster care achieve self-sufficiency. This Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) informs local departments of social services (LDSSs) of the CFCP allocations from the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2023 funds. The allocations contained in this LCM’s Attachment A may be used for independent living (IL) services expenditures made from October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023, and claimed by March 31, 2024. Such claims will be paid up to the amount of the allocation and are subject to a 20% state/local match requirement. Unclaimed allocation amounts may be redistributed to other LDSSs that have claims in excess of the allocation or used to support the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) activities related to implementation of the Chafee Foster Care Independence Act, allowing New York State to maximize its use of funds available under this federal funding stream.

• 23-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment A: District Allocations
• 23-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment B: Definitions of Independent Living Services
• 23-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment C: Purchase of Service Codes Chart
• 23-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment D: Eligibility for John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood
• 23-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment E: Title 45 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 75

The purpose of this Local Commissioner Memorandum (LCM) is to advise municipal youth bureaus on the availability of youth sports and education opportunity funding (“Sports Opportunity Funding”).

• Attachment A: Youth Sports and Education Opportunity Allocations January 2023 - September 2023

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide instruction to the directors of municipal youth bureaus on program year-related changes. These changes pertain to submitting resource allocation plans (RAP) in the Quality Youth Development System (QYDS) for youth development program (YDP) funding and runaway and homeless youth (RHY) local assistance allocations.

• Attachment A: Youth Development Program Allocations January 2023 - September 2023
• Attachment B: Runaway and Homeless Youth Allocations January 2023 - September 2023

This Administrative Directive (ADM) outlines key provisions of Chapter 810 of the Laws of 2021 amended by Chapter 38 of the Laws of 2022. This law, as of December 29, 2022, raises the lower age (RTLA) of juvenile delinquency under the Family Court Act (FCA) from 7 to 12 years of age, with an exception for alleged homicide offenses. In addition, the amendment raises the lower age for youth in secure detention from 10 to 13 years of age unless the youth is alleged to have committed a homicide offense.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to advise local departments of social services (LDSS) and voluntary authorized agencies (VA) of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) requirements related to the mandatory provision of aftercare services to children discharged from qualified residential treatment programs (QRTP) or EMPOWER QRTP exception programs (EMPOWER) licensed by OCFS under the federal Family First Preventive Services Act (FFPSA) and New York State regulations.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to advise local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) – particularly those operating programs serving children and youth who are found to be, or are at risk of becoming, victims or survivors of sex trafficking – of requirements pertaining to programs designed to meet the needs of this population.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to notify local departments of social services (LDSSs), voluntary authorized agencies (VAs), runaway and homeless youth programs and coordinators, and other entities of the requirements in Chapter 798 of the Laws of 2021 (Chapter 798). Chapter 798 amends various sections of the Family Court Act (FCA) related to youth between the ages of 18 and 21 who are reentering foster care.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) of the newly established Supervised Setting Programs (SSPs) that allow transition aged youth to live independently in a variety of supervised settings.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to provide local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) with additional information regarding the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS)-NY and the Child and Adolescent Level of Care/Services Intensity Instrument (CALOCUS-CASII) assessment tools.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to announce the publication of Maximum State Aid Rates (MSARs) for Supervised Setting Programs (SSPs). This INF also provides clarity to local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) on how to enter and maintain certification or approval in CONNECTIONS necessary to populate the correct Rate Code for the supervised setting.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary agencies (VAs) of the application and eligibility requirements that must be met for youth to participate in the New York State Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program. This INF will also address the temporary changes still in effect for the ETV program due to the passage of P.L. 116-260 Consolidated Appropriation Act.

