Transcript ACS 101 - NYC Partners For Families

ACS 101
An Introduction to the N.Y.C.
Administration For Children’s Services
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Two Rumors:
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ACS has CPS Workers Riding Around in
Cars Waiting For Child Abuse Calls
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Every Time Someone Makes A Report of
Child Abuse – A Child Goes Into Foster
Care
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Important Phone Numbers
SCR
Hotline –
 Mandated
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1-800-635-1522
 Non-Mandated 1-800-342-3720
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Administration for Children’s Services
History
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The Agency Was Created on
January 10, 1996
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The Mission: Ensure The Safety and
Well-being of New York City’s Children
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Divisions of ACS
Child Protection
 Family Support Services
 Family Permanency
 Child Care and Head Start
 General Counsel
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Divisions of ACS continued
Family Court Legal Services
 Policy and Planning
 Financial Services
 Administration
 Youth and Family Justice
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Child Protection
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CPS – Child Protection Specialists
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17 Offices Throughout The City
ECS – Emergency Children’s Services
One Office Covers the Entire City
 4pm – 8am – Monday – Friday
 All Day Saturday and Sunday
 All Major Holidays
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ACS History
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2005 – Investigated 52,000 Reports of
Alleged Child Abuse and Neglect
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2006 – Investigated 68,000 Reports of
Alleged Child Abuse and Neglect
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2010 – Investigated 65,000 Reports of
Alleged Child Abuse and Neglect
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Overview of Child Abuse Reporting
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Where Do You Make The Report?
SCR Hotline 1-800-635-1522/800-342-7320
 Run by OCFS – Not ACS
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When Should The Report Be Made?
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Who Can Make A Report?
Mandated Reporter
 Non – Mandated Reporter
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Overview of Child Abuse Reporting
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What Do You Need To Make A Report?
Perpetrator
 Victim
 An Allegation of Child Abuse/Neglect
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The Life of A CPS Case
Call to SCR
Call Rejected
Referred for
Law
Enforcement
Referral
Call Accepted
Call
Not
Taken or
Referred
Perpetrator is
Parent
Perpetrator
is Legally
Responsible
For Child
Call is Entered into
CONNECTIONS
Report is Electronically
Transmitted to an
Office in the County
of the Families Residence
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Computer Access and Agency
Collaboration
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Welfare
Medicaid
SSI
Food Stamps
Department of
Education
Department of
Homeless Services
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ACS
 State CPS
 NYPD DIR Database
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Law Enforcement Coordination
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The Instant Response Program
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The Investigative Consultant Program
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Established 1998
Established 2006
Access to Law Enforcement Databases
Domestic Incident Reports
 NYPD Photo Manger
 eJusticeNY
 Office of Court Administration
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Field Office Process
Intake Clearance Process
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Investigative Activities:
Pre-Investigation
Conference with
Supervisor and Review
Prior History
Contact Source of
Report
Home Visits
Interviews with Children,
Parents/Caretakers,
Alleged Subjects of
Report and Household
Members, Collateral
Contacts i.e. School and
Medical Provider, NYPD
Assign CPS Worker for
Investigation and Assessment
24/48 Hour Contact
7 Day Safety Assessment
40 Day Risk Assessment Profile
53 Day Safety Assessment
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60 Day Determination of Allegations
Determination
Unfounded
No Risk
Case Closed
Low Risk Service Needs
Preventive Services
Indicated
No Risk or Low Risk Needs
Case Closed
Low Risk Service Needs
Preventive Services
Risk
Court Mandated Services
Immediate Danger
Foster Care Placement
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Powers of Removal
Family Court Act Section 1024 and
Social Service Law 417 Give ACS the
Same Powers of Removal as Police
Officers
 FCA 1024- Provides Immunity for Police
and ACS as Long as The Removal Was
Made in Good Faith
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Prevention Vs. Placement
As of September 2011 Current Foster Care Population –
approximately 14,168 children
 Current Preventive Population approximately 23,306 children
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Overview of Preventive Services
65 not for profit agencies, consisting of
approximately 200 programs across the
city.
 Are community based services for at risk
families, and serve specific Community
District's (C D)
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Preventive Services Continued
Prevent Child abuse and neglect
 Reduce the need for foster care
placements
 Serve children and families within their
community
 Promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of children
 To strengthen and support families
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Family Preservation Program (FPP)
FPP provides intensive, at-home
crisis intervention and family
preservation services through trained
caseworkers that work with only two
families at a time. This program is
for high-risk families who are part of
a child protection case.
Preventive Services (PPRS)
Preventive services are designed to ensure that children remain
safe in the home and to prevent children from entering foster care.
ACS provides preventive services as a result of a child protective
investigation or at the request of the family.
Preventive services are provided directly by ACS and through a
network of community-based organizations (CBO’s). ACS contracts
with over 200 preventive services programs. Many organizations
offer these services directly to families upon request.
Services are free.
expecting a child.
Families must have a child under 18 or be
Community Partnerships To Strengthen
Families
ACS believes that safety and permanency for
children and families is best achieved though a
Neighborhood-Based Services approach that
seeks to provide every child a family with
culturally, linguistically, and need-driven
services within their own communities.
Community Partnerships To Strengthen
Families
The Neighborhood Based Services model of service
delivery is based on the best practice principle that the
more quality preventive services are available at the
community level, the more likely a family can access
services and avoid out-of-home care.
Also, if out of home care is required, a child placed in
his/her community will be more likely to maintain close
and regular family contact to ensure a timely and safe
return home. ACS believes that strong communities
promote safe and healthy children and families.
Family Assistance Program (FAP)
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Preliminary screening which offers assistance and information to families
seeking to file for Persons In Need of Supervision (PINS) petition. The
goal is to help families remain together and work toward resolving their
problems and concerns. This initiative was created in response to the
rise in age of children eligible for a PINS from 16 to 18.
– Experienced social workers, specially trained to work with
families and teens
– Offer immediate intervention to de-escalate situation and offer
negotiation skills
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Offer appropriate referrals for community-based services that work with
youth and their families
Reduce the number of children inappropriately involved with court
proceedings and placed into foster care
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Head Start
Head Start offers educational programs for children age
3 to 5 and a wide variety of opportunities and support
services for their families.
Some of the services include:
 Early childhood education
 Early child development services
 Social Services and Family Development
 Health Nutrition and Mental Health
ACS Sponsors more than 250 Head Start Centers
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TASA - 212-676-6001
Assists Pregnant or Parenting
Adolescents who are receiving public
assistance and Medicaid or Medicaid
only.
 Staff help parents under the age of 22 to
manage their new concerns , take
control of their lives and provide a future
for themselves and their children.
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TASA Continued
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TASA Helps with:
Food Stamps and WIC
 Health Services for the Whole Family
 Family Planning
 Parenting Skills Training
 Education
 Job Skills Training
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Safety First
Mandated reporters who are concerned about
the progress of a child protective investigation
or have an ongoing safety concern related to a
case that they called into the State Central
Register, can contact:
The Office of Safety First either by dialing
718-KID-SAFE (718-543-7233)
or by email at [email protected].
Safety Liaisons are available Monday through
Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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Question??
New York State – How
Old Does Your Child Have
To Be Before You Can
Leave Them Alone?
In
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Answer:
There Is No Legal Age
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Contact Information
Peter Alexander, ACS Criminal Justice
Coordinator
 Phone: 212-341-2683
 Fax: 212-513-0834
 Email: [email protected]
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