- OCFS REPORTS -
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2011
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Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Services Program Annual Report
The Office of Children and Family Services has made available the Annual Report for the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Services (APPS) project highlighting program characteristics, benefits to adolescents, and participant data. The Report identifies communities served through the 27 APPS-funded projects and includes overviews of programs as well as a sample of unique pregnancy prevention activities undertaken through the sites. In Program Year 2006-07, 25,353 single contact services such as pregnancy prevention information and referral were provided while approximately 67,000 adolescent females and males benefited from group activities. During the same reporting period, 7,343 youth received on-going comprehensive services addressing peer relationships, family issues, education concerns, recreational needs, and other topics related to asset development for preventing unwanted pregnancies.
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The New York State Care Coordination Pilot Project: Process & Impact Evaluation Study Findings
In an effort to enhance the foster care system's capacity to readily identify and address children's multiple health care needs, OCFS gave funds to nine local service providers to develop and implement "Care Coordination" programs. Initiated in 2003, these programs sought to improve the health, well-being, and permanency of children living in foster care by designating a particular individual (i.e., a Care Coordinator) or set of individuals to monitor, coordinate, and facilitate all aspects of a child's health care while in foster care. Included in this report is an overview of the Care Coordination model and the pilot programs, the evaluation design, findings from the multi-site process and impact evaluations, the impact of Care Coordination receipt on service delivery, need identification, communication, and permanency, and recommendations.
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2008 Child and Family Services Review
NYS and the Federal government are jointly reviewing the child welfare system in NYS. In accordance with Federal law and regulation, similar reviews are conducted in all states periodically as a means of identifying the strengths of state programs and areas where improvements are needed. The 2008 Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) provides NYS with an opportunity to drive practice and systems change across NYS’ child welfare system. This intensive federal review is conducted in partnership with all local districts and voluntary agencies and incorporates four components: Data Indicator Performance, the Statewide Assessment, the On-Site Review, and the Program Improvement Plan (PIP).
Submitted on March 6, 2008, the Statewide Assessment is a self assessment of NYS’ performance in all 45 federal review items was prepared with substantial input from agencies, children, families, and other stakeholders. It is comprised of a review of the previous PIP strategies from 2001 and improvements made since then, an assessment of the federal child and family outcomes (safety, permanency, and well-being), an assessment of several systemic factors, and the state assessment of strengths and needs. It presents NYS policy, measures of performance, and factors that affect performance such as funding, case workload, and new initiatives.
The PIP and the federal review will be posted when they are published later in 2008.
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Child Permanency Mediation Pilot Project: Multi-Site Process and Outcome Evaluation Study
The New York State Child Permanency Mediation Pilot Project began in 2002 when representatives from OCFS, the Office of Court Administration (OCA), and the Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children (PJCJC) came together to support the implementation of seven child permanency mediation programs within the State. Inspired by research documenting the potential benefits of mediation in child welfare matters, the pilot project had two main aims: 1) to support the development and use of mediation in New York State's child welfare cases, and 2) to promote the timely obtainment of safe, permanent living arrangements for children served by the State's child welfare system. This report presents the initial findings generated by the Bureau of Evaluation and Research process and outcome evaluations, and offers recommendations for future program evaluation efforts.
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Child Welfare Financing (CWF) Final Report
This report, which has been submitted to the Governor and Legislature, assesses the implementation of the CWF provisions through June 13, 2005. There are three components to CWF: uncapped State reimbursement of 65 percent for a variety of child welfare services, a Foster Care Block Grant, and a Quality Enhancement Fund. Each component is intended to promote safety, well being and permanency for children.
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Child Welfare Workload Study - Final Report
This study is the first child welfare workload study that addresses the work of voluntary agency staff, in addition to public agency staff. This is an important advance in understanding the total effort required to assess, plan, provide, and document the broad array of child welfare services. Understanding the contribution of both the districts and their voluntary agencies is critical to the process of addressing the basic requirement of the New York State Legislature. Eleven district offices, including the Administration for Children's Services (ACS), and 42 voluntary agencies participated in the study. Detailed time log data from more than 2,200 caseworkers were analyzed.