The purpose of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (CFCP) is to assist current and former youth in foster care achieve self-sufficiency. This Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) informs local departments of social services (LDSSs) of the CFCP allocations from the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2022 funds. The allocations contained in this LCM’s Attachment A may be used for independent living (IL) services expenditures made from October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022, and claimed by March 31, 2023. Such claims will be paid up to the amount of the allocation and are subject to a 20% state/local match requirement. Unclaimed allocation amounts may be redistributed to other LDSSs that have claims in excess of the allocation or used to support the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) activities related to implementation of the Chafee Foster Care Independence Act, allowing New York State to maximize its use of funds available under this federal funding stream.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum is to clarify for local departments of social services (LDSSs) the use of federal Chafee funding in 2020 to support eligible youth who aged out of foster care during the time frame listed below. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the potential instability of young adults who aged out of foster care in New York State. To address the challenges exacerbated by the pandemic, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) allocated $1,511,287 of the Chafee pandemic funding to LDSSs specifically for youth who aged out of care from March 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021, without a safe and stable transition plan.

The purpose of this Local Commissioner Memorandum (LCM) is to advise municipal youth bureaus on the availability of Youth Sports and Education Opportunity Funding (“Sports Opportunity Funding”). This LCM provides notification of the 2022 calendar year allocation for Youth Sports and Education Opportunity Funding.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to notify local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) of the process to determine whether a referral may be made for a youth to be placed in a prenatal, postpartum, parenting (PPP) program and to detail the documentation that must accompany the referral.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to issue Maximum State Aid Rates (MSARs) for Foster Care Programs and In-State Committee on Special Education (CSE) Maintenance Rates for State Education Department (SED)-Approved Residential Schools, effective July 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022.

• 21-OCFS-ADM-29 Attachment A: MSARs for Foster Boarding Home Payments and Adoption Subsidies 2021-22 Rate Year (July 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022)
• 21-OCFS-ADM-29 Attachment B: MSARs for Supervised Independent Living Programs (SILPs) 2021-22 Rate Year (July 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022)
• 21-OCFS-ADM-29 Attachment C: Growth Factors Applied to Voluntary Foster Care Agency MSARs and CSE Maintenance Rates 2021-22 Rate Year (July 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022)
• 21-OCFS-ADM-29 Attachment D: MSARs for Voluntary Foster Care Agencies 2021-22 Rate Year (July 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022)
• 21-OCFS-ADM-29 Attachment E: In-State CSE Maintenance Rates for SED-Approved Residential Programs Licensed by OCFS 2021-22 Rate Year (July 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022)
• 21-OCFS-ADM-29 Attachment F: In-State CSE Maintenance Rates for SED-Approved Residential Programs Licensed by Other New York State Agencies 2021-22 Rate Year (July 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022)

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to advise local departments of social services (LDSSs) and authorized voluntary agencies (VAs) of new requirements pertaining to programs designed to meet the needs of children and youth in foster care who are found to be, or are at risk of becoming, victims or survivors of sex trafficking. These new requirements are based on the federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), which was enacted on February 9, 2018, and became effective in New York State (NYS) on September 29, 2021.

• 21-OCFS-ADM-27 Attachment 1: OCFS-5575 - Appropriateness of Placement Assessment in a Prenatal, Postpartum or Parenting/EMPOWER Setting
• 21-OCFS-ADM-27 Attachment 2: Common Referral and Intake Packet for EMPOWER Programs

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to advise local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) "particularly those operating programs serving children and youth who are found to be, or are at risk of becoming, sex trafficking victims or survivors" of new requirements pertaining to programs designed to meet the needs of this population. These new requirements are based on the federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), which was enacted on February 9, 2018, and becomes effective in New York State (NYS) on September 29, 2021.

This ADM was revised on October 28, 2021, to allow physical restraints when necessary to prevent serious bodily harm, and again on February 10, 2022, to clarify staffing ratio requirements

• 21-OCFS-ADM-19 Appendix A: EMPOWER Program Standards
• 21-OCFS-ADM-19 Appendix B: Common Referral and Intake Packet for EMPOWER Programs
• OCFS-5376: EMPOWER Program Application Checklist
• OCFS-5575: Appropriateness of Placement (AOP) Assessment in a PPP-EMPOWER Setting

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to detail and describe to local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) New York State's (NYS) approach to certifying congregate care programs as prenatal, postpartum, parenting (PPP) Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTP) Exceptions. It outlines the framework of a PPP program and details the requirements and process to apply for PPP program certification.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) of expectations for the forthcoming Supervised Setting Programs (SSPs) that will allow older youth in foster care to live independently. Such settings are Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) Exceptions (also referred to as specified settings ) under the federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA); therefore, eligible youth in foster care ages 18-21 residing in such settings may remain in those settings and be eligible for reimbursement under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act (Title IV-E) on and after September 29, 2021.

