N.Y. Social Services Law § 446: Statewide automated child welfare information system

§ 446. Statewide automated child welfare information system. (1) The

department shall promulgate regulations required to implement federal

requirements for the establishment and administration of a statewide

automated child welfare information system as required by applicable

federal statute and regulation. The regulations shall set forth

standards for the timely submission of data elements relating to child

welfare services, including foster care, adoption assistance, preventive

services, child protective services and other family preservation and

family support services.

(2) The statewide automated child welfare information system shall be

designed to improve convenience to consumers of services and reduce the

administrative burden of child welfare workers of social services

districts and their contracted agencies which provide direct services.

The statewide automated child welfare information system shall be

designed to provide computers to the majority of individual child

welfare workers of social services districts and their contracted

agencies which provide direct child welfare services, allow such workers

and agencies to communicate with and enter information directly into the

statewide automated child welfare information system while preparing

required documents and eliminate duplicate entry of information and

preparation of documents, and allow for direct determination of claims

and sanctions. The department shall immediately expand the existing

advisory group of consumers, social services districts and their

contracted agencies and other persons with expertise in child welfare.

The statewide automated child welfare information system shall be

designed to permit communication with the family courts and to protect

the confidentiality of individuals as prescribed by this chapter.