N.Y. Family Court Act § 255: Cooperation of officials and organizations

§ 255. Cooperation of officials and organizations. (a) It is hereby

made the duty of, and the family court or a judge thereof may order, any

state, county, municipal and school district officer and employee to

render such assistance and cooperation as shall be within their legal

authority, as may be required, to further the objects of this act

provided, however, that with respect to a school district an order made

pursuant to this section shall be limited to requiring the performance

of the duties imposed upon the school district and board of education or

trustees thereof pursuant to sections four thousand five, forty-four

hundred two and forty-four hundred four of the education law, to review,

evaluate, recommend, and determine the appropriate special services or

programs necessary to meet the needs of a handicapped child, but shall

not require the provisions of a specific special service or program, and

such order shall be made only where it appears to the court or judge

that adequate administrative procedure to require the performance of

such duties is not available. It is hereby made the duty of and the

family court or judge thereof may order, any agency or other institution

to render such information, assistance and cooperation as shall be

within its legal authority concerning a child who is or shall be under

its care, treatment, supervision or custody as may be required to

further the objects of this act. The court is authorized to seek the

cooperation of, and may use, within its authorized appropriation

therefor, the services of all societies or organizations, public or

private, having for their object the protection or aid of children or

families, including family counselling services, to the end that the

court may be assisted in every reasonable way to give the children and

families within its jurisdiction such care, protection and assistance as

will best enhance their welfare.

(b) An order of the family court or a judge thereof directing a social

services district and/or social services official, as defined in section

two of the social services law, to perform an action for the purpose of

assisting a youth placed in foster care, shall remain enforceable after

such youth is discharged from foster care pursuant to subdivision (d) of

section one thousand eighty-eight of this act.