Administration for Children's Services officials told the Council that ACS has reduced front‑line child protective case loads and added preventive supports, even as lawmakers pressed the agency to do more to address foster care funding and a recent increase in juvenile detention admissions.

Commissioner Jess Danhauser said ACS has focused on hiring frontline staff and training: "We have seen case loads drop from an average of 9.9 in April 2022 to just 7.7 in April 25," he said, noting the national recommended standard of 12 cases. He described enhancements to training, extended on‑the‑job learning, and the creation of family enrichment centers and a prevention support line intended to help families before child welfare involvement escalates.

Council members asked about foster care funding and workforce rates. DYCD's FY26 executive plan includes new investments in youth safety and success programs, workforce and college supports, and a one‑year swap of certain federal funds to city funds for foster care in FY25; ACS said it will work with the Mayor's Office of Management and Budget to assess continuing needs. On the federal Title IV‑E funding stream, Danhauser said the city has seen long‑term structural changes in IV‑E claims and that ACS and OMB are watching federal trends closely.

Lawmakers also pressed ACS about juvenile justice: Council Member Stevens noted ACS reported a 22% rise in average daily juvenile detention population in the first four months of FY25 compared with the same period in FY24 and asked what preventive programming and educational offerings ACS is expanding in secure facilities. Danhauser described increased academic programming in detention, partnerships with Hostos and BMCC to deliver college courses in facilities, summer literacy initiatives, and expanded youth development and school support teams in the two secure facilities.

Questions about foster care finance and provider compensation continued. Commissioner and budget staff said the city added roughly $104 million in childcare and related funding and that ACS has been working to offset federal shortfalls and to increase provider allocations where possible. Council members asked for more baseline funding to resolve pay disparities for foster care workers and to ensure provider stability; ACS said it is coordinating with OMB and providers and that much depends on census and federal/state reimbursements.

ACS also reiterated its work on reducing child fatalities for children known to the agency and convened an external panel to review fatality cases. Council members asked how ACS will reassess previous unfounded investigations in light of recent high‑profile fatalities; Danhauser said an outside multidisciplinary panel will meet on June 2 to assess and recommend improvements. The agency emphasized ongoing child‑stat reviews, investigative consultant staffing, and an expanded clinical consultation RFP to support high‑risk casework.