Mandatory Child Model work permits, changes in both child model and child performer work permits as a result in a new amendment addressing eating disorders in both child performers and models.

Sorry, this is a bit long but there is no easy way to get the info out and info that SHOULD be available to parents. Yes, the Screen Actor's Guild is aware. They have a representative on the Committee. No there is no information on the website.

frustrating!

here ya go.

Very IMPORTANT information for parents of child performers and child models!

Last year there was an amendment passed in Albany (slipped right by everyone and I do not know who was behind this) for the Dept of Labor to establish a child performer Advisory Board to discuss eating disorders and how it relates to child performers and models! The purpose of this Advisory Board was to help the Comm of Labor establish guidelines when the children are applying for work permits!

It seems (if you watch the meetings on video tape which is A MUST for all parents and, as well, anyone representing minors) that the child model permit will be mandatory and will be asked for by employers and in addition to this, there will be a set of guidelines attached to a necessary physical examination that the doctors might have to address.

No longer will it be an option for a child to obtain a child model work permit. It will be strictly enforced and if you watch the video the DOL speaks of spot checks.

And, child performers, same goes for them. There is worry about eating disorders of child performers and they too will be subject to this being addressed by their physician.

Now does that mean two physical exams per year?? We don't know that yet. And what if there is a red flag? They are talking about the child having to be referred to an eating disorder specialist!

The Board is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists, nutritionists, one plus size model Emme, someone in the fashion design industry, a representative from the NYS Dept of Ed and someone from SAG, NY...among others. Again, please review the video.

There are NO PARENTS of child performers or models and the people outside the biz are having a hard time understanding emergent work permits and how the industry works. Why this was not a consideration, again, I have voiced my opinion very loudly and have asked that a parent of an actively working child model and child performer also be included. I doubt this will occur and therefore, your voices can only be heard by contacting either Department.

I COULD GO ON FOR ANOTHER FEW MINUTES WRITING, however, I am asking all to PLEASE read the amendment below and take some time in the next day or so to watch the videos of both meetings. Second meeting was on a snow day so there are some people on the phones.

This is the direct link...however, I've posted how to get to this link under the Amendment below.

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/agencyinfo/childperformeradvisoryboard.shtm

I know just about as much as all of you do after you have watched this video. I TRY my best to stay on top of legislation. I saw this bill after it had was already passed by the Assembly and, again, do not know who specifically felt eating disorders needed to be addressed, which I do believe is an important issue, however, it WILL MAKE THINGS VERY COMPLICATED!

There will be accountability...as to who is directly accountable for noting the eating disorder it goes from the parent to physician to even the employer!

Please note that another amendment was passed that will now allow the NYS Dept of Labor to write regulations to the Child Performer Law!!! AND THAT WILL INCLUDE changes to the work permit regarding models and child performers, work hours, conditions and...

WELL, they never did address education and I am communicating with both the NYSDOL and NYSED to make sure they work together on this. The NYS Dept of Education has reached out to the NYSDOL to communicate. I have not seen any meetings posted as of yet.

*************
HERE IS THE AMENDMENT AND IMPORTANT INFO TO FOLLOW.

Janet P.

 
    §  154. Child performer advisory board to prevent eating disorders. 1.
  The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner  of  health  and
  the  commissioner  of  mental  health, shall establish a child performer
  advisory board for  the  purpose  of  recommending  guidelines  for  the
  employment  of child performers and models under the age of eighteen and
  preventing eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa
  amongst such persons. The advisory  board  shall  consist  of  at  least
  sixteen  but  no more than twenty members appointed by the commissioner,
  and shall include:  representatives  of  professional  organizations  or
  unions  representing  child performers or models; employers representing
  child performers or models; physicians, nutritionists and mental  health
  professionals  with  demonstrated  expertise  in  treating patients with
  eating  disorders;  at  least  one  representative  from  each  of   the
  comprehensive  care centers for eating disorders established pursuant to
  article twenty-seven-J of the public health law; advocacy  organizations
  working  to prevent and treat eating disorders; and other members deemed
  necessary by the commissioner. In addition, the commissioner  of  health
  and  the  commissioner of mental health, or their designees, shall serve
  on the advisory board. The members of the advisory board  shall  receive
  no  compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed their actual
  and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
    2. The advisory board is authorized to develop recommendations to  the
  commissioner establishing guidelines relating to the employment of child
  performers  and  models  under  the  age  of  eighteen  for  purposes of
  preventing and accessing treatment for eating disorders such as anorexia
  nervosa and bulimia nervosa amongst such child  performers  and  models.
  When  developing  such guidelines, the advisory board shall consider (a)
  body mass index standards or weight and height standards, (b) employment
  restrictions for persons diagnosed with or suspected of having an eating
  disorder, (c) requiring medical or mental health screenings, by  medical
  or  mental  health  professionals  with  demonstrated  expertise  in the
  diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders, for  persons  suspected  of
  having  an eating disorder, and (d) requiring referrals for treatment of
  eating disorders.
    3. The  advisory  board  shall  further  develop  recommendations  for
  educational  and  informational  materials for such child performers and
  models, their parents and/or guardians  and  their  employers  regarding
  awareness   and  recognition  of  eating  disorders,  and  referral  and
  treatment information of eating disorders such as anorexia  nervosa  and
  bulimia nervosa.
    4.  The  commissioner  shall consider the recommendations developed by
  the  advisory  board,  which  include  employment  guidelines  and   the
  development  of educational and informational materials pursuant to this
  section, when adopting, promulgating, amending and rescinding the  rules
  and  regulations  necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
  The advisory board  shall  report  to  the  commissioner  regarding  its
  recommendations,   including   the  guidelines,  programs  and  findings
  developed pursuant to this section.


