New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 18 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter II - Regulations of the Department of Social Services
Subchapter C - Social Services
Article 3 - Child-care Agencies
Part 441 - General
Section 441.11 - Religion

(a) Each child care agency shall be responsible for the religious and moral welfare of every child in its care and shall include in its policy manual a positive policy on matters pertaining to religious observance, instruction and training.

(b) Provision shall be made for each child to attend services conducted in his own religious faith and to receive instruction in such faith, unless the parents or surviving parent or legal guardian expressly request otherwise in writing.

(c) In accordance with the provisions of section 373 of the Social Services Law, a child cared for in a family home, agency boarding home or group home shall, when practicable, be under the care and supervision of persons of the same religious faith; other than for temporary or emergency care or under exceptional circumstances, no child shall be boarded by or with persons not of the same religious faith as the child, or placed in an agency boarding home in which the persons caring for the child are not of the same religious faith as the child, but in any case the religious faith of the child must be preserved and protected; if cared for in a voluntary institution, such institution shall, when practicable, be operated by a voluntary authorized agency under the control of persons of the same religious faith as such child. Voluntary authorized agencies that care for children of different religious faiths shall make provision for the protection of the religious faith of each child as required in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this section.

(d) The religion of a child in care shall not be changed, except on the written request of his parents or surviving parent or legal guardian.