ACS - Will ACS Take My Child?

Administration for Children's Services

Keeping Children Safe & Supporting Families


Child Safety ResourcesChild Abuse/NeglectFoster/AdoptParent Support

CARES, ACS’s Family Assessment Response
Get Help with Your Case
How to Make a Report
Mandated Reporters
Office of Safety First
Parent's Guide to Child Abuse Investigation
Special Investigations
What is Child Abuse/Neglect?
Will My Child Be Removed?

CARES, ACS’s Family Assessment Response

Get Help with Your Case

How to Make a Report

Mandated Reporters

Office of Safety First

Parent's Guide to Child Abuse Investigation

Special Investigations

What is Child Abuse/Neglect?

Will My Child Be Removed?


Will My Child Be Removed?

Most investigations do not result in a child being removed from their family and placed in the care of ACS.
Whenever possible, ACS will make efforts to keep families together, by working with you to find services to help you keep your children safe and well.

Emergency Removals

If, at any point during the investigation, ACS determines that the child is not safe in your home, ACS is required to conduct an emergency removal (during the hours Family Court is not in session).

After the removal, ACS will arrange for you to attend an Initial Child Safety Conference (ICSC) to discuss what should be done to keep your child safe.

At the conference, you have the right to bring family members and other supports.

You will also be offered the services of a Parent Advocate. Learn more

The Role of the Family Court

If your caseworker and the supervisor determine that no safety interventions can be put in place to eliminate the imminent danger to your child, ACS will seek a Family Court order to remove your child and place your child into foster care.

If CPS determines that it is safe for your child to remain at home while the family receives services, ACS will ask for those services to be provided under the supervision of the Family Court (court-ordered supervision). Your family must comply with these services in order for your child to remain at home.
Learn more about the NYC Family Court

If your child can safely remain at home, ACS may offer voluntary services from an ACS contracted preventive agency or from community-based services in your neighborhood.

For more information on the child abuse investigation process, download and print:

A Parent’s Guide To Child Protective Services in New York City

Programs & Initiatives

Adopt or Foster a Child

Open your heart and home to a child in foster care; become a foster or adoptive parent.

Open your heart and home to a child in foster care; become a foster or adoptive parent.

Open your heart and home to a child in foster care; become a foster or adoptive parent.

Report Child Abuse

Identify the signs of child abuse and maltreatment. Help protect a child by making a report.

Identify the signs of child abuse and maltreatment. Help protect a child by making a report.

Identify the signs of child abuse and maltreatment. Help protect a child by making a report.

New York City Kids are Our Kids

Get involved in the lives of children in your community. Volunteer as a tutor, mentor, or coach.

Get involved in the lives of children in your community. Volunteer as a tutor, mentor, or coach.

Get involved in the lives of children in your community. Volunteer as a tutor, mentor, or coach.

Child Support for Employers

Get information for employers on withholding income, reporting new hires, and more.

Get information for employers on withholding income, reporting new hires, and more.

Get information for employers on withholding income, reporting new hires, and more.

Homebase

If you are about to become homeless, Homebase can help you stay out of shelter.

If you are about to become homeless, Homebase can help you stay out of shelter.

If you are about to become homeless, Homebase can help you stay out of shelter.