Informational letter from the Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) explaining new policies effective October 1, 2008 restoring mandatory disqualification of applicants for adoptive or foster care in who have been convicted of felonies related to: (1) child abuse or neglect; (2) spousal abuse; (3) a crime against a child, including child pornography; (4) a crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault, or homicide, other than physical assault; or (5) within the past five years, a felony for drugs or physical assault.

The policy applies to new applicants only, and should not be applied retroactively to adoptive or foster parents already certified or approved.