Substitute title: Government Offices in New York State and Their Functions
New York Regional Office Contact Number
The Office of the New York State Attorney General’s regional offices address critical matters of social and economic justice in communities throughout the state. They investigate and bring action to protect consumers, civil rights, charitable donations, and workers’ rights.
Questions and concerns about your child’s Early Intervention evaluation, services and transition plan should be directed to your local service coordinator or the regional office in your borough. Type your address or zip code into the map below to find your SPA and regional office.
Office of the New York State Attorney General
The Office of the New York State Attorney General serves the public by prosecuting violations of state laws. The office also defends the State of New York against claims, complaints and petitions brought against the State and its agencies or employees in both state and federal courts. The office has been recognized as one of the top prosecutorial offices in the country. Lawyers from the office have gone on to become Senators, Members of Congress, Mayors, Governors and United States Supreme Court Justices.
The office is headquartered in Hauppauge, NY and operates five divisions, including Criminal Justice, Social Justice, Economic Justice, Appeals and Opinions and State Counsel. The Criminal Justice Division pursues crimes such as public corruption, organized crime and international narcotics trafficking. It also investigates and prosecutes hate crimes, child pornography and exploitation offenses and environmental crimes.
The Social Justice Division includes the Bureaus of Civil Rights, Consumer Frauds and Protection, Environmental Protection, Labor and Charities and Health Care. The Civil Rights Bureau seeks to combat discrimination based on race, age, national origin, sex, religion, military status, source of income and sexual orientation.
Office of the New York State Department of Health
The mission of the Office of the New York State Department of Health is to protect and improve the health, productivity, and well-being of the people of New York. Its goal is for all people to live in communities that promote health, are protected from public health threats, and have access to affordable quality healthcare.
The Buffalo Office is responsible for the certification and inspection of hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, and physician offices. It also conducts consumer and provider complaint resolution and HMO evaluation and monitoring. The office also provides consultation, education and oversight for programs addressing environmental health, family planning, immunizations, nutrition, communicable diseases, and uninsured/underinsured care.
The Office of the New York State Department of Health recently achieved accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). This achievement is a recognition of NYSDOH’s commitment to continuous improvement, and highlights its commitment to working with local health departments (LHDs) to advance the nation’s premier municipal public health system.
Office of the New York State Department of Education
The New York State Department of Education (NYSED) oversees all public schools in the state. It also administers standardized testing and Regents Examinations, as well as oversees higher education, cultural institutions like museums and libraries, and vocational rehabilitation. It is a part of the executive branch of the New York State government.
The NYSED is responsible for teacher and teaching assistant certification in the state. Individuals interested in becoming teachers can check their status through the TEACH Web site, which allows members to establish an account and apply for certification. The Web site also provides a variety of other helpful information and resources for educators.
The NYSED also maintains the SIRS database for all students in the state. This repository records student test results on a statewide basis, including their name and unique identifier, for analysis at the local and regional level and for making decisions involving school accountability. It also helps to ensure that student data is collected accurately and securely.
Office of the New York State Department of Social Services
In addition to addressing the basic needs of families and individuals, the department helps people find work. It also provides assistance for the homeless, elderly and disabled. It also protects children from abuse and neglect.
The office serves all of the county’s residents, regardless of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. It operates four district offices in Mount Vernon, Peekskill, White Plains and Yonkers. Its services include Family Assistance, Safety Net, Day Care, Employment, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly called food stamps), Medicaid and Home Energy Assistance Programs.
The department also locates absent parents, establishes legal paternity for children born out of wedlock and enforces child support orders. It also issues and monitors Common Benefit Identification Cards. It also offers help paying for child day care costs and assisting the elderly and disabled with heating costs. It also subsidizes health insurance for low-income households and provides financial assistance to pay for funeral expenses.
