Throughout the first 157 years of The Children's Aid Society, the economy has cycled through highs and lows, some more severe than the recession individuals are still experiencing. And through them all, Children's Aid has remained strong. The society has always developed new and effective strategies to serve New York City's most vulnerable…

No child should be born into poverty, but as we know all too well, millions are. In New York City, nearly one out of every three children is poor. It is the city's highest rate of child poverty in three decades. Poverty is more complex than the lack of financial resources--the most vulnerable children often lack access to adequate food, shelter,…

Only 8 percent of children born into poverty graduate from college by the age of 25. Consider what that means for the estimated 500,000 New York City kids living in poverty. It is a fact: The better educated a person is, the better her chances of upward mobility. So when fewer than one in 10 children born into poverty reach their academic…

Our qualitative study examines the social psychology of gay men's experiences with their procreative, father, and family identities. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 childless gay men and 20 gay men in the United States who have fathered using diverse means excluding heterosexual intercourse. By focusing on men aged 19-55 residing…

In November 2002, Chief Judge Judith Kaye attended the National Adoption Day festivities in Albany County and New York County (Manhattan). Although pleased that 600 adoptions were being finalized statewide on this special day, she was concerned to learn more than 6,000 other children were free for adoption but had not yet found permanent families.…

Studied characteristics of hardest-to-place children, factors related to timeliness in the adoptive placement of listed children, and the efficacy of photolisting updates in improving placement probabilities. Found that children experiencing significant delays in placement are most likely male, black, older at first listing, and possessing mild to…

This manual was developed for use in foster parents' day-to-day life with the children in their care. It gives them practical information on topics like medical care, payments, and the role of the court, and also provides guidance on areas like welcoming a child, discipline, and parent visits. The manual emphasizes the role of foster parents in…

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) addresses issues pertaining to prevention of placement in the child welfare system, as well as family reunification, the specific provisions of ASFA that relate to the termination of parental rights and adoption are perhaps most central to the law's overarching purpose. This paper analyzes adoptions from…

The history and current problems of adoption services provided by the state of New York are discussed. First, statutory reforms since the creation in 1968 of the nation's first statewide adoption subsidy program are reviewed and adoption services aimed at providing permanent homes for children in foster care are described. Subsequently, the…

Analyzed New York's implementation of a legislated adoption subsidy program. Found variance in county subsidy levels not based on cost-of-living differences. Also found that special needs child subsidies are close to estimated rearing costs, and low subsidy counties cause a financial burden on adoptive parents. Findings pose implications for…

Presents a study which investigated three areas: (1) factors related to the court's determination of foster care status or availability of children for adoption; (2) the extent of agreement between agency recommendations and court orders; and (3) the impact of the court review on moving children out of foster care. (SDH)

This second annual report of the Temporary State Commission on Child Welfare accounts for the progress made toward resolving the problems raised in the first annual report and summarizes the present status of the Commission's projects--completed, in process and proposed. Among topics briefly discussed are preventive services, the child welfare…

This study queried caseworkers for 77 New York children in out-of-home care still waiting for placement to determine obstacles to permanent adoption. Questionnaires sought demographics, placement efforts, and caseworker opinions. Findings indicated several obstacles, including the following: child's strong emotional ties to family (foster or…

This preliminary report of the Temporary State Commission on Child Welfare identifies problems and offers recommendations for improvement in the system of child welfare in New York State. Information about the Commission's mandate and members is followed by a review of the child welfare system in New York. The report indicates that the entire…

This third annual report of The Temporary State Commission on Child Welfare deals with the origin, development and rationale of the provisions of the Child Welfare Reform Act of 1979 (chapters 610 and 611). The Child Welfare Reform Act addresses itself primarily to three discrete program areas which operationally are intended to alter radically…