N.Y. Social Services Law § 409-i: Short title; legislative findings; purpose

§ 409-i. Short title; legislative findings; purpose. 1. This title

shall be known and may be cited and referred to as the "teenage services

act".

2. The legislature finds that the rising incidence of adolescent

pregnancy and teenage parenthood is the subject of a widespread and

growing concern. As a result of early pregnancy, the attainment of

needed education and job skills is often curtailed. Coupled with the

added responsibilities accompanying parenthood, these young families are

often locked into long term public dependency. Studies have confirmed

that up to sixty percent of the current aid to families with dependent

children cases in New York state are headed by mothers who were

teenagers when they gave birth to their first child. In fact, the

predominant cause of welfare dependency in New York state may well be

due to the result of teenage pregnancy and adolescent motherhood. The

objective of this title is to increase the potential of these youths to

become financially independent by helping the teenager to complete her

education, and receive sufficient manpower skills for participation in

the labor market.

The department of social services is not only statutorily required to

provide financial support to these dependent teenagers and their

children, but also has equal responsibility to provide personal

counselling and support services needed to strengthen family life and

provide opportunities for economic independence. In order to facilitate

accessibility to the full range of needed services, case management

responsibilities should be assigned to appropriate local social services

staff or to authorized agencies outside of the department. Any

reluctance or refusal on the part of the teenager to participate in a

program of services shall not carry any threat of fiscal sanctions as

regards public assistance benefits. In the event that a teenager refuses

to participate, it shall be the responsibility of the local social

services district to make continued and repeated efforts to engage the

teenager in a counselling relationship which has as its result a

mutually agreed upon service plan which meets the objectives of this

title.

Therefore, this title provides for the establishment of a service case

management system in order to strengthen the service role of the

department of social services. Local social services districts shall be

required to separate public assistance cases involving pregnant

adolescents and teenage mothers under eighteen years of age, and assign

ongoing case management services for such caseloads to appropriate staff

responsible for service delivery. By defining such specialized

caseloads, personal counselling and provision of needed community-based

support services will be facilitated. Such case management activities

shall also include the follow-up and evaluation of services rendered.

The enactment of the provisions of this title shall maximize the

effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of support services

provided on behalf of pregnant adolescents and teenage parents under

eighteen years of age, thereby reducing the long-term dependency needs

of this youthful population.