Suffolk County, NY Article X Department of Social Services

§ A10-1 Computerized central registry unit.

[Derived from Res. No. 94-1973]

A. The County shall maintain a computerized central registry unit within the Department of Social Services, whose responsibilities it shall be to maintain said registry or cause it to be maintained on a twenty-four-hour, seven-day-a-week basis.

B. Information will be expanded to include information which will facilitate the efficient decision-making of other agencies.

C. The central registry will be expanded to include reports of neglect, medically treated injuries, in which child abuse cannot be excluded, as well as those of abuse.

D. All medically treated injuries will be reported immediately after emergency treatment has been performed.

E. All reports of child abuse and neglect made by mandated sources will be made through the central registry unit utilizing one well-publicized telephone.

F. This unit will have telephone tie lines with local centers responsible for child protection.

G. All reports to the registry by mandated sources shall include a routine registry search for previous history, whether or not it is requested.

H. If during the course of the search of the registry a previous history is established, the child protection service team must be notified within 24 hours, and an investigation must follow immediately.

I. Such information must be kept strictly confidential and only available when necessary to implement Article 6 of the State Social Services Law.

J. Central registry authorization numbers will be furnished to institutions mandated to report abuse and neglect.

§ A10-2 Suffolk County Advisory Board on Child Protection.

[Derived from Res. No. 131-1973; amended 5-12-2009 by L.L. No. 16-2009; 12-3-2013 by L.L. No. 2-2014]

A. An Advisory Board on Child Protection shall be established, whose main responsibilities will be to:

(1) Advise in setting policies and standards for the implementation and use of the State Central Register for Child Abuse and Maltreatment.

(2) Evaluate the performance of the computerized State Central Register in relation to the protective services functions of the Department of Social Services.

(3) Act as a liaison between agencies responsible for child protection, mandated reporters, the State Central Register and the County Legislature, through comprehensive Countywide trainings and education programs, legislative updates and interaqency dialogue.

(4) Monitor current research regarding child abuse and maltreatment as well as identify community needs and current trends as they relate to protecting children.

(5) Review and make recommendations concerning the Suffolk County Child and Family Services Plan for the protection of children.

B. Said Advisory Board shall be composed of professionals and citizens with expertise in a variety of fields relating to identification, referral, treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect, including the following:

(1) A member of the administrative staff of the Department of Social Services, designated by the Commissioner.

(2) A member of the Legislature, designated by the Presiding Officer.

(3) A member from the County Executive's office, designated by the County Executive.

(4) A member of the County Attorney's Office, designated by the County Attorney.

(5) One nongovernmental member shall be chosen from each of the following fields: medicine, mental health, school nurses, hospital staff, elementary school teachers, probation officers, social workers, the education field, attorneys for children and child welfare organizations.

C. A Chairman shall be chosen from among the nongovernmental members, and they shall establish their own rules of order.

D. Said nongovernmental members of the Advisory Board shall be appointed by the County Executive with the approval of the County Legislature, to serve for terms of four years, with no compensation other than reimbursement for necessary expenses in connection with duties performed pursuant to this section. Nongovernmental members of the Advisory Board may designate one personal representative who may attend and participate in meetings of the Advisory Board in their stead. Said designation shall be made in writing and filed with the Chairperson of the Advisory Board.

§ A10-3 Definitions.

[Added 6-23-2020 by L.L. No. 31-2020]

A. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

A group of conditions characterized by difficulty in social functioning and repetitive behaviors or stereotyped interests.

AVERAGE

The total number of active cases assigned divided by the number of caseworkers carrying a caseload, calculated on a monthly basis.

CASE

A report or consolidated reports of alleged child abuse, neglect and/or maltreatment received by the Department of Social Services.

CASEWORKER

Caseworker, caseworker trainee, senior caseworker or any other successive title occupied by an employee within Child Protective Services who is charged with investigating reports made to Child Protective Services.

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES (CPS)

The Family and Children Services Administration within the Department of Social Services or any successive unit or division.

COMMISSIONER

The Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Social Services.

CPS SPECIAL NEEDS UNIT

A designated unit within CPS consisting of caseworkers, caseworker trainees and casework supervisors who have completed the requisite education and/or training process to develop a level of expertise in handling cases involving children with autism spectrum disorder and/or other developmental disabilities.

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Conditions including but not limited to intellectual disability, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, familial dysautonomia, and neurological impairment (injury, malformation, or disease involving the central nervous system) or another special condition that may occur anytime from before a baby's birth, up until the age of 22, which may cause a child to develop more slowly all along, or to have physical difficulties and limitations, or have trouble learning and growing like other children in general.

MANDATED REPORTER

Persons and officials required to report cases of suspected child abuse, neglect and/or maltreatment as defined in New York State Social Services Law.

REPORT

Any account of suspected child abuse, neglect and/or maltreatment received by the Department of Social Services.

