New York State Office of Children and Family Services

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is an agency of the New York state government within the Department of Family Assistance. The office has its headquarters in the Capital View Office Park in Rensselaer.

History
In 1867 a Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities was created to visit and examine into the affairs of all charitable institutions. In 1875 the Children's Law removed children from poorhouses. In 1894 a constitutional convention enacted a provision requiring the Legislature to establish a State Board of Charities to visit and inspect all institutions. In 1909 the Poor Law was consolidated in chapter 42, and the State Charities Law in chapter 55, of the Consolidated Laws of New York. The Public Welfare Law superseded the Poor Law in 1929. In 1931 they were renamed as the Department of Social Welfare and the State Board of Social Welfare. The Constitutional Convention of 1938 emphasized the state's and its subdivisions' duty to aid, care, and support the needy, including children. In 1940 the State Charities Law and the Public Welfare Law were combined into the Social Welfare Law. The Social Welfare Law mandated that public welfare districts, including New York City, were responsible for the welfare of children in need, either directly or through authorized agencies. In 1967 it was renamed as the Department of Social Services. OCFS was authorized by the Welfare Reform Act of 1997. It was officially created on January 5, 1998, by merging the programs of the former state Division for Youth, the developmental and preventive children and family programs administered by the former state Department of Social Services, and the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped.

Role
OCFS has wide-ranging responsibilities for the provision of services to children, youth, families, and vulnerable adults. The agency is responsible for programs and services involving foster care, adoption, and adoption assistance; child protective services, including operating the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment; preventive services for children and families; child care and referral programs; and protective programs for vulnerable adults. Additionally, OCFS is responsible for the state's juvenile justice programs, administering and managing residential facilities located across New York State for youth remanded to the agency's custody by family and criminal courts. The agency also supports and monitors detention, aftercare, and a range of community-based programs. OCFS also coordinates, in part, the state government response to the needs of Native Americans and their children on reservations and in communities.

Prevention and rehabilitation efforts are joint ventures with local and county government, supported by federal, state, county, and municipal funds, as well as private contributions. OCFS provides technical and financial assistance to agencies involved in community youth programs and monitors activities of voluntary child-care and detention agencies in New York State.

Structure
The agency divides its responsibilities into two main areas: program and support. The program divisions/offices include:


 * Division of Child Welfare and Community Services
 * Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth
 * Division of Youth Development and Partnerships for Success
 * Office of Juvenile Justice Oversight and Improvement
 * Division of Child Care Services
 * Commission for the Blind

The support divisions/offices include:


 * Division of Administration
 * Division of Legal Affairs
 * Office of Communications
 * Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Development
 * Office of Special Investigations
 * Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Development
 * Office of the Ombudsman

OCFS has regional offices in Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, and Westchester and Long Island. The Regional Offices help districts and agencies keep children safe, achieve permanency, and improve the quality of life for children and families. Regional offices provide "oversight" to local districts and voluntary agencies. The responsibility to provide oversight is defined as (1) assuring compliance with OCFS regulations, (2) reinforcing good practice standards, and (3) improving district/agency capacity to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.

The agency's Bureau of Training maintains the Parker Training Academy. Located on the academy grounds is a Dutch barn added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

The state Council on Children and Families was created by Governor Carey in 1977, and administratively merged with OCFS in 2003. The council does not have direct responsibility for the operation of programs or the provision of services, but instead orients its priorities toward the development of comprehensive and coordinated systems of care that respond to the wide needs of children and families.

Juvenile facilities
Secure facilities:
 * Brookwood Secure Center for Youth
 * Goshen Secure Center
 * MacCormick Secure Center

Limited secure facilities:
 * Finger Lakes Residential Center
 * Highland Residential Center
 * Industry Residential Center
 * Taberg Residential Center for Girls
 * Harriet Tubman Residential Center

Non-secure facility:
 * Brentwood Girls Secure Center

Former Facilities (now permanently closed):
 * Sgt. Henry Johnson Youth Leadership Academy
 * Lansing Residential Center
 * Red Hook Residential Center
 * Columbia Girls Secure Center
 * Tryon School for Boys
 * Tryon School for Girls