Hot Topics

We are currently advocating for change on the following issues:


1.  Provide statewide post adoption services – cost is offset by foster care savings!

  • Though NYSCCC is very pleased with the 2012 Post Adoption Services grant awards, we continue to call for NYS to enact legislation to create a permanent statewide post adoption services program for New York State.
  • Parents with adopted children, who are experiencing problems, need help to improve family dynamics and their child’s well‐being, and sometimes so that their child can live safely at home.
  • Not only is a post adoption services program the right thing to do for children and their families, it will save NYS money by preventing adoption disruptions and residential treatment admissions.
  • It is recommended that New York State implements specific recommendations contained in the NYSCCC report: Parents and Professional Identify Post Adoption Service Needs in New York State to meet these needs.


2.  Adult adoptee access to original birth certificates – fairness issue!


3.  Provide liability insurance for foster parents – fairness issue!

  • Insure or indemnify all NYS foster parents in order to successfully recruit, retain and protect vitally needed foster parents
  • Foster parents, who receive no salary for their services, are extremely vulnerable to lawsuits.
  • NYSCCC has been exploring available options for liability insurance for NYS foster parents and found that there are few (if any) comprehensive liability policies available for purchase in New York State.  We recently conducted a statewide survey to collect additional data and are currently working with an agent to explore the development of  a future package of liability coverage for NYS foster parents.
  • For more information see Liability Insurance/Damage Claims for Foster Parents from the NRCPFC


4.  Set minimum statewide foster care board rates – fairness issue!

  • OCFS presently sets only maximum rates, resulting in great disparity across counties and exploitation of foster parents
  • Actual cost of care for children in foster care exceed current board rates – forcing foster parents to make up the difference in violation of federal law
  • NYSCCC Takes Legal Action on Behalf of NYS Foster Parents! – August, 2010


5. Facilitatate foster parents’ right to claim children on federal taxes – fairness issue

  • IRS regulations clearly permit foster parents to claim children in their care on their federal taxes, but they must have access to the child’s social security number to order to file.
  • The Social Security Administration’s current memo of understanding with the states prevents a state from sharing a child’s social security number with foster parents.
  • This contradiction in federal regulation inadvertently prevents many foster parents from legitimately and appropriately claiming tax deductions for children in their care.
  • NYSCCC recommends that foster families have access to a temporary tax identification number similar to the Adoption Tax Identification Number (ATIN), thereby increasing tax fairness for foster families, protecting children’s privacy, and reducing fraudulent claims by non-custodial parents.
  • See NYSCCC testimony before the United States Senate Committee on Finance for more information.
Last modified: January 30, 2012