N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9 § 4.37

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 36, September 4, 2024

Section 4.37 - Executive order no. 37: establishing the governor's task force on adolescent pregnancy

WHEREAS, adolescent pregnancy is an increasingly pervasive and complex social problem affecting adolescents from diverse backgrounds;

WHEREAS, approximately one out of every 10 adolescent females becomes pregnant each year;

WHEREAS, high rates of adolescent pregnancy have resulted in long-term dependence on the public welfare system and increased high school drop-out rates; and

WHEREAS, the success in serving adolescents at high risk of pregnancy, pregnant adolescents and adolescent parents depends in large part upon the ability of State agencies to coordinate their efforts in partnership with the private and voluntary sectors and local governmental agencies toward creating new avenues to dignity for young New Yorkers;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mario M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of New York, do hereby establish, within the Executive Department, the Governor's Task Force on Adolescent Pregnancy.

I. Membership.

The Task Force shall consist of the Honorary Chair and the Executive Director of the Council on Children and Families; the Commissioners of the Department of Social Services, Department of Health, Education Department and Department of Labor; the Directors of the Division for Youth, the Women's Division and the Division of the Budget; and such additional members as shall be appointed by the Governor who have demonstrated expertise in adolescent pregnancy prevention services or who are interested in the provision of such services to pregnant adolescents and adolescent parents. The members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for any necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties.

II. General Charge and Duties.

The Governor's Task Force shall:

1. analyze the availability and accessibility of services to adolescents at high risk of pregnancy, pregnant adolescents and adolescent parents in order to make recommendations for improving the delivery and coordination of such services;

2. promote the development and implementation of family life education programs or other preventive strategies, with special emphasis on high risk adolescents and their families;

3. insure the cost-effective expenditure of funds for services through the review of agency funding mechanisms and through the establishment of guidelines for disbursement of funds to local providers;

4. encourage, at the local and regional levels, the provision of technical assistance for improving the coordination of services to adolescents at high risk of pregnancy, pregnant adolescents and adolescent parents;

5. enhance the independence and self-sufficiency of pregnant teen-agers and teenage mothers by recommending services to permit adolescents to continue their education, have access to day care and receive adequate vocational and employment training; and

6. submit a report to the Governor and Legislature by January 31, 1985, and annually thereafter, documenting the progress of the Task Force and containing recommendations for the delivery, funding and coordination of services.

III. Assistance to the Task Force.

All departments, divisions, boards, offices and public corporations of the State are directed to cooperate with the Task Force and to provide such assistance as the Task Force may require to fulfill its purposes. Such assistance may include, but need not be limited to, the use of agency staff, the provision of statistical and policy data in such form as is determined by the Task Force and consultation with agency staff as the Task Force shall require.

In addition, all departments, divisions, boards, offices and public corporations of the State are directed to identify immediately any barriers to meeting the needs of pregnant adolescents, adolescent parents and those at high risk of pregnancy and to target available resources to maximize the impact of initiatives directed at this population.

To the extent that funds are from time to time provided to the Task Force, subject to the approval of the Director of the Budget, the Executive Director of the Council may employ such personnel as he or she deems necessary and desirable to carry out the charge and duties of the Task Force and provide them with compensation within the amounts available therefor.

Signed: Mario M. CuomoDated: April 5, 1984

[FN*] [Revoked by Executive Order No. 5 (Eliot Spitzer), infra.]

[Revoked by Executive Order No. 9 (David A. Paterson), infra.]

[Revoked by Executive Order No. 2 (Andrew M. Cuomo), infra.]

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 4.37