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 451 - Group Emergency Foster Care
Section 451.5 - Services

(1) A group emergency foster care program shall have the ability to conduct diagnostic evaluations on children placed on an emergency basis. Such evaluation shall be conducted by a certified social worker, or a social worker under the supervision of a certified social worker, and a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist for the purpose of planning services for a child who is in a group emergency foster care program.

(2) The purpose of a diagnostic evaluation is to assess each child's and family's service needs and to make recommendation(s) regarding the most appropriate service(s) plan for a child and family.

(3) A district shall provide all appropriate information on the child and family to program personnel of an emergency foster care program within three business days of the initial placement.

(4) A group emergency foster care program shall determine the child's diagnostic needs on the basis of such information provided by the district. If the child has received a diagnostic evaluation within the previous year, the emergency program is not required to perform a diagnostic evaluation but is required to comply with all other provisions of Part 428 of this Title.

(5) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subdivision, a diagnostic evaluation shall be initiated on a child within 30 days of placement in a group emergency foster care program.

(6) A diagnostic evaluation completed on a child in emergency foster care shall include the following components:

(1) Case planning is required for all children who enter group emergency foster care. Such planning may be provided by the local district or through purchase of service with a voluntary child care agency designated to provide group emergency foster care services. Case planning shall include assessing the need for, providing or arranging for, coordinating and evaluating those services needed by a child and his family to help a child in group emergency foster care to return home or to be placed in an appropriate setting, in addition to, providing discharge services for a child returned to parent or relative.

(2) Casework contacts between the case planner and the child, and the child's parents or guardians shall meet the requirements set forth in sections 430.12 and 431.16(a)-(c) of this Title.

(3) The purchase of service contract between a voluntary child care agency providing group emergency care and a local district shall provide for a delineation of case planning responsibilities, including provisions concerning who has the responsibility for the timely completion of the initial 30-day assessment and service plan and other requirements set forth in Part 428 of this Title. A group emergency foster care program which has case planning responsibility for a child shall be responsible for providing after-care services to that child.