MEMORANDUM OF SUPPORT

Child Protective Services Legislation

S.4542b - Senator Rath
A.5315b - Green

The National Association of Social Workers, New York State Chapter strongly urges the Governor to support S.4542b / A.5315b.  This legislation relates to establishing a demonstration program that would implement a dual track child protective program in certain social services districts. This program would provide the delivery of comprehensive family rehabilitative services to children and families for the less serious cases of neglect. 

Currently, Child Protective Services (CPS) is obligated to respond to reports of child abuse and maltreatment with a standard investigation that is narrowly focused on determining whether a specific incident of abuse transpired and if the child is at risk.  Unfortunately, when a family is confronted with an investigation they are forced into an adversarial and defensive environment that is often times found to be unnecessary.

A National Study supported by the National Council of Child Welfare administrators, reported that most of the those to child protective services go unserved.   Valuable resources are expended in conducting these investigations and yet little if any resources are allocated to providing vital support services for those families who are in need of them.

S.4542b / A.5315b will present a mechanism to provide a comprehensive approach
 to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Resources that are currently being 
expended in investigating cases can be allocated to also provide for family support 
services that will assist in stabilizing and strengthening families

NASW-NYS urges the Governor of New York State to sign into law S.4542b and A.5315b in an effort to better protect New York's children.