N.Y. Social Services Law § 440: Findings; purpose

§ 440. Findings; purpose. 1. The legislature finds that children

who are in care away from their own homes on a full time basis, whether

temporarily or for a prolonged period, require effective supervision and

review of their status in care and of the plans for them. It is the

policy of the state of New York to assure that such children are

appropriately placed, that needed services are provided to them and

their families, and that unnecessary and prolonged placements are

avoided. The legislature further finds that this policy is often

frustrated, and fiscal and program accountability have not been promoted

because of divergent and overlapping jurisdictions of various government

and private agencies; the lack of coordination among programs of these

agencies; and the excessive workloads of judicial personnel, social

services workers, and others responsible for reviewing the status in

care of these children.

2. To assist in overcoming these difficulties, it is the intent of

the legislature to establish a statewide management assistance system to

be called the child care review service. The service shall be designed

and operated to effectuate the following purposes:

(a) identification and assessment of the needs and problems of

children in care and their families, to effectuate meaningful case

planning;

(b) case management and supervision by child care agencies of

children in full-time care away from their homes;

(c) supervision and evaluation by state agencies of local and

voluntary child care agency performance;

(d) planning and policy making by state agencies, the governor and

the legislature;

(e) meeting in a timely manner all judicial review requirements of

this chapter, the family court act and any other applicable provisions

of law;

(f) reduction of the need for manual form preparation; and

(g) meeting federal reporting requirements so as to qualify for

federal funds under the federal social security act.