A coalition of families impacted by the foster system and advocates for parents and young people, including Lawyers For Children, The Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Practice, Children’s Rights, Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, JMacforFamiles, Brooklyn Defenders, The Bronx Defenders, Center for Family Representation, the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, the Children’s Law Center, NYCLU, the Office of the Monroe County Public Defender, and the New York State Defenders Association, released the following statement following Governor Hochul’s veto of the Preserving Family Bonds Act (A5394 - Joyner / S6720 - Brisport):

“We are deeply dismayed by Governor Hochul’s decision to veto the Preserving Family Bonds Act. Children and families experience significant trauma when their bonds are permanently severed after a termination of parental rights in family court, which disproportionately impacts Black, Latine, and low-income families in New York State. With the Preserving Family Bonds Act, New York had the opportunity to recognize the importance of continued contact for children’s psychological development, self-esteem, identity formation, and overall health and well-being.

Despite the Preserving Family Bonds Act’s passage by an overwhelming majority in the legislature and its broad support among lived experts and advocates for youth in the foster system and parents alike, as well as foster agencies and NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services, the Governor has decided to reject this vital bill--and hurt children and families."

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"The legislation has broad support from advocates for children, child psychologists, young people and parents impacted by this system, parent advocates, foster agencies, and New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services.

For children in the foster system, the right to regular visits with their parents can be a vital source of love, stability, and healing. Studies show that children in the system fare much better when they are able to maintain these familial bonds."

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"The Governor’s veto message contains several misconceptions about the Preserving Family Bonds Act. Notably, the message fails to acknowledge that the Preserving Family Bonds Act addresses the role foster and adoptive families play in the legal process, which gives them the ability to be heard on what is best for the child in their care. Importantly, the bill also requires the consent of children aged 14 and up who are impacted by the court’s decision to terminate a parent’s rights when considering whether continued contact is in their best interest. The Governor’s veto message also fundamentally misunderstands current legal standards that allow the family court to appropriately intervene and grant visitation to family members in custody disputes when best for children."

Read the full statement here.