This INF is the first Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) guidance document that will be released regarding SSPs. OCFS will release an Administrative Directive (ADM) providing further guidance and required actions for LDSSs and VAs to take to apply for and operate SSPs, and to approve or certify supervised settings.

The purpose of this informational letter (INF) is to introduce to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) overseen and regulated community the LGBTQ+ Community Practice Model. The LGBTQ+ Community Practice Model was designed by OCFS to establish a consistent and affirming approach when engaging members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer (LGBQ) and/or transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary (TGNC) community (LGBTQ+) across OCFS programming, policy, and practice in New York State. Additionally, a SOGIE Terms, Concepts, and Definitions document has been developed to accompany the practice model.

• 21-OCFS-INF-06 Attachment A: LGBTQ+ Community Practice Model
• 21-OCFS-INF-06 Attachment B: SOGIE Terms, Concepts, and Definitions Terms, Concepts, and Definitions

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to provide counties and the City of New York and tribal governments with the opportunity to access federal title IV-E funding for certain allowable administrative costs for the legal representation of children and parents. This INF establishes the definition of eligible populations, allowable administrative expenses, data elements and supportive documentation that must be submitted in order to claim for title IV-E reimbursement for eligible and allowable administration and training costs associated with providing legal representation services to children and their parents in child welfare proceedings for state fiscal year (SFY) 2021-22.

• 21-OCFS-INF-05 Attachment A - Sample Memorandum of Understanding for Counties
• 21-OCFS-INF-05 Attachment B - Title IV-E Legal Representation Administration and Training Claim Forms
  OCFS-5600 - New York City
  OCFS-5601 - Rest of State
  OCFS-5602 - Office of Court Administration
  OCFS-5505 - Indigent Legal Services
  OCFS-5603 - Parent/Child Detail Form
• 21-OCFS-INF-05 Attachment C - OCFS-5604 - Enhanced Quality Legal Representation Services Plan for Counties and NYC
• 21-OCFS-INF-05 Attachment C1 - OCFS-5511 - The Unified Court System Enhanced Quality Legal Representation Services Plan
• 21-OCFS-INF-05 Attachment D - Federal Award Information Sheet (FAIS)

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary agencies (VAs) of the impact of the P.L. 116-260 Consolidated Appropriation Act Division X, Section 3 and 4.

• 21-OCFS-INF-04 Appendix A: Chart of Temporary Federal Changes to Chafee, ETV and Title IV-E

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary agencies (VAs) of the application and eligibility requirements that must be met for youth to participate in the New York State Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program. This INF will also address the temporary changes made to the ETV program due to the passage of P.L. 116-260 Consolidated Appropriation Act.

The purpose of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (CFCP) is to help current and former foster care youth achieve self-sufficiency. This Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) informs local departments of social services (LDSSs) of the CFCP allocations from the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2020 funds and provides the amount of FFY 20 Chafee that was used to support youth over the age of 21 (aging out).

• 21-OCFS-LCM-32 Attachment A: Revised Allocations
• 21-OCFS-LCM-32 Attachment B: Definitions of Independent Living Services
• 21-OCFS-LCM-32 Attachment C: Purchase of Service Codes Chart
• 21-OCFS-LCM-32 Attachment D: Eligibility for John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood Services

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide localities with claiming instructions for certain Raise the Age (RTA) public safety expenses made in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2021-22.

The purpose of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (CFCP) is to assist current and former youth in foster care achieve self-sufficiency. This Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) informs local departments of social services (LDSSs) of the CFCP allocations from the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2021 funds.

