I. Purpose
The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is issuing this Administrative Directive (ADM) to provide Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) and voluntary authorized agency staff with the procedures for notifying LDSS of placements of youth in the custody of OCFS and procedures related to eligibility determinations. This population consists of adjudicated juvenile delinquents that are placed in Title IV-E eligible settings. Cases determined Title IV-E eligible are subject to Title IV-E federal reviews, and require compliance with the same standards for Title IV-E as Title IV-E cases in LDSS custody. OCFS will provide documentation to the LDSS for the purpose of determining both initial Title IV-E and subsequent re-determination of eligibility. LDSS will then have access to the documentation required to make correct eligibility determinations for OCFS cases. OCFS cases also require proper determinations for TANF-EAF and Medicaid (MA), as applicable.
This ADM also establishes requirements for the LDSS to maintain the Welfare Management System (WMS) and Child Care Review Services (CCRS) data for those OCFS cases where the youth are placed in voluntary authorized agencies. The LDSS is the payer in the first instance for the costs of care for such cases. It is essential that WMS and CCRS reflect payment authorization, movement, and legal data to support federal and state reimbursement to the LDSS under the Statewide Services Payment System (SSPS). LDSS are not required to maintain Uniform Case Record (UCR) data on these youth unless the LDSS also has custody of the youth. For youth whom the LDSS does not have custody of, case management responsibilities are retained by OCFS and the case planning responsibilities are maintained by the voluntary authorized agency where the youth is placed. A separate release will be issued that addresses case management issues relating to OCFS youth in voluntary authorized agencies.
OCFS custody youth placed in OCFS facilities are not included in the SSPS process requirements at this time. The Title IV-E eligibility requirements and the billing by OCFS for youth in OCFS settings remains unchanged.
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