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Department of Social Services - Provides an array of casework services such as
Child Protective, Foster Care, Adoption
and Day Care.
Call (518) 283-2000
Adult Protective Service - This unit investigates
reports of adult abuse or exploitation. Protective services are provided to adults
who
are at risk of harm and who have
no one else to protect or assist
them. Financial management and homemaker are also components of the service.
To
report individuals in the community
who are at risk of harm call - 687-3700.
Adoption - Home studies are conducted on families
expressing
an interest in adopting.
A child is matched with adoptive parents as closely as possible with respect
to
ethnic and religious
background and the ability of the adoptive parents to meet the child's needs.
Services are provided to both the
child to be adopted and the prospective adoptive parents. For more information
call 283-2000 ext. 108.
Child Protective Services - Child Protective Caseworkers
respond
within
24 hours to all
reports made to the State Central Register for Abuse and Maltreatment. If the
allegations are found to be true,
services are provided to the family to begin the healing process and keep the
family together. Sometimes it is necessary
to remove children from the family when there is imminent risk of serious harm.
Cases involving domestic
violence, sexual abuse or serious injury to a child are also prosecuted in civil
court. To make a report of suspected
abuse or neglect call 1-800-342-3720.
Day Care - Day care services are provided in centers
or
informally through a
variety of funding sources. Child care is provided to Public Assistance recipients
for employment and/or training leading
to employment. Transitional child
care along with Medicaid is offered for one year to Public Assistance recipients
whose
cases are closed due to employment. Low Income day care is available to working
parents who are not eligible
for Public Assistance and whose income is less than 160% of the poverty level.
Child care is also provided through
this funding to teen parents to allow them to finish high school. Low income
day
care is limited by available
funding. Finally, day care is provided to children who are at risk of foster
care
placement due to abuse or neglect.
Foster Care - Foster care replacement occurs when
it is determined that a child is at imminent risk of serious harm due to abuse
or neglect by a parent or, when the child has been adjudicated by
Family Court , a Juvenile Delinquent or a PINS (Person in need of supervision).
A child may be placed in a foster
home, group home or institution, depending on the child's needs. While a child
is in thetemporary care and custody
of the Commissioner of Social Services, services are provided to rectify the
problems
and reunite the family.
For more information call the Foster Care Unit at 283-2000 ext. 219.
Mandated Preventative Services - are provided to
children and parents where there is a risk of foster care placement to prevent
further abuse or neglect of a child. Day care is provided as part
of the service to protect the child at risk and to allow overwhelmed parents
respite.
For more information call 283-2000
ext. 205.
Office of Child and Family Services - has numerous
responsibilities including: foster care, adoption and adoption assistance, child
protective services, preventive
services for children and families, services
for pregnant adolescents, childcare and referral programs, and protective programs
for vulnerable adults.
OCFS
is also responsible for the functions performed by the State Commission for the
Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH),
and coordinates state government response to the needs of Native Americans on
reservations and in communities.
Additionally, the agency operates numerous juvenile residential facilities for
youth remanded to the agency's custody
and care by the family and criminal courts.
OCFS works closely with municipalities
such as the local social
services districts and county youth bureaus to encourage the provision of adequate
youth development services and
programs at the local level.
Telephone:
- Abandoned Infant Protection Act: 1-866-505-SAFE
- Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-342-3720
- Day Care Complaint Line: 1-800-732-5207
- English-Speaking Domestic Violence
Hotline: 1-800-942-6906
- Spanish-Speaking Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-942-6908
- For information
about children available for adoption and other children's programs: 1-800-345-KIDS
- Child
Care Professional Retention Program: 1-518-473-1008
- For general information
not covered by these numbers: 1-518-473-7793
Website: Office of Child and Family Services
Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence was created to improve the response of the State and local communities to
domestic violence. In fulfilling this role, we:
- Advise the Governor and the Legislature on statewide domestic violence
policy and legislation;
- Promote and facilitate cooperation among state agencies
and between various levels
of government in the delivery and/or funding of domestic violence services;
- Promote cross-systems’ responses to domestic violence; and conduct
statewide community outreach and public education.
Website: Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
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