• 21-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment A: District Allocations (revised 5/7/21)
• 21-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment B: Definitions of Independent Living Services
• 21-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment C: Purchase of Service Codes Chart
• 21-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment D: Eligibility for John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood Services
• 21-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment E: Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to notify local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) of the flexibility to waive certain title IV-E requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic as authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act). The ADM also introduces the process LDSSs and VAs must follow for requesting such flexibility.

• 20-OCFS-ADM-23 Attachment A: Attestation of Title IV-E Eligibility Due to Stafford Act and Covid-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to notify local departments of social services (LDSSs) of new Welfare Management System (WMS) Purchase of Service (POS) types that must be used for authorizing special payment expenditures for children in foster care residing in foster boarding homes (FBHs). This ADM also provides direction on the authorization of the new POS types.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) of the authority to provide housing services in the form of rent subsidies as a preventive service to otherwise eligible recipients regardless of whether they are residing with unrelated roommates. Chapter 624 of the Laws of 2019 amended section 409-a of the Social Services Law (SSL) to provide that section 409-a, which addresses eligibility for preventive services, does not limit the ability of those using such rent subsidy to live with roommates. Chapter 624 took effect on December 12, 2019.

• Desk Aid - Preventive Housing Subsidy
  Word document for 20-OCFS-ADM-16-R2 desk aid | PDF document for 20-OCFS-ADM-16-R2 desk aid

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to inform certified residential runaway and homeless youth (RHY) programs of the requirement for all staff to complete training in cultural competence for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) population, as this training is described in Executive Law § 532-e(7), which became effective January 1, 2020.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs), voluntary authorized agencies (VAs), detention providers, and youth bureaus of the availability of resources for improving practice and outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning (LGBTQ), transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth and young adults. These resources include prior guidance from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and the toolkit Getting Down to Basics: Tools to Support LGBTQ Youth in Care, which was developed in partnership with the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) and Lambda Legal.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary agencies (VAs) of the application and eligibility requirements that must be met for youth to participate in the New York State Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide localities with claiming instructions for the Finger Lakes Southern Tier County Collaborative (FLSTCC) for regional detention planning services related to Raise the Age (RTA) made in calendar year 2020 and calendar year 2021.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide localities with claiming instructions for certain Raise the Age (RTA) public safety expenses made in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2020-21.

The purpose of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (CFCP) is to offer assistance to help current and former foster care youths achieve self-sufficiency. This Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) informs local departments of social services (LDSSs) of the CFCP allocations from the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2020 funds. The allocations contained in this memorandum’s Attachment A may be used for Independent Living (IL) services expenditures made from October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020, and claimed by March 31, 2021.

• 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
• 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment B: Definitions of Independent Living Services
• 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment C: Purchase of Service Codes Chart
• 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment D: Eligibility for Chafee Services
• 20-OCFS-LCM-07 Attachment E: Attachment for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grants

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide localities with claiming instructions for Raise the Age (RTA) expenses for detention startup.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to clarify the conditions under which a runaway and homeless youth (RHY) service coordinator, and others as designated by a municipality via the RHY section of the Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP), must provide written notification to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) of a circumstance warranting additional residential services in a certified residential RHY crisis services program. These conditions were created with the enactment of Part M of Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2017 and accompanying changes in regulation.

This policy applies only to runaway youth in OCFS-certified residential RHY crisis services programs; homeless youth and Transitional Independent Living Support Programs (TILPs) are addressed in 19-OCFS-ADM-05 - Notification of Expanded Services in a Transitional Independent Living Support Program (TILP).

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to clarify the conditions under which a runaway and homeless youth (RHY) service coordinator, and others as designated by a municipality in the RHY section of the Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP), must provide written notification to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) of a circumstance warranting extended residential services for a homeless youth in a residential Transitional Independent Living Support Program (TILP). These conditions were created as a result of amendments to sections 420 and 532-d of the Executive Law, and the applicable regulations under Part M of Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2017.

