DYFS/DCF
The United Way of Hudson County sits on the advisory board of the Hudson County office of the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), Department of Children and Families (DCF). DYFS/DCF is New Jersey’s child protection and child welfare agency within the Department of Children and Families. Its mission is to ensure the safety and well being of children, to provide support for families and to investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect.
If DYFS/DCF social workers find evidence of child abuse and neglect, they arrange for the child’s protection and the family’s treatment. Working locally, the Hudson County office of DYFS/DCF handles referrals and investigations throughout every community in Hudson. In addition, DYFS/DCF operates a 24/7 child abuse hotline to receive all reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. The hotline is linked with a statewide network of Special Response Units that respond to reports received after normal business hours and on holidays.
To report child abuse, call the hotline number 1-877-NJ ABUSE or 2-1-1.
United Way of Hudson County helps DYFS/DCF carry out their mission by providing funding support and serving on the local DYFS/DCF advisory board.
When a child has been harmed or is at risk of harm, the local DYFS/DCF office works with the Hudson County Surrogate, Court Appointed Child Advocates (CASA) and Hudson County Family Court, where a judge will decide whether or not to place the child in foster care. Foster homes are provided by caring individuals in our communities who have completed an extensive training and certification program. If the family court determines a child cannot be safely returned home from foster care, DYFS will begin adoption planning so that the child may have a forever family and permanent home.
In November 2007, 200 New Jersey children including 34 Hudson County children were adopted by their foster families, which are now their forever families. United Way of Hudson County helped support the event and held a press conference that day to announce the wonderful news to the local press.
DFYS/DCF is focusing on a special initiative to recruit adoptive homes for the 100 children who have been in the foster care system the longest amount of time awaiting a forever adoptivefamily. A traveling photo exhibition “100 Waiting Children,” is touring sites in New Jersey (the exhibit will be at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City on Jan. 11, 2008.) To learn more about adopting a child, visit the website: www.njadopt.com.
United Way of Hudson County works with local social service agencies that provide counseling, parenting skills classes, substance abuse treatment, in-home services, foster care and residential placement for Hudson’s children and families. United Way of Hudson County serves as a liaison to the corporate sector so that we can bring the work of these agencies to their attention and inspire them to provide funding, volunteers and any other support they can offer the communities where they work and operate.
