NYC’s child services agency keeps cases secret due to state law, but investigators say it’s time for a change

The Big Apple’s beleaguered kid work agency is capable to support its records concealed from metropolis investigators because of a authorities rule — but a caller measure would unit nan agency to loosen its grip connected nan intimately guarded files.

Department of Investigation officials said they person been blocked from reviewing astatine slightest a twelve kid neglect aliases maltreatment cases handled by nan Administration for Children’s Services since 2023 that raised “red flags,” each because authorities rule keeps nan files sealed — sloppy of nan consequences for battered children.

Most troubling are maltreatment claims deemed “unfounded” by ACS pinch nary mentation aliases scrutiny.

“If 1 of nan unfounded rulings was flawed successful immoderate way, we person nary penetration into that whatsoever,” DOI Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber told The Post. “We request [the authorities Office of Children and Family Services] to get approval, truthful we person to show them what it is we want and if they inquire why we want them, we person to show them.

“That is not typically really independent oversight works,” she said. “You don’t typically want nan entities that you are overseeing [to have] entree into what you are investigating.”

The Post reported earlier this period that astatine slightest seven children died nether nan lax supervision of ACS caseworkers successful nan past year, pinch staffers encouraged to support children successful perchance abusive homes and connection troubled families services alternatively than launching investigations that could prevention young lives.

The tragic tots were arsenic young arsenic 1 period erstwhile they met horrific ends. Cases included respective kids who starved to decease wrong homes wherever ACS either returned them to their parents aliases were allowed to stay contempt allegations of mistreatment, nan study found.

The soft attack by ACS is based connected an inaugural adopted by nan agency successful caller years known arsenic CARES, aliases Collaborative Assessment, Response, Engagement and Support.

“There’s been a batch astir this programme called CARES,” Strauber said, “but arsenic of now we don’t person access. This is yet different unsighted spot.

“We won’t beryllium capable to measure if that programme is moving nan measurement it is expected to work,” she added. “Obviously location are unsocial interests pinch nan privateness of families, but successful our position erstwhile there’s a consequence to children location should beryllium transparency and oversight.

“What we are really focused connected is nan systemic issues. We are not looking to re-traumatize these families.”

New York State Social Services Law shields ACS from extracurricular scrutiny — moreover if nan agency goofed by not removing a kid from an abusive location aliases launching an investigation into nan parents.

DOI officials are looking for thief from Albany, and are backing a measure introduced this period by authorities Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Queens) that looks to region nan ACS blinders.

“Even though kid fatality cases known to ACS person declined 18% wrong nan past decade, retired of an abundance of be aware this measure will supply nan professionals from nan NYD Department of Investigation entree to confidential records to assistance successful their investigations,” Hevesi said.

The measure would let much scrutiny of kid fatalities and incidents wrong juvenile detention accommodation — but it has yet to find a required sponsor successful nan authorities senate.

In a connection to The Post connected Monday, a spokesperson for ACS said nan agency “look[s] guardant to further discussions astir nan bill,” and addressed nan DOI push for much access.

“ACS is committed to transparency, and we admit nan important oversight domiciled of DOI,” they said.