Re: Anti-Harassment in Reporting Bill (S902/A2479)
We, the undersigned are in support of S902/A2479 (previously A7879/S7326), the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Bill.
Many of our foster, kinship, and adoptive parent population have had false anonymous calls made
against them to the State Central Register. We applaud this anti-harassment legislation that will
minimize the trauma to both parents and the children in their care.
And equally important, this will reduce harassment of largely black and brown children
in their biological families. The facts could not be more clear: Our attached report on this subject
indicates, for instance, in the most recent year data is available (2019) that though 29.3% of all
calls made to NYS’s Central Register were indicated, that of the 7% of those calls were that were
anonymous, only 3.1% of those calls were indicated. There was too much time and effort taken
by CPS staff that led to 97% of the cases being determined unfounded. That time would have
been much better spent focusing on children who were truly being abused.1
1 CPS reports by NY statewide Central Register or Abuse and Maltreatment by Outcome and Source. Prepared by
OCFS Bureau of Research, Evaluation, and Performance Analytics. October 12, 2021.
Sincerely,
The Following Organizations:
The Following Individuals:
Antoinette S. Cotman, Brooklyn, NY
Sarah Gertenzang, Brooklyn, NY
Sally Welch, Utica, NY
Sara Friendman, Brooklyn, NY
Tracy Kirkman, Trumansburg, NY
Samantha Salzler, Lakewood, NY
Carrie DuBois, Ravena, NY
Desiree Johnson, Laurelton, NY
Lisa Marie Ryan, Nyack, NY
Lisa Randone, Holbrook, NY
Steven Bench, East Amherst, NY
Susan Morse, Macedon, NY
Junius Scott, White Plains, NY
Martha Hornthal, New York, NY
Daniel Stevens, Freeville, NY
Sherri Bennette, Etna, NY
Shannon Mouillesseaux, Syracuse, NY
Kiera DeLuca, Endicott, NY
Will Meyerhofer, New York, NY
Erica Marquardt, New Hyde Park, NY
New York Times Article Jonah E. Bromwich and
Lawyers for a group of New York City parents argue that the Administration for Children’s Services uses “coercive tactics” that traumatize the families it is charged with protecting.
First-of-Its-Kind Civil Rights Lawsuit Shows How Administration for Children’s Services’ Widespread Practice of Searching Homes and Children’s Bodies Without Court Approval or Emergency Circumstances Traumatizes Families and Children.
Unconstitutional Practice Predominantly and Disproportionately Harms Black, Hispanic, and Low-Income New Yorkers.
The NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) is expanding its work to help parents better understand their rights at the outset of a child protective investigation. The announcement comes following the completion of an initial pilot program in parts of Brooklyn and the Bronx, in which child protective specialists distributed over four hundred notifications to parents who were the subject of an allegation of child abuse or neglect. The notifications explain that, while ACS has a legal requirement to assess the safety of the child, parents are not required to let ACS into their homes and can seek the assistance of an attorney. If ACS is not allowed to check a child’s safety as required, the notification explains that ACS may seek permission from Family Court to complete the assessment. Commissioner Jess Dannhauser today announced that ACS will begin distributing written notifications to families in two more zones, with full implementation planned by July of 2024.