This policy applies only to extended lengths of stay for homeless youth in TILPs; lengths of stay for runaway youth served by residential RHY crisis services programs are addressed in 18-OCFS-ADM-06, Notification of Increased Length of Stay in a Runaway and Homeless Youth Crisis Services Program.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary agencies (VAs) of the application and eligibility requirements that must be met for youth to participate in the New York State Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to provide guidance to local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) on the use of communication technologies by children in foster care. LDSSs and VAs are reminded that caregivers must apply the reasonable and prudent parenting standard (RPPS) when deciding whether a child in foster care may participate in normative experiences.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide localities with claiming instructions for Treahy Consultation Services LLC expenses related to Raise the Age (RTA) made in calendar year 2018 and calendar year 2019.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide localities with claiming instructions for Raise the Age (RTA) caseworker training expenses made in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2018-19 and SFY 2019-20.

The purpose of this LCM is to provide localities with claiming instructions for RTA behavioral health expenses made in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2018-19 and SFY 2019-20.

The purpose of this LCM is to provide localities with claiming instructions for RTA behavioral health expenses made in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2018-19 and SFY 2019-20.

The purpose of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) is to offer assistance to help current and former foster care youths achieve self-sufficiency. This LCM informs local departments of social services of the CFCIP allocations from the Federal Fiscal Year 2019 funds.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide localities with claiming instructions for Raise the Age (RTA)-related expenses made between April 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide localities with claiming instructions for certain Raise the Age (RTA) Public Safety expenses made in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2018-19 and SFY 2019-20.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide localities with Raise the Age (RTA)-related implications as they pertain to the Automated Claiming System (ACS), the Benefits.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to direct runaway and homeless youth (RHY) programs to take specific actions when youth who are former foster care recipients or who may meet the definition of destitute child, as this term is defined in section 1092 of the Family Court Act (FCA), present at RHY programs.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to release and outline the Students in Foster Care Tool Kit for Local Education Agencies and Local Social Services Agencies, developed by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and the State Education Department (SED), that must be used to meet requirements under federal and state law pertaining to the school enrollment and transportation of children in foster care. The tool kit is designed to create a standard process by which local social services districts (LDSSs), voluntary agencies (VAs), and local education agencies (LEAs) must coordinate efforts to promote educational stability for students in foster care.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to notify local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) of the new requirement contained in the federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), that a child who is leaving foster care by reason of attaining the age of 18 years of age or older and who has been in foster care for more than six (6) months may not be discharged from foster care without being provided with official documentation necessary to prove that the youth was previously in foster care. This ADM also introduces the Foster Care Placement Verification Form (OCFS-5184) for the purpose of providing such documentation, and provides instructions on when and how it must be completed.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary agencies (VAs) of the application and eligibility requirements that must be met for youth to participate in the New York State Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program.

The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) of the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) allocations from the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2018 funds and unspent FFY 17 funds. The allocations contained in this memorandum’s Attachment A may be used for Independent Living (IL) services expenditures made October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2018, and claimed by March 31, 2019. Such claims will be paid up to the amount of the allocation and subject to a 20 percent state/local match requirement. Unclaimed allocation amounts will be redistributed to other LDSSs that have claims in excess of the allocation or used to support the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) activities related to implementation of the Chafee Foster Care Independence Act, allowing New York State to maximize its use of funds available under this federal funding stream.

LDSSs are advised that they must be in compliance with all provisions set forth in 02- OCFS-LCM-05, issued on February 28, 2002. Furthermore, LDSSs must be in compliance with the assurances made to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) listed in Attachment B of that memorandum, to be eligible for reimbursement from CFCIP funds.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to advise local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary agencies (VAs) of the provisions of Chapter 242 of the Laws of 2016 (the Chapter). The Chapter amends various provisions of the Family Court Act (FCA) and the Social Services Law (SSL) that pertain to contact and visitation between siblings (including half-siblings) when one or more of the siblings have been removed from their home.