******************

Please visit the NYS Dept of Labor Home Page frequently for updates. Put it on your favorites on your computer. It may be the only way for parents to find information because there ARE NO PARENTS of child performers or child actors on this Committee. 

 http://www.labor.state.ny.us/
 
Home page should list all public notices/meetings.  The Eating Disorder Panel Meeting is AT THIS TIME, listed on the home page.  If it is not, use the arrows to find previous meetings to the newly posted ones.  It gives you the dates of the meetings.
 
TO VIEW THE MEETINGS, PAST AND PRESENT (REAL TIME) CLICK ON THE NEWSROOM LINK ON THE HOME PAGE LEFT HAND SIDE AND IT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE PAGE WITH THE LINKS TO THE MEETING.

 http://www.labor.state.ny.us/newsroom.shtm
 
On the page above (Newsroom) click on PUBLIC MEETINGS - this will bring you to the page below where you can watch the video tape of the first meeting and second meeting. Keep checking back on the website for updates as to further meetings.
 
 http://www.labor.state.ny.us/agencyinfo/publicmeeting.shtm 
 
Click on Child Performer Advisory Board meeting.

 
*********************
 
 
VOICING YOUR OPINIONS:
 
 
Just as like when this law was dropped in our laps, parents were excluded from meetings in Albany. We found out about it after it was already passed by the Assembly and Senate and heading on over to the governor to sign.

PLEASE REVIEW THE VIDEOS before sending along your comments to fully understand what is being discussed and how it might affect your own personal situation, whether your child is a child performer, singer, dancer or model.
 
I do have contacts in both Departments and have asked them to provide me with at least one or two staff contacts in the NYSDOL and NYS Dept of Education for parents to write to, however, I have not had a formal response as of yet.

Best I can advise for now...

Write a letter to the NYSDOL addressed to M. Patricia Smith, Commissioner (info below).  FAX that letter and follow it up with a phone call to her office!!!  VERY IMPORTANT TO CALL to get their attention.  Ask for an email address or phone contact number for MAURA MCCANN, who is the DOL Rep overseeing this panel, I have been told.
 
Patricia M. Smith, Commissioner WAS present at the first meeting. 
 
New York Department of Labor

M. Patricia Smith, Commissioner
PH: (518) 457-9000

Division of Safety and Health
Pubic Employees Safety and Health (PESH) Bureau
Governor W. Averell Harriman State Building Campus
Building 12, Room 158
Albany, New York 12240
PH: (518) 457-1263
FAX: (518) 457-5545


Provide all contact information in that letter and ask how you can have your voice heard with the panel, possibly via teleconference, which if you watch the video there are people on the telephone.

*********************

EMPLOYMENT OF MINORS - scroll down until you see employment of minors and info can be found on model work permits and child performer permits.

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/sss/Data/Attendance/Matrix-At...sRegs.htm#EMPLOYMENT OF MINORS

***************

There is a rep from the NYS Dept of Education on this Committee and the NYSDOE will be reviewing the recommendations. Her name is Mary Daley from the NYS Ed Arts Dept.

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/nysssa/contact.html


 

Wow, thank you Janet, for all your time and continued efforts and support for children in this industry.

I am not quite sure how to feel about this.

I know anorexia very well so I realize the concern about preventing it. It's a horrible thing to have. But I don't believe they understand what they are.