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Citizen Review Panels for Child Protective Services
The New York State Citizen Review Panels are comprised of citizen volunteers who are authorized by law to examine the policies, procedures and practices of the State and social services districts and, where appropriate, specific cases. The Panels evaluate the extent to which the agencies are effectively discharging their child protection responsibilities.
Domestic Violence Prevention Act
Report to the Governor & Legislature. The Domestic Violence Prevention Act of 1987 requires local social services districts to provide residential and non-residential services to victims of domestic violence.
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Healthy Families New York
Healthy Families New York (HFNY) offers home-based services to expectant families and new parents, beginning prenatally or shortly after the birth of the child. Participants are screened to identify risk factors and stressors that the family may face. Families who participate in the program are offered long-term in-home services until the child is in school or Head Start.
The Healthy Families New York Home Visiting Program is a comprehensive prevention program that focuses on the safety of children while at the same time supports families. The services are easily accessible to isolated at-risk families and are respectful of cultural and community diversity.
Healthy Families New York is an initiative of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services in collaboration with the New York State Department of Health. HFNY is affiliated with Healthy Families America, a national initiative of Prevent Child Abuse America.
- Effects of Healthy Families New York on the promotion of maternal parenting competencies and the prevention of harsh parenting in Child Abuse & Neglect, The International Journal Volume 34, Number 10, 711-723, October 2010 (Abstract)
The recently published study used videotaped observations of 522 mothers interacting with their three-year-old children during a series of structured situations to examine whether Healthy Families New York (HFNY) promoted the use of positive parenting skills that support and encourage children’s cognitive and social development, and decreased the use of harsh parenting practices such as scolding and hitting. Two important findings emerged from the age three follow-up of HFNY’s randomized controlled trial:
- Mothers assigned to the HFNY group were more likely than those in the control group to be observed using parenting strategies that stimulated the child’s cognitive skills and were sensitive and responsive to the child’s needs and affective cues.
- First-time mothers under age 19 who were offered HFNY early in pregnancy were considerably less likely than similar mothers in the control group to engage in harsh parenting behaviors while interacting with their children during the structured tasks
- Evaluation Summary through Age 7: 2010 (PDF 291 Kb)
- Early Program Cost Synopsis: 2009 (PDF 34 Kb)
- PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS: DuMont, K., Kirkland, K., Mitchell-Herzfeld, S., Ehrhard-Dietzel, S., Rodriquez, M., Lee, E., Layne, C., and Greene, R. (2010). A Randomized Trial of Healthy Families New York (HFNY): Does Home Visiting Prevent Child Maltreatment? Final Report to National Institute of Justice (Grant # 2006-MU-MU-0002). (http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/232945.pdf). Rodriguez, M. L., Dumont, K., Mitchell-Herzfeld, S. D., Walden, N. J., Greene, R. (2010). Effects of Healthy Families New York on the promotion of maternal parenting competencies and the prevention of harsh parenting. Child Abuse and Neglect, 34, 711-723. Lee, E., Mitchell-Herzfeld, S., Lowenfels, A., Greene, R., Dorabawila, V., & DuMont, K. (2009). Reducing low birth weight through home visitation: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 36(2), 154-160. Lee, E., Greene, R., Mitchell-Herzfeld, S., & DuMont, K. (2009). Author response: Reducing low birth weight through home visitation. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 37(5), 472-473. DuMont, K., Mitchell-Herzfeld, S., Greene, R., Lee, E., Lowenfels, A., Rodriguez, M., & Dorabawila, V. (2008). Healthy Families New York (HFNY) randomized trial: Effects on early child abuse and neglect. Child Abuse & Neglect, 32, 295-315.
