Areas of Work

Out-of-State Placement (OSP) Committee

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Out-of-State Placement Committee?
• What are the main tasks of the Committee?
• What has the Committee accomplished thus far?
• Who participates on the Out-of-State Placement Committee? Are family members involved with the Committee? Are non-governmental organizations?
• What is the Comprehensive Registry?

What is the Out-of-State Placement Committee?

On August 2, 2005, Chapter 392 of the Laws of 2005 was signed by the Governor of the State of New York, enacting the Out-of-State Placement (OSP) Committee, in the Council of Children and Families. The Law intends to improve the monitoring of out-of-state residential placements, promotes coordination across all levels of government and establishes a process for identifying and considering in-state resources prior to making an out-of-state placement. This legislation is a direct outcome of the Report of the Interagency Work Group on Out-of-State Residential Placements (June 2005) and became effective October 31, 2005.

back to top

What are the main tasks of the Committee?

As established within the Council on Children and Families, the Out-of-State Placement Committee is responsible for the following:

• Creating individual agency registries of out-of-state residential schools and facilities and a comprehensive registry to be housed at the Council on Children and Families;
• Developing contract parameters to be used by local education agencies and local departments of social services for placement of children in out-of-state residential schools and facilities;
• Developing model processes for placement of children who may be at risk of out-of-state residential services;
• Providing ongoing and future technical assistance and public awareness resources;
• Studying integrated funding options specific to children at risk of out-of-state residential placements;
• Recommending additional steps to strengthen the infrastructure of children and youth residential placements and community services in New York State; and
• Submitting an annual report to the Governor and Legislature.

back to top

What has the Committee accomplished thus far?

For accomplishments to date, please refer to the Annual Report for January through December 2008.

back to top

Who participates on the Out-of-State Placement Committee?  Are family members involved with the Committee?  Are non-governmental organizations?

The Committee is chaired by the Acting Executive Director of the Council on Children and Families and comprises in statute the commissioners of the following agencies: Office of Children and Family Services, State Education Department, Office of Mental Health, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Department of Health, and the Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives. Additionally, the Division of the Budget, Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, and two family members with knowledge and experience in out of state residential placement issues participate on the Committee. The Committee has held meetings for information-sharing and discussion with representatives of non-governmental organizations on the progress of the Out-of-State Placement Committee.

back to top

What is the Comprehensive Registry?

As required by statute, the Council on Children and Families is responsible for hosting a comprehensive registry of out-of-state residential facilities. This registry is a compendium of individual agency registries from the NYS Department of Education and the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, the two state agencies with oversight responsibilities for out of state residential placements for children and youth. The Out-of-State Placement Committee has recommended a set of core requirements which each out-of-state residential facility must meet to be placed on the comprehensive registry. Currently, the Council has a link to the State Education Department’s List of Residential Programs in Approved Private Schools Outside New York State. The Office of Children and Family Services is in the process of developing their agency registry.

back to top