New Bill Aims to Increase Oversight of NYC’s Children’s Services Agency
New York City’s children’s services agency has been keeping records confidential, thanks to state law, but a new bill is looking to change that. Investigators claim they’ve faced obstacles when trying to examine at least 12 cases of child neglect or abuse that have been managed by Children Services since 2023, raising significant concerns.
One of the most alarming issues involves allegations of abuse that the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) has classified as “basic,” without providing clear explanations or thorough scrutiny.
“If any of those unfounded decisions are flawed, we have no way of knowing,” said Doy Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber. “For the state Office of Children and Family Services to approve our requests, we first have to tell them what we want, which complicates our ability to investigate.”
“Typically, that’s not how independent oversight functions,” she remarked. “You don’t want the entities you’re monitoring to have access to what’s being investigated.”
Recently, it was reported that seven children have died in the past year after ACS caseworkers held back from investigating. Instead of initiating actions that might save lives, staff encouraged families to remain in potentially harmful environments.
One tragic case involved a child who succumbed to starvation after ACS had allowed the child to remain with parents despite prior abuse allegations.
The approach taken by ACS has been characterized by softer initiatives such as care, joint evaluation, response, engagement, and support—all part of a program known as CARES.
“There’s a lot that’s included in this CARES program,” Strauber noted. “However, we can’t really evaluate if it’s functioning as intended.” She emphasized that while family privacy is important, there’s a pressing need for transparency and oversight when children’s wellbeing is at stake.
“We’re looking at the broader systemic problems. We’re not out to disrupt these families,” she explained.
Current social welfare laws in New York provide ACS with a shield from external oversight.
Officials from Doy are seeking assistance from Albany and are backing a new bill introduced by state legislator Andrew Hevesi (D-Queens), which aims to lift some of the agency’s protective barriers.
Hevesi stated, “While instances of child fatalities known to ACS have decreased by 18% over the last ten years, this bill is crucial for giving experts in investigations access to confidential records, which will aid in scrutinizing cases.”
The proposed legislation would enhance oversight of child deaths and situations in juvenile detention centers, but it’s still in search of necessary support within the state Senate.
In a statement regarding the bill, an ACS spokesperson mentioned that they are open to discussions aimed at improving access for oversight bodies. “We are dedicated to transparency and appreciate the critical monitoring role played by DOI,” they added.