The purpose of this New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Administrative Directive (ADM) is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) of the requirements regarding the response to youth who are absent without consent, missing or abducted1 from care or home as set forth in the federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (the Act) [P.L. 113-183] and regulation at 18 NYCRR 431.8, and who are: in foster care (care and custody or guardianship and custody of LDSS or OCFS); in an open child protective services or preventive services case; receiving federally funded independent living services; under the supervision of the social services district pursuant to a court order; or under 21 years of age, discharged to another planned living arrangement with a permanency resource (APPLA), or deemed to have been discharged to APPLA, and under the supervision of the social services district. This ADM provides guidance on locating a child/youth who is absent without consent, missing, or abducted from either foster care or their home, as well as direction to caseworkers for responding once the youth returns to care.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to advise local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) regarding the provisions of Chapter 573 of the Laws of 2015 as amended by Chapter 14 of the Laws of 2016. These chapters amend Article 10-A of the Family Court Act (FCA) in relation to the notification and participation of children in foster care 10 years of age or older in their permanency hearings.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to advise local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) of provisions in 9 NYCRR §§ 180.5(a)(6), 182-1.5(g)(1) and 182-2.5(g)(1), and in 18 NYCRR §§ 421.3(d), 423.4(m)(7), 441.19(d) and 441.24, several of which became effective on November 6, 2013.1 These regulations prohibit discrimination and harassment by LDSS and VA staff, volunteers, and certified or approved foster parents against applicants for adoption services, families receiving preventive services, prospective foster parents, foster parents and foster children, youth in runaway and homeless youth (RHY) programs, and youth in detention on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, or disability, in order to promote and maintain a safe environment for children, youth, and families that the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) serves.

The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to provide staff with guidance and resources related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE). The goal of providing education and resources on SOGIE terminology is to promote a safe and respectful environment for all children, youth, and adults.

The purpose of this Informational Letter is to inform local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary agencies (VAs) of the availability of A Practitioner’s Resource Guide: Helping Families to Support Their LGBT Children, a resource guide released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Family Acceptance Project.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to address the implementation of provisions of the federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (the Act) [P.L. 113-183] that focus on case and transition planning for youth in foster care 14 years of age or older.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to provide information to local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) regarding the requirement to implement the reasonable and prudent parent standard (the standard) set forth in the federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (the Act) [P.L. 113-183]. This ADM includes (1) definitions of the standard, caregiver, and age or developmentally appropriate activities, (2) opportunities for implementing the standard utilizing the Family Assessment Service Plan (FASP) and Service Plan Review (SPR), and (3) considerations for applying the standard, including the issue of caretaker liability.

The purpose of this New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Administrative Directive (ADM) is to provide local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) with guidance on how to develop and implement a transition plan with all youth to prepare them for a successful adulthood and to discuss the specific transition plan requirements that are required for youth age 18 and older who are exiting foster care.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to address the implementation of several provisions of the federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (the Act) [P.L. 113-183]. This ADM focuses on amending Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement with a Permanency Resource (APPLA) as a permanency planning goal (PPG) by eliminating APPLA for children in foster care under 16 years of age and adding new criteria to what the state must document and the court must consider at a permanency hearing where APPLA is the requested permanency plan.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to advise local departments of social services (LDSSs) and voluntary authorized agencies (VAs) of a change in the federal law that requires states to request consumer reports for youth in foster care who have attained 14 years of age. Prior to the law changing, the age was 16 years.

The purpose of the Informational Letter is to inform local social services districts and other agencies about the Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention Act Grant awarded in 2011 to the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH).

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to advise local departments of social services (LDSS) and voluntary authorized agencies of an important new provision of federal law, added by the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (P.L.112-34) pertaining to foster youth identity theft, which went into effect on October 1, 2011.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to advise local departments of social services (LDSS) and voluntary authorized agencies of the requirements pertaining to reproductive health services for youth in foster care.

The purpose of this Administrative Directive (ADM) is to advise local departments of social services (LDSS) and voluntary authorized agencies of the provisions of Chapter 342 of the Laws of 2010 and related amendments to federal and state law. Chapter 342 permits former foster youth between the ages of 18 and 21 to re-enter foster care under certain circumstances, and requires LDSS to provide notice to a youth transitioning out of care of his or her right to re-enter care. Chapter 342 became effective November 11, 2010.