Eating disorders are NOT caused by "oh, she's thin. I'll just go starve myself/throw up to be like her". A child or adult has to have underlying problems that cause the desire to resort to coping mechanisms that have adverse reactions.
I'll continue my post later. I have to go.

2.5 hours is the longest my dd worked on a modeling shoot.How long do most child models work?

quote:

Originally posted by Morgin Felicia:
I am not quite sure how to feel about this.

I know anorexia very well so I realize the concern about preventing it. It's a horrible thing to have. But I don't believe they understand what they are.

Eating disorders are NOT caused by "oh, she's thin. I'll just go starve myself/throw up to be like her". A child or adult has to have underlying problems that cause the desire to resort to coping mechanisms that have adverse reactions.
I'll continue my post later. I have to go.

I think perhaps you've just written your letter to the DOL to share your thoughts.

I absolutely agree with you that there are many underlying issues, family issues, peer pressures that contribute and to relate eating disorders JUST to the modeling/acting industry believing that eating disorders are a DIRECT RESULT of this industry and nothing else!

I hope you did watch the video because the scariest part of this is that they are TRYING TO RUSH this through and this subject is way to intense to rush through.

WHY are they rushing through? It's because an amendment was passed last year that will no allow the NYSDOL to promulate (write) regulations to the Child Performer Law. Language was left out of the original bill that would have allowed them to do so..thus, THE ABSENCE of regulations since 2003.

Reality check - The child performer law is a law in name only. It's an on-line system of obtaining a work permit that has notified the schools that the kids are working and made it harder to obtain a work permit.

Now, they will be writing regulations and someone came up with an idea to address eating disorders, a complicated physical and psychological subject, form a committee, NO PARENTS OF CHILD PERFORMERS OR MODELS PRESENT, three-quarters of the Advisory Board not familiar with the industry and feel (as stated in the video) that it will only take 3 or 4 meetings to come up with a set of guidelines!

I hope everyone takes some time and look this over because it will affect EACH ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN, child performer, dancers, singers, models, theater ANYONE applying for a work permit in NYS!

It may require a physical every 6 months?

Liability issues -employer, doctor?

extra testing if your physician wants to make sure your child does not have an eating disorder before filling out any forms required by the DOL.

Who is going to be qualified in the DOL to be determining if a child should be issued a work permit or not.

If a permit is denied, what must that child go through before being able to obtain one. Were they misdiagnosed, now labled with an eating disorder.

Was there a survey performed that raised a red flag that determined that a good percentage of child performers and models suffering from eating disorders, even though as young as 6 to 10?


MODELS - work permits will now be MUST. Now I'm not sure if hours will also be related with models...as the work permits were issued by the Dept of Education previously.

This is not something that I want to hit parents in the face because we were able to work through the Child Performer Law with the work permits and trust funds, but this is far more complicated!

There is a SAG rep present from NY if you watch the video. That might be another option if you'd like to call the NY SAG office.

I have to look again but I don't see this info on the NYS Child Performer webpage, where most parents go to and not the HOME PAGE of the DOL.
At least this would have alerted parents to possible changes in the future.

So, it's not a matter of IF these changes will take place, it's a matter of WHEN and what these regulations will address and what the additional requirements will be INCLUDING, now, child models.

quote:

Originally posted by Mominbiz:
Wow, thank you Janet, for all your time and continued efforts and support for children in this industry.

My pleasure. I'm just so frustrated at the lack of communication to the parents and the lack of caring to involve them in this process.

It seems that everyone who ISN'T an expert and isn't a legal guardian to these children are deciding on the children's welfare, education, money, health and the parents are then faced with an impossible situation to work with.

The Department of Ed will have to review the recommendations - so there is time for parents to call/write Albany and be the voice that is missing in this conversation.

Agents and employers will have to understand the changes as well - as mentioned in this video, there will be accountability.

Its so frustrating to watch these videos cos you just wanna jump and say WHOA, let's back up here, this is more complicated in so many different respects.

JP

P.S. to Mominbiz, right back at you for efforts in providing a WEALTH of very important information here for parents and for keeping up there threads which bring parents to this board to find information to make that informed decision.

High five to you!

I meant to continue, yes.

I don't like the idea of this law/proposal/etc.

They REALLY should have varied representatives. Especially showbiz parents. Janet, Anne and Paula, people like them should be there.
Janet, thanks so much for the post. Your the best.