A Randomized Trial of Healthy Families New York (HFNY):
Does Home Visiting Prevent Child Maltreatment? 10/2010 (PDF 790 Kb)
- OCFS WORKING PAPERS AND REPORTS: DuMont, K., Rodriguez, M., Mitchell-Herzfeld, S., Walden, N., Kirkland, K., Greene, R., Lee, E. (2008). Effects of Healthy Families New York on maternal behaviors: Observational assessments of positive and negative parenting. Rensselaer, NY: New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
Effects of Healthy Families New York on Maternal Behaviors:
Observational Assessments of Positive and Negative Parenting 7/2008 (206 Kb)
DuMont, K., Mitchell-Herzfeld, S., Greene, R., Lee, E., Lowenfels, A., & Rodriquez, M. (2006). Healthy Families New York (HFNY) randomized trial: Impacts on parenting after the first two years. Rensselaer, NY: New York State Office of Children & Family Services
2006 Healthy Families - Impacts on Parenting after the First Two Years
Mitchell-Herzfeld, S., Izzo, C., Greene, R., Lee, E., & Lowenfels, A. (2005). Evaluation of Healthy Families New York (HFNY): First year program impacts. Rensselaer, NY: New York State Office of Children & Family Services
Evaluation of Healthy Families New York (HFNY): First Year Program Impacts, February 2005 (PDF 481Kb)
- Healthy Families New York: Results of First Year Evaluation, 2004 (PDF 62Kb)
- Healthy Families New York (HFNY) Randomized Trial: Impacts on Parenting After the First Two Years (PDF 625Kb)
- Effects of Healthy Families New York on Maternal Behaviors: Observational Assessments of Positive and Negative Parenting
July 2008 (208Kb)
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Integrated County Planning (ICP) Project
County Reflections: A Summary of County Accomplishments
This summary captures specific county experiences from the 5-year Integrated County Planning Project. Counties shared their successes, barriers, and recommendations for other counties initiating the process of integrated planning.
Integrating the Human Service System: Final Evaluation of the NYS Integrated County Planning Initiative
The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is pleased to share the report: Integrating the Human Service System: Final Evaluation of the NYS Integrated County Planning Initiative, prepared by the Center for Human Services Research, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. This external, independent evaluation reports on the Integrated County Planning (ICP) Project implemented by OCFS and its local partners between 1998 and 2003. The ICP initiative was a demonstration project designed to strengthen county level collaborative planning and to better align State and local planning with the principles articulated in the OCFS Operational Framework.
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Keeping Siblings Connected: A White Paper on Siblings in Foster Care and Adoptive Placements in New York State
Keeping Siblings Connected: A White Paper on Siblings in Foster Care and Adoptive Placements in New York State emphasizes the importance of the sibling bond to children’s development and emotional well-being. Siblings are family, and the connection to family helps give children their identity as well as their feeling of belonging in the world. Sibling contact gives children continuity with their family even when circumstances require separation from their parents. Conversely, the loss experienced by children who must be separated from their parents because of safety or other reasons is only compounded by the loss of contact with their siblings.
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The Needs of and Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
This report discusses the steps taken by OCFS to meet the diverse language needs of its population, describes the development and administration of a survey that examines some of OCFS's experiences with the LEP population, and summarizes the survey responses. The report also provides guidelines for quality LEP practices, summarizes needs and priorities, and makes recommendations for further development. Report appendices include supportive documentation and relevant links.
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MAPS Reports
Monitoring and Analysis Profiles (MAPS) are data packages which provide information
on the major child welfare services provided by county Departments of Social
Services (DSS).
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Multisystemic Therapy (MST) Report Cover Letter to the Governor
Effects of Multisystemic Therapy (MST) on Recidivism Among Juvenile Delinquents in New York State – Hoping to reduce the historically high rate of recidivism experienced by youth released from OCFS juvenile facilities, in March 2000, OCFS initiated Multisystemic Therapy (MST)--a model that has been designated a “Blueprint Program” by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence and an exemplary model program by the US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. This report presents the results of an evaluation conducted by OCFS’ Bureau of Evaluation and Research, which examined the fidelity of the implementation of the MST model and the effects of the program on the recidivism of youth returning to the community after a stay in an OCFS facility. The study compared the rates of rearrest, reconviction, and reincarceration for a sample of youth from New York City and Long Island who participated in MST to the recidivism rates for a matched control group consisting of similarly situated OCFS youth who received the usual aftercare services.
