§ 409-j. Case management. 1. As used in this title, "case management" shall refer to a method of providing necessary prevention and support services, directly or by purchase of services, to recipients of public assistance and shall require the facilitating of such services for the purpose of insuring family stability and assistance in achieving the greatest degree of economic independence.

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2. Appropriate local social services staff shall be designated as responsible on a case by case basis, for the assessment of services needed by the adolescent or teenage recipient to achieve defined service goals, and for the planning and referral of services and follow-up activities, including the monitoring and evaluation of services provided. Designated case management staff shall be responsible for performing such activities for a specified period prescribed pursuant to department regulations dependent on such factors as age, education and job skills attainment of the individual, household size and stability of the family unit.

3. When referrals to services are provided under other state-funded programs or are directly purchased by the social services district, the district may request that the provider obtain and transmit to the district the information necessary to perform the case management function.

4. The provisions of this title shall apply to those cases involving pregnant adolescents and teen parents in receipt of public assistance, including any males and females under eighteen years of age who are designated payees of their own cases, payees of their children's cases or those public assistance recipients under eighteen years of age identified pursuant to rules and regulations as at-risk youth needing prevention services, where appropriate. At local option, case management services may be provided to those cases headed by persons eighteen years of age or older but under twenty-one years of age.

5. In the event that an adolescent or teenage recipient refuses to accept services identified by social services district staff as needed by the adolescent or teenager, such refusal shall not carry any threat of fiscal sanctions.

6. Case records developed by social services districts and other agencies for persons eligible for or receiving services pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be confidential and maintained in accordance with the provisions of section one hundred thirty-six of this chapter and the regulations of the department.