N.Y. Executive Law § 532-d: Residential transitional independent living support programs

§ 532-d. Residential transitional independent living support programs.

Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, pursuant to

regulations of the office of children and family services, residential

facilities operating as transitional independent living support programs

are authorized to and shall:

1. (a) (i) provide shelter to homeless youth who are at least age

sixteen.

(ii) Provided, however, that shelter may be provided to a homeless

youth under the age of sixteen if the municipality has notified the

office of children and family services in accordance with clause (iv) of

subparagraph three of paragraph a of subdivision two of section four

hundred twenty of this chapter.

(b) Shelter may be provided to a homeless youth in a transitional

independent living program for a period of up to eighteen months, or up

to twenty-four months when authorized in the applicable municipality's

approved comprehensive plan;

(c) A homeless youth who entered a transitional independent living

program under the age of twenty-one may continue to receive shelter

services in such program beyond the applicable period authorized by

paragraph (b) of this subdivision, if the municipality has notified the

office of children and family services in accordance with clause (iv) of

subparagraph three of paragraph a of subdivision two of section four

hundred twenty of this chapter;

2. work toward reuniting such homeless youth with his or her parent,

guardian or custodian, where possible;

3. provide or assist in securing necessary services for such homeless

youth, and where appropriate, his or her family, including but not

limited to housing, educational, medical care, legal, mental health, and

substance and alcohol abuse services. Where such program concludes that

such homeless youth would be eligible for assistance, care or services

from a local social services district, it shall assist such youth in

securing such assistance, care or services;

4. for a homeless youth whose service plan involves independent

living, provide practical assistance in achieving independence, either

through direct provision of services or through written agreements with

other community and public agencies for the provision of services in the

following areas; high school education or high school equivalency

education; higher education assessment; job training and job placement;

counseling; assistance in the development of socialization skills;

guidance and assistance in securing housing appropriate to needs and

income; and training in the development of skills necessary for

responsible independent living, including but not limited to money and

home management, personal care, and health maintenance; and

5. provide residential services to a youth in need of crisis

intervention or respite services, as defined in this article;

6. continue to provide services to a homeless youth who is not yet

eighteen years of age but who has reached the maximum time period

provided by paragraph (b) of subdivision one of this section, until he

or she is eighteen years of age or for an additional six months if he or

she is still under the age of eighteen; and

7. contact the appropriate local social services district if it is

believed that the youth may be a destitute child, as such term is

defined in section one thousand ninety-two of the family court act. The

office of children and family services shall provide appropriate

guidance to the residential transitional independent living support

program on how to accurately identify a youth that may be a destitute

child;

8. provide information to eligible youth about their ability to

re-enter foster care in accordance with article ten-B of the family

court act, and in appropriate cases, refer any such youth who may be

interested in re-entering foster care to the applicable local social

services district. The office of children and family services shall

provide the residential transitional independent living support program

with the appropriate educational materials to give to eligible youth

regarding their ability to re-enter foster care. The office of children

and family services shall also provide appropriate guidance to the

residential transitional independent living support program on how to

accurately identify youth that may be eligible to re-enter foster care

and how to refer such youth to the applicable local social services

district if appropriate; and

9. provide such reports and data as specified by the office of

children and family services.