I would just like to add that eating disorders start early. I don't mean to keep reflecting the conversation back to me, but I think this demonstrates my point: I started my eating disorder behaviors around the age of 9. BUT I don't like this change. NOTHING this important should be rushed.

quote:

Originally posted by Morgin Felicia:
I meant to continue, yes.

I don't like the idea of this law/proposal/etc.

They REALLY should have varied representatives. Especially showbiz parents. Janet, Anne and Paula, people like them should be there.
Janet, thanks so much for the post. Your the best.

I would just like to add that eating disorders start early. I don't mean to keep reflecting the conversation back to me, but I think this demonstrates my point: I started my eating disorder behaviors around the age of 9. BUT I don't like this change. NOTHING this important should be rushed.

Last post for this morning. I just wanted to get all this info out and jeeze I feel like I hogged up a lot of these posts in the past few weeks!

WHAT IS IMPORTANT is YOUR voice and each parent who reads this and how it relates to their situation with their own child because there are so many areas of the performing arts and like you said, eating disorders (and another reason why your voice is so important because you are familiar with this) is such a complicated/individual issue and to me, not something the labor department should be handling.

My voice is heard, whether I am there physically or not - so not really worried about my voice/opinion. I also have a daughter who is out of the biz/modeling industry now and the people I think who are important are those that will be directly affected by this amendment (not a proposal) but signed by the governor and will allow the DOL to write regulations specific to eating disorders!

Again, I advise all to watch the videos and take some time to contact Albany or the Dept of Ed (use all resources) if you have something important to share with them.

I don't want to see parents all of a sudden hit with an impossible situation without having been able to state their concerns.

Bumping this up as I just saw a question about model work permits in New York.

I'm asking everyone to take some time to read through this and stay on top of changes that are going to take place.

Child model and child peformer work permits could be tied together in the future. Legislation has already been passed to allow the NYSDOL to do so...

There are ongoing meetings - two you can view with the links I have posted. the next open meeting with the NYSDOL is April 1st.

I am reposting the links. Please watch both meetings and ask questions amongst yourselves and/or find answers to your questions through the DOL.

Child performers and child models might need to be screened for eating disorders before they are allowed to be issued a work permit.

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/a...eradvisoryboard.shtm

New Meeting on April 1st.

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/p...s/pressreleases.shtm


Bookmark these links and all I can tell you is to stay on top of this. It will affect everyone obtaining a work permit in NY.

The NYSDOl now has open meetings for the public to view - that is why these meetings are taped.

This all did come as a surprise - most are not still aware...please send these links along to other parents you know who do have children working in NY.

quote:

Originally posted by Janet P:
Bumping this up http://www.labor.state.ny.us/a...eradvisoryboard.shtm

New Meeting on April 1st.

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/p...s/pressreleases.shtm


Bookmark these links and all I can tell you is to stay on top of this. It will affect everyone obtaining a work permit in NY.

The NYSDOl now has open meetings for the public to view - that is why these meetings are taped.

************

BUMPING UP AGAIN!

MEETING - APRIL 1ST WHICH IS THIS WEEK.

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/p...009/March20_2009.htm

Sometimes the meetings can be viewed as they occur, so please check the links above and see if you can do that and watch the meeting as it happens on April 1st. If not the video can be viewed 5 days after the meeting has been held and as you will see all previous meetings are still available.

I don't have a lot of time to commit to this, as I do have other very important pending issues, so I cannot stress the importance of all parents taking some time to watch the meetings and if need be, to have your questions answered, contact the NYSDOL.

PLEASE REMEMBER - THIS IS FOR ALL OF THOSE who will be working in the State of New York and are required to obtain a work permit, not just those who live in NYS. And...this will also include those in the modeling field as well!

No longer, it seems will it be a question that a model work permit is required. It may be combined with the child performer work permit and if you watch the videos, there is mention of spot checks as well by labor dept staff.

This meeting might be important as the panel may have come to the point of making recommendations to the NYSDOL as to what regulations the DOL MUST WRITE to address eating disorders which seems to be leading to the physician having to conclude that the child is not suffering from one..physical exams, twice a year?? once a year and what is this all being based on.

Yes, another headache for New York on top of a law that just never found it's way.

Please remember as well that the NYSDOL has been given the authority, per a recently passed amendment last year, to WRITE REGULATIONS to this law as well, addressing work hours, conditions and goodness knows what they will do with the education as well.

The NYS Dept of Education has reached out and willing to meet with the DOL to discuss and address education - FACT...just so you know, so there should be no reason for the DOL to be writing regulations without consulting and meeting with the Dept of Education. Another thing you might want to contact the DOL and ask about.

