NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT, ANALYSIS AND INVESTIGATION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUBJECT:
Erie County Child Protective Services practices

PURPOSE:
To examine the practices of Child Protective Services in Erie County.

Buffalo, NY
Council Chambers, Buffalo City Hall
13th Floor, 65 Niagara Square
Thursday, November 14, 2013
10:00 AM

Over the last several years, there has been a series of child fatalities in Erie County in which the children had CPS involvement. Considerable attention has been given to whether the deaths could have been prevented, and whether children continue to be at risk. The purpose of this hearing is to examine current Erie County CPS practices. The Committees are also interested to see what improvements can be made to the current practices and whether changes in State law are necessary to improve CPS in Erie County and statewide.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committees will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.

Ten (10) copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees' interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the New York State Assembly has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Donna Lupardo
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Children and Families

Andrew Hevesi
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation



PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to participate in the hearing on Erie County Child Protective Services practices are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to:

Alexis Conti
Committee Assistant
Assembly Committee on Children and Families and Social Services
Room 442 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: contia@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4371
Fax: (518) 455-4693
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I plan to attend the following hearing on Erie County Child Protective Services practices to be conducted by the Assembly Committee for Children and Families and the Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation on November 14, 2013.
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I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:




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I do not plan to attend the above hearing.
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I would like to be added to the Committee's mailing list for notices and reports.
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I would like to be removed from the Committee's mailing list.
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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:




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