ACS vs VFCA Foster Care in NYC: How to Choose the Right Agency
The difference between NYC ACS and Voluntary Foster Care Agencies (VFCAs) explained — how to choose, what questions to ask, and what each pathway involves.
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All articles about New York Foster Care Licensing Guide.
ACS vs VFCA vs County DSS in New York: Which Foster Care Pathway Should You Choose?
Choosing between NYC ACS, a Voluntary Foster Care Agency, and upstate county DSS? Here's a neutral, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right path.
Alternatives to Hiring a Foster Care Consultant in New York
Family law consultants charge $100–$500/hour for New York foster care guidance. Here are the alternatives that actually deliver the same operational clarity.
Best Foster Care Guide for NYC Apartment Dwellers
Can you foster in a NYC apartment? The best resource for renters — covers 18 NYCRR 443.3 space rules, window guard laws, and landlord obligations in plain English.
Emergency Foster Care in New York: Placements, Kinship Approval, and What to Expect
How emergency foster care placements work in New York — emergency certification for relatives, what triggers urgent placement, and how to prepare your home for short notice.
Foster Care in a NYC Apartment: Bedroom Rules and Space Requirements
Can you foster a child in a small NYC apartment? Exact bedroom, sleeping, and square footage rules under 18 NYCRR 443.3 for New York City renters.
Foster Care Background Checks in New York: SCR, DCJS, and Criminal History
How New York's foster care background checks work — the SCR, DCJS fingerprinting, FBI check, and which criminal records are disqualifying under SSL § 378-a.
New York Foster Care Home Study: What to Expect and How to Prepare
What happens during a New York foster care home study — interviews, physical inspection, documents needed, and how to prepare under 18 NYCRR 443.3.
Foster Care Payment Rates in New York: 2024-2025 Board Rates and Benefits
New York foster care board rates for 2024-2025 — Metro and Upstate amounts by age, enhanced rates, clothing allowances, Medicaid, and tax treatment.
Foster Care Requirements in New York: What You Actually Need to Qualify
Complete breakdown of New York foster care eligibility requirements — age, income, housing, health, and household standards under 18 NYCRR 443.
New York Foster Care System: Statistics, Structure, and Who Needs Families
How many children are in foster care in New York, who they are, and how the state's decentralized system works — OCFS, ACS, county DSS, and VFCAs explained.
Foster Parent Rights in New York: What the Law Actually Guarantees
New York's Foster Parent Bill of Rights explained — what foster parents are legally entitled to under SSL § 378-a, the Reasonable Prudent Parent Standard, and complaint procedures.
Foster Parent Support in New York: Resources, Respite, and Rights to Help
Support resources for New York foster parents — NYFAPA, respite care access, foster parent support groups, ACS advocacy office, and ongoing training requirements.
Foster to Adopt in New York: How the Process Works
How foster-to-adopt works in New York — concurrent planning, legal risk placements, TPR process, and the foster parent's adoption preference under SSL § 384-b.
How to Become a Foster Parent in New York: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn the exact steps to become a licensed foster parent in New York — from orientation and NTDC training to home study and certification.
How to Prepare for a New York Foster Care Home Study Without a Consultant
Exactly what New York foster care home study inspectors look for under 18 NYCRR 443.3 — room-by-room preparation steps you can do yourself without paying for a consultant.
Kinship Foster Care in New York: KinGAP, Eligibility, and the Approval Process
How kinship foster care works in New York — emergency approval, certification requirements, KinGAP eligibility, subsidies, and the 6-month residency rule.
MAPP and NTDC Foster Care Training in New York: What to Expect
New York switched from MAPP/GPS to NTDC training on January 1, 2025. Here's what the 30-hour pre-service requirement covers, who delivers it, and how to schedule it.
NY Foster Care Licensing Guide vs Free OCFS Resources: Which Actually Prepares You?
OCFS publishes 18 NYCRR Part 443 for free. Here's an honest comparison of what free official resources give you vs what a NY-specific guide adds — and where each falls short.
Therapeutic Foster Care in New York: Specialized Placements and What They Require
How therapeutic foster care works in New York — specialized certifications, medically fragile placements, teen foster care, sibling groups, and enhanced board rates.
Window Guard Requirements for NYC Foster Care: What You Must Install
NYC foster care window guard requirements explained — what guards qualify, who installs them, NYC Health Department specifications, and home study compliance.