New York (State). Board of Social Welfare

CURRENT FUNCTIONS. The Board of Social Welfare is responsible for overseeing the quality of State policies and programs relating to child and adult care to protect the welfare of needy and dependent persons. It does this by visiting and inspecting public and private agencies caring for the aged, the disabled, neglected or delinquent children, and other dependents; reviewing and making recommendations to the governor and legislature regarding quality of supervision exercised by State and local supervisory agencies; studying State policies and programs affecting child and adult care and advocating their improvement; and conducting special human services studies as requested by the governor.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY. The Board of Commissioners of Public Charities, established in 1867 (Ch. 951) to visit and inspect public almshouses and all charitable and correctional institutions (except prisons) receiving State aid, was the first State supervisory body to coordinate public welfare programs. Before this, public assistance programs were independently operated by county and town authorities and private agencies. The board consisted of eight gubernatorial appointees, one from each judicial district.

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