Portable Information Technology Demonstration Program
This report is submitted pursuant to the mandate in Chapter 58 of the Laws of 2006. Through that provision, the State Legislature directed the Commissioner of the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to pilot portable information technology for Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworkers in three designated Local Social Service Departments, to report the results of the pilot, and recommend a future course of action.
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Prevalence Study of Commercially Sexually Exploited Children
This report was prepared to fulfill the requirement in the 2006 Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Article VII/Language Law, Part F for OCFS to conduct "a comprehensive study of the prevalence of sexually exploited children within New York State, the unique needs of sexually exploited children, the types of programs and services that best meet such needs, and the capacity of the current children's service system to meet such needs." The first link contains the body of the report, excluding appendices. The second link contains appendices to the report.
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Quality Enhancement Fund Report
Report to the Legislature regarding the Quality Enhancement Fund
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Quarterly Comprehensive Report of Children and Youth in the Custody of either Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) or OCFS
This report combines information about children and youth in the care and custody of local departments of social services (LDSS) and adjudicated youth in the care and custody of OCFS. The characteristics of children and youth placed outside their homes for which OCFS has responsibility are summarized. The report is divided into two major parts on the basis of custodian (LDSS/OCFS). To accommodate the lag in reporting, this report will be published approximately six weeks following the end of each quarter.
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Introduction
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) provides a broad framework for the provision of shelter and support services to runaway and homeless youth in New York State. Among the statutory duties of the New York State Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) in administering and overseeing the act is to “submit to the governor and legislature an annual report detailing the numbers and characteristics of runaway and homeless youth throughout the state and their problems and service needs” [Executive Law, Article. 19-H §532-e(d)]
To gather data for the annual report, OCFS conducted an Annual Survey of Services of all programs which serve runaway and homeless youth that are funded or certified by OCFS, and any other programs in the state which primarily serve runaway and homeless youth. This report includes information from 61 individual program respondents in 30 counties and in New York City. Data for this report is comprised of information collected in over 90 categories. The information contained here features highlights only; refer to the appended tables for further detail.
Although Part E of Chapter 57 of the Laws of 2005 provide the opportunity for runaway and homeless youth programs to provide respite services for youth, this report is solely concerned with the services provided to youth who present as runaways or otherwise homeless.
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State Plan for Title IV-E
As a condition of the receipt of federal funds under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services submitted a state plan in May 2007 for the programs to provide, in appropriate cases, foster care and adoption assistance.
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William B. Hoyt Memorial Children and Family Trust Fund
In 1984, the William B. Hoyt Memorial Children and Family Trust Fund was established by New York State to assist in combating the serious problem of family violence in all its forms—child abuse, domestic violence and elder abuse. This continues to be the mission of the Trust Fund and the Advisory Board.
The Trust Fund is an important state source of funding that provides the means for local not for profit agencies to establish programs to address family violence and provide support and intervention services to families at risk.
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Widening the Lens 2008
A Panoramic View of Juvenile Justice in New York State
A new, updated report about New York’s juvenile justice system is now available from the Vera Institute’s Center on Youth Justice (CYJ). In New York State, the juvenile justice system is fragmented across a number of agencies, including law enforcement, probation, detention, family court, and social services. Each agency is required to collect and report particular data elements. A wealth of information is therefore housed at various juvenile justice agencies. However, until recently, this data had never been compiled or distributed to offer a comprehensive overview of the juvenile justice system.
2007 Youth In Care Report
In 1998, the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) was created to improve the integration of services for New York’s children, youth and other vulnerable populations; to promote their development; and to protect them from violence, neglect, abuse and abandonment.
OCFS provides technical and fiscal support to, and the supervision and oversight of, local social services districts, youth bureaus and direct service providers. It is through this strategy that the office invests over $3.5 billion annually in support of program services ranging from general youth development to child protective services to out-of-home placement.
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