The Division of Family Services is mandated by law to investigate complaints about child abuse and neglect. Since 1875, state agencies have been balancing the children's right of safety and the parent's right to choose what is good for the family. The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 clearly puts the focus on the protection, safety and permanency plan of children as the first priority.
Services are child oriented and family focused.
The Office of Child Care Licensing strives for a high standard of care and ensures safe environments for children by providing guidance, training and support to many day care providers throughout the state, and investigating complaints concerning day care facilities. Foster families are for children of all ages and races and foster parents may be single or married, live in an apartment, mobile home, or house. The Division of Family Services assists at risk children and their families through a limited number of school based Early Intervention Programs . The Division's Office of Children's Services also assesses families with problems and provides them with supportive services to empower them to protect and nurture their children. The Division may ask Court permission to temporarily remove children from a parent's care when there is a serious risk of physical harm to the children.