NEW YORK CITY ACS DEFENSE LAWYER

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 20, 2020 Contact:  mediainquiry@acs.nyc.gov ACS & DOHMH ISSUE NEW GUIDANCE TO HOSPITALS MAKING CLEAR WHEN POSITIVE TOXICOLOGY TESTS OF CAREGIVERS OR NEWBORNS DO NOT WARRANT A REPORT TO THE STATE CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE Guidance Aims to Reduce Unwarranted Reports of Possible Child Abuse or Neglect, Especially Involving Families of Color The NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS) and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) issued new guidance to hospitals citywide making clear the child abuse reporting requirements for newborns prenatally exposed to substances and their caregivers. In New York State, hospital staff, like doctors, are mandated reporters and required to report suspected child abuse and neglect to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). However, by law, a positive drug test of a parent and/or a newborn baby is not in itself a basis for a report of abuse or neglect. The new guid...