BIG CHANGES...you not only have your schools deciding whether or not your child can be issued a child performer work permit, by filling out the required form, but also the child's physician determining THROUGH POSSIBLE STANDARDS THIS COMMITTEE IS FORMING, whether or not your child is suffering from an eating disorder to be issued a work permit!

SAG does have a rep on this committee. Sorry guys, I've asked for outreach on this subject..some information for parents via the website or newsletter and there is no information. For SAG members you may also want to try and contact SAG/NY!

Best I can do for now. It's up to all of you to keep in touch with this and contact the DOL for further questions!

BOOKMARK THIS PAGE - IT'S THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHICH IS UPDATED WHEN THERE ARE CHANGES.

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/w...ildPerformerFAQ.shtm

Scroll down to the bottom where there is a link to contact them via email if you do not want to call.

Info is in my first post, Commissioner's office, to call, which would be my first choice and then email the DOL.

Bumping this up.

Sorry, trying to keep on top of this best I can right now. No news so far but they did supposedly have a meeting on April 1st, per the DOL website of the Child Performer Advisory Panel. The video was to be made available 5 days after the meeting, however, the video is NOT available. I did email them, have not heard back yet.

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/p...009/March20_2009.htm

I'm really sorry that any parent has to be watching this and gathering information by themselves and no formal statement has been made in any SAG publication. I thought by now there would have been some mention. We've had no seminars as well where this information. This was not a SAG sponsored bill as far as I know, however, there is representation on this panel.

Again, if your child is working, try and stay on top of this and relate it to your own personal circumstances because ultimately it you will all have to work with the outcome in some way. I know the same information as all of you and no real influence as far as the outcome as I do not have a child working at this time..your voices are more important if you want to be provided further information or have concerns. i am just showing you where to find information.

If there is a special exam needed to determine if the child has an eating disorder, to be performed by your physician before obtaining a work permit, I know that my own personal insurance plan would not cover this in a yearly well visit. EVen if it is just a form to fill out the doctor's office has to document this and verify why the exam was called for...all might come down to an added expense - might want to just talk this out with your physicians now, especially those without insurance, which, unfortunatey during this economic crisis has happened to many. I'm just trying to think ahead of the worse case scenario!

I have, however, asked for records concerning any meetings and such so maybe that will help sort things out. I just don't want this to be a "signed deal" and dropped in everyone's laps without warning.

quote:

Originally posted by Janet P:
Bumping this up.

Sorry, trying to keep on top of this best I can right now. No news so far but they did supposedly have a meeting on April 1st, per the DOL website of the Child Performer Advisory Panel. The video was to be made available 5 days after the meeting, however, the video is NOT available. I did email them, have not heard back yet.

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/p...009/March20_2009.htm

I'm really sorry that any parent has to be watching this and gathering information by themselves and no formal statement has been made in any SAG publication. I thought by now there would have been some mention. We've had no seminars as well where this information. This was not a SAG sponsored bill as far as I know, however, there is representation on this panel.

Again, if your child is working, try and stay on top of this and relate it to your own personal circumstances because ultimately it you will all have to work with the outcome in some way. I know the same information as all of you and no real influence as far as the outcome as I do not have a child working at this time..your voices are more important if you want to be provided further information or have concerns. i am just showing you where to find information.

If there is a special exam needed to determine if the child has an eating disorder, to be performed by your physician before obtaining a work permit, I know that my own personal insurance plan would not cover this in a yearly well visit. EVen if it is just a form to fill out the doctor's office has to document this and verify why the exam was called for...all might come down to an added expense - might want to just talk this out with your physicians now, especially those without insurance, which, unfortunatey during this economic crisis has happened to many. I'm just trying to think ahead of the worse case scenario!

I have, however, asked for records concerning any meetings and such so maybe that will help sort things out. I just don't want this to be a "signed deal" and dropped in everyone's laps without warning.

edited to add the link if you want to keep checking back yourselves to see if the April 1st meeting is available to view.

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/a...eradvisoryboard.shtm

The April 1st Meeting of the Eating Disorder Child Advisory Board is available for viewing on the New York State Dept of Labor Website.

You can view the April 1st meeting and the previous meetings through this link:

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/a...eradvisoryboard.shtm

I strongly advise all parents who have actively working children (including out of state parents) who are working as child models and child actors to view all meetings.

Sorry, I have not had the chance to watch this video -probably will not get to it until the end of the week.

This may have been the last meeting before the DOL will be making decisions that will affect the work permit, both for child models and child performers.

Thanks so much for your continued updates, Janet!