Res. No. 21
Title
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature and the Office of Children and Family Services to establish and administer "Care Cards" that foster parents can use to receive, spend, and track monthly foster care stipends
Body
By Council Member Cabrera
Whereas, According to the Administration for Children's Services ("ACS") of New York City, as of October 2017, there were 8,917 children living in individual foster homes in New York City; and
Whereas, According to a 2015 fact sheet published by Public Advocate, Letitia James, the number of children placed in foster care in New York City at the time accounted for approximately 60% of children in the foster care system in the state of New York; and
Whereas, Currently, financial support provided by New York State and New York City for a child placed in a foster home is paid directly to the foster parent in monthly installments; and
Whereas, Unless the foster parent voluntarily terminates his or her parental rights or sends a letter to ACS relinquishing the monthly check, the parent will continue getting the monthly stipends until the child turns 21; and
Whereas, Foster parents in New York City who send their children to live elsewhere and do not voluntarily terminate their parental rights can continue to pull in monthly checks of up to $1,700 undetected by ACS for months or years, even if their children have re-entered the foster care system and reside in another foster home; and
Whereas, Such abuse by foster parents defrauds the taxpayers of New York State and New York City, deprives vulnerable children of opportunities to be placed into proper foster care, and perpetuates the notion that the foster care system prioritizes money over the child, which has collateral social consequences such as children in foster care being more susceptible to sex trafficking; and
Whereas, Instead of depositing foster care subsidies directly into fost...
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