SCHOOL

Any institution providing educational instruction as recognized by the New York State Department of Education.

SENIOR SUPERVISOR

Any title which is organizationally above casework supervisor.

SUSTAINED PERIOD

A period of four consecutive months, as documented in reports submitted to the Suffolk County Legislature as required by Resolution 183-2019.

B. Caseload standards.

(1) No caseworker who is eligible for a caseload shall be assigned more than 15 active cases per month, unless approved by a senior supervisor with notification to the Commissioner.

(2) The average caseload per caseworker shall not exceed 12 cases.

C. Noncompliance.

(1) If Child Protective Services is out of compliance with the caseload standards established herein for a sustained period, the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services shall submit a corrective action plan which shall include the number of additional caseworkers necessary for Child Protective Services to come into compliance and the estimated time it will take to achieve compliance to the County Executive and the Presiding Officer of the Suffolk County Legislature within 15 days.

§ A10-4 Procedures for certain Child Protective Services reports.

[Added 6-23-2020 by L.L. No. 28-2020]

A. Reports involving children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or with other developmental disabilities.

(1) When Child Protective Services is in receipt of a report involving a child or children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or with developmental disabilities, said report shall be referred to the CPS Special Needs Unit, upon the Unit's inaugural team of caseworkers' completion of the necessary training, for the requisite investigation and follow up.

(2) The Commissioner is directed to establish caseload standards specifically for the CPS Special Needs Unit, not to exceed the standards established in § A10-3 of this article.

B. Recurring reports.

(1) The following conditions shall trigger an immediate review by a team consisting of a caseworker, caseworker supervisor and a senior supervisor:

(a) When Child Protective Services is in receipt of four or more reports of unique incidents related to one case; or

(b) When Child Protective Services is in receipt of six or more reports of the same incident.

(2) The team shall review the case to determine whether further investigation is needed and to collaborate with the caseworker to determine if the case should be indicated.

C. Reports following reports unfounded due to insufficient evidence. When Child Protective Services is in receipt of a report of alleged child abuse, neglect and/or maltreatment where a prior case relating to the same child and/or subject of the previous report was deemed unfounded due to insufficient evidence, said report shall be reviewed by a caseworker supervisor who shall, with the assigned caseworker, determine the management plan for the investigation.

D. Reports received from school officials.

[Added 6-23-2020 by L.L. No. 29-2020]

(1) When Child Protective Services is in receipt of three or more reports related to one case from school officials who are New York State certified school psychologists, New York State licensed master social workers or registered professional nurses, the case must be immediately reviewed by a casework supervisor.

(2) Upon conclusion of the review, the casework supervisor and the caseworker shall determine the management plan for said case.

E. Reports received from school officials related to cases referred to CPS Special Needs Unit.

[Added 6-23-2020 by L.L. No. 29-2020]

(1) When Child Protective Services is in receipt of three or more reports related to one case from school officials who are New York State certified school psychologists, New York State licensed master social workers or registered professional nurses, and the case has been referred to the CPS Special Needs Unit as per § A10-4A of this article, the case must be immediately reviewed by a casework supervisor if the school official submitting the report(s) has completed children with development disabilities training as described in § A10-5D of this article.

(2) Upon conclusion of the review, the casework supervisor and the caseworker shall determine the management plan for said case.

§ A10-5 Training.

[Added 6-23-2020 by L.L. No. 27-2020]

A. Investigative training. All CPS caseworkers hired after the effective date of this section shall complete investigative training prior to assuming a caseload. All CPS caseworkers shall complete investigative training biannually.

B. Implicit bias training. All CPS caseworkers hired after the effective date of this section shall complete implicit bias training prior to assuming a caseload. All CPS caseworkers shall complete implicit bias training biannually.

C. Casework supervision training. All CPS casework supervisors hired or promoted after the effective date of this section shall complete casework supervisor training within 12 weeks of becoming a casework supervisor.

D. CPS Special Needs Unit. All caseworkers assigned to the CPS Special Needs Unit shall be required to complete children with developmental disabilities training prior to assuming a caseload within the CPS Special Needs Unit. All caseworkers assigned to the CPS Special Needs Unit shall be required to complete the training each year.

§ A10-6 Use of electronic surveillance.

[Added 6-23-2020 by L.L. No. 30-2020]

A. Notification requirement. When a caseworker is permitted entry into a private residence or business for the purposes of conducting an investigation, which shall include but not be limited to interviews related to a report of suspected child abuse, neglect and/or maltreatment, the owner or tenant must complete a Notice of the Use of Electronic Surveillance Equipment Form, attesting, to the best of his or her knowledge, to whether electronic audio and/or video surveillance equipment will be used during the caseworker's visit.

B. Penalties for offenses. Any owner or tenant who refuses to complete the Notice of the Use of Electronic Surveillance Equipment Form or falsifies information required to be provided pursuant to this section shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 for each violation.