Res. No. 227 Title Resolution calling upon the appropriate Committee of the Council of the City of New York to hold a hearing on the list of "demands and requests" put forth by the National Action Network's ACS Committee on how to more fairly resolve grievances made by families regarding the procedures and decisions rendered by the New York City Administration for Children's Services. Body By Council Members Foster, Reed, Baez, Barron, Comrie, Jackson, Martinez, Monserrate, Perkins, Reyna, Seabrook, Serrano, Stewart and Vann; also Council Member Clarke Whereas, In 1999, the National Action Network organized an ACS Committee to review and analyze the procedures and decisions of the New York City Administration for Children's Services; and Whereas, The National Action Network's ACS Committee conducted forums in which testimony was presented that alleged widespread abuses by the New York City Administration for Children's Services for the removal of children from their parents without sufficient cause; and Whereas, On October 1, 1999, the National Action Network's ACS Committee released a list of "demands and requests" that they believe would more fairly resolve grievances made by families affected by the procedures and decisions rendered by the New York City Administration for Children's Services; and Whereas, The list of "demands and requests" urges the Administration for Children's Services to: investigate and find if allegations of abuse and neglect are valid before the removal of a child; explore all community resources to help prevent children from going into foster care; and give kinship care preference over foster care; and Whereas, The list of "demands and requests" also emphasize that it must be a judge, and not a caseworker from the New York City Administration for Children's Services, who makes the decision about whether a child should be removed from their parents; and, that this decision should be made prior to the removal of the child as the law provides; and Whereas, The list of "demand and requests" also stresses that in cases where charges are found and the children removed, a caseworker must immediately refer the parent to whatever services that parent might need, if any, to have their children returned as quickly as possible; and Whereas, The list of "demands and requests" includes other suggestions and recommendations which may help the New York City Administration for Children's Services in their attempts to improve the delivery of services to children and families; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the appropriate Committee of the Council of the City of New York hold a hearing on the list of "demands and requests" put forth by the National Action Network's Administration for Children's Services Committee on how to more fairly resolve grievances made by families regarding the procedures and decisions rendered by the New York City Administration for Children's Services.