What's happening
This bill requires the collection and reporting of data on post-adoption services across New York to improve support for adoptive families.
Why it matters
Shines light on adoption disruptions. By tracking how many previously adopted children re-enter foster care, this data can reveal where adoptive placements are breaking down, helping to identify patterns and systemic issues in post-adoption support.
Highlights service gaps and barriers. Collecting county-level data on denied requests for post-adoption services—and the reasons for those denials—can expose inequities in access, resource shortages, or policy barriers that leave some families without needed help.
Informs policy and funding decisions. Annual reporting, including analysis and recommendations, gives lawmakers the information needed to target resources, develop new programs, and make evidence-based changes that could improve adoption permanency across the state.
Increases accountability and transparency. Requiring the Office of Children and Family Services to publicly report on the reach and impact of post-adoption services ensures ongoing scrutiny and encourages continuous improvement in the support available to adoptive families.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Office of Children and Family Services
The bill would require the office to collect county-level post-adoption services data and report annually to legislative leaders on service availability, adoption disruptions and recommendations for supporting permanent placements.
Local social services districts and adoption agencies
The office would work with them to gather non-identifying information on service use, denied requests and previously adopted children entering foster care.
Nonprofit post-adoption service providers
Organizations experienced in providing these services would help the office gather information to assess statewide and regional service availability.
Adoptive families and adopted children
The bill would track access to post-adoption support and examine how those services help prevent adoption disruptions.
Headline styles
Track Post-Adoption Services Statewide
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to children and families
- Referred to children and families
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Track Post-Adoption Services Data
In Assembly Committee · Children And Families · Sponsor Matthew Titone
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2827
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 17, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to post-adoption services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 372-i to read as follows:
§ 372-i. Post adoption services. 1. The office of children and family services shall collect data and information on the availability of postadoption services around the state. The office shall work with local social services districts, authorized agencies, and not-for-profit agencies with experience providing post-adoption services to gather, to the greatest extent possible, non-identifying information by county including but not limited to:
a. the number of children entering foster care who had previously been adopted;
b. the number of families who received post-adoption services;
c. the number of children in paragraph a of this subdivision who had received post-adoption services and what type of services were rendered;
d. the number of denied requests for services, and the reason for such denials; and
e. the type of service for which requests were denied.
2. The office of children and family services shall submit a report to the speaker of the assembly, the temporary president of the senate, the minority leader of the assembly and the minority leader of the senate no later than September first of each year with the data and information required by subdivision one of this section for the preceding year. The office shall include an analysis of the availability of post-adoption services statewide and regionally, the extent to which the provisions of such services prevents the disruption of adoptions and recommendations
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06267-01-7
S. 2827 2
for specific services to promote the permanency of adoptive placements. The office shall indicate the extent to which the information collected reflects the total population described in subdivision one of this section, and identify any impediments to collecting such information.
§ 2. This act shall take effect the thirty-first of August next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to post-adoption services
Purpose of general idea of bill
To gain an understanding of the availability of post-adoption services and the impact on families receiving such services.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill would add a new section 372-i of the social services law to require the Office of Children and Family Services to collect data on the availability of post-adoption services around the State. Such data would include the number of adopted children placed in foster care, the number of families who received post-adoption services and the number of Families who were denied post- adoption services. the office would submit an annual report to the Legislature containing such data, an analysis of the availability of post-adoption services and recommendations for the enhancement of services to promote permanency in adoptions.
Justification
An adoption is the beginning of a new life for a child and his or her adoptive parents. While most adoptive families offer a child a safe and permanent home, others face significant challenges that threaten the stability of the family. A child may have experienced trauma prior to adoption that led to behavioral, mental or emotional health problems including attachment disorders, developmental delays or violent or disruptive behaviors. These issues may arise soon after adoption or years down the line. Families experiencing these challenges require specialized services tailored to the distinct needs of adoptive families. These may include mental health services for the child, respite or family counseling with a therapist trained on special issues facing adoptive families. Unfortunately, these services are riot widely available and many families suffer each year because they have nowhere to turn for help. The results it that children are unnecessarily placed into foster care, causing further trauma as permanency is disrupted.
Currently, policies promoting post-adoption services arc challenged by a lack of cohesive data illustrating the need .for such services. This bill would remedy that by requiring the Office of Children and Family Services to work with local social services districts, authorized agencies end not-for-profit agencies with experience in providing post-adoption services to collect data on the number of adopted children entering foster care each year, as well as the availability of post-adoption services. Such information is critical in determining the extent to which families are in need of such services, where a lack of services exists and the cost-benefit of funding additional post-adoption services.
Prior legislative history
2015-2016: S.1365 - Referred to Children and Families 2013-2014: S.5517 - Reported and Committed to Finance
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
August 31 following enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.