The Office of Children’s Services

Think of the mission of OCS as being two-fold: to provide safety, and to work towards permanency for children in its care.

Safety means that OCS has the legal power to intervene when children are hurt, neglected, molested or damaged by the families caring for them.

This means that OCS will investigate reports of possible maltreatment, will go to court to ask for the jurisdiction to intervene and work with families, and will keep the safety of the child foremost in its work with families. This also means that OCS may take children into protective custody if it feels the child is in danger or unsafe with his family.

Permanency means that OCS seeks a long term solution for a child’s safety and well being.

This means that OCS works with a family to try to help that family be able to provide a safe home for the child or will pursue a course of permanency with another family such as a relative or work with families who are willing to adopt a child from the foster care system who needs a permanent home. In some cases, it may also mean making sure that youth who age out of the system are prepared for adulthood.