"Critics of the program point out parents aren't afforded the comprehensive statutory protections of the state's foster care system under Host Homes, including the state being liable for the children's wellbeing and appointed counsel for parents."
"OCFS attorney Beezly Kiernan told the New York Court of Appeals that, since parents with friends and relatives are already handing their children off to others in their lives without those protections, Host Homes was simply opening up that opportunity to parents without those connections."
"Judge Shirley Troutman asked, 'How is this not creating a shadow system without oversight?' highlighting concerns about the state's involvement without adequate legal protections."
"Lawyers for Children attorney William Silverman argued that parents handing off their children to people they know is not a fair comparison, because here, they'd be with strangers."
The Host Homes program allows families to temporarily place their children with vetted individuals instead of licensed foster parents. Proposed by the OCFS in 2021, it aims to assist families lacking support during difficult times. However, the program lacks comprehensive legal protections found in the foster care system, such as state liability for children's welfare. Judges expressed concerns about the potential creation of an unregulated system, questioning the adequacy of protections for both parents and children involved in the program.
Read at www.amny.com
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