ICPC State Pages

New York Relative Placements

New York conducts the following types of home studies:

• Relative Care
• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Foster- Adopt
• Adoption

Relative Home Study

Define Relative:

• A relative is a birth or adoptive brother, sister, stepparent, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, niece, nephew, as well as relatives of half blood or marriage and those denoted by the prefixes of grand and great including grand parent or great grandparent, or as defined in our state statute for the purpose of foster and or adoptive placements, and must be related within the third degree by blood or marriage to the child's parent or stepparent.

Relatives must be licensed:

• No

Proof of Paternity Required for Placement with Paternal Relative:

• No

New York considers the following types and degrees of relation as relative placements. Individuals related in the 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree and 4th degree (You may need to refer to your state's consanguinity chart or state statute to determine relations or relative status.):

• 1st Degree (mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter)
• 2nd Degree (grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, first cousin)
• 3rd Degree (great grandmother, great grandfather, great aunt, great uncle, grand-niece, grand nephew, second cousin)

Regulation 7 Priority Placement

New York performs priority placements:

• Yes

Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study)

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):

• 90 days

Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):

• 60 days

New York determines the "Date of Receipt" for an interstate home study as:

• Other

Method of requesting, sending, and/or reporting an interstate home study

Criminal Records Checks

New York requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Foster-Adopt
• Adoption
• Other, specified below

Types of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

New York requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks (Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR))

Wait Time for Criminal Records Checks

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 4-7 days
• Local/County: Not Offered

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):

• 90 days

Verification of Criminal Records Results

• Actual results/information contained in the Criminal Background

Wait Time - (License/ Certification/ Approval - Education and Training)

Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:

• 3-6 mos.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required:

• 1 year
  

New York offers classes (education and training) for placement resources' homes to become licensed/certified/approved:

• Other:

  Agencies must provide training for foster parents to help them meet the needs of children in their care, receive information on technique in managing behavior and preventing abuse and neglect, and understand the expectations of the agency.

  New foster parents need preparation and training to be effective in their role. Foster parents who have been accepted for a home study, or relatives who are in the process of a home study must be oriented to:

  • The social, family, and personal problems that lead to family breakdown and the need for the placement of children.
  • The problems and reactions of children upon separation, and the function and responsibility of the foster family in relation to the child, the parents, and the agency staff.
  • The agency policy and practice to have defined goals to achieve permanency for each child entering the foster care system.
  • The authority of the local social services districts, the Office of Children and Family Services, and the Family Court to supervise the agency’s practice.
  • The nature of the relationship of agency staff to foster parents and children, including definitions of the function and responsibility of the caseworkers assigned to the children and their families.
  • The payments to foster parents for care and expenses; the definition of foster family care; and certification or approval of the home.
  • The rights and responsibilities of a foster parent as defined by a letter of understanding that must be executed at the time of certification or approval.

  Foster parents who receive a higher level of board rate are required to actively participate in annual training.

  MAPP Training

  The MAPP approach to foster parenting encourages open communication and trust among foster families, adoptive families, birth families and casework staff.  The MAPP program examines 12 criteria or skills necessary for successful foster/adoptive parenting. Through role-playing, personal profiles, and other techniques, the homefinder and the applicant make mutual decisions about foster parenting.

  Objectives of the training for prospective foster and adoptive parents are:

  • Learning what to expect and what services are available.
  • Looking at one’s own strengths and needs.
  • Developing skills in giving love and attention to a troubled child.
  • Learning about stages of child development.
  • Helping children manage behavior.
  • Understanding the roles and responsibilities of teamwork.
  • Helping foster parents develop a good understanding of the child’s parents.