Official Site of The State of New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Children and Families is the state’s first Cabinet-level agency devoted exclusively to serving and supporting children and families. It is made up of about 6,600 staff who are focused on and committed to assisting and empowering residents to be safe, healthy and connected.
This is done with an array of evidence-based, family-centered programs and services that are provided through a robust network of community providers using work-practices that incorporate fairness, are healing centered and utilize a protective factors framework.
Our Approach
Collectively, the NJ DCF and its partners are working to: increase kinship placements and family connections; prevent maltreatment and promote strong families; integrate consumer voice in all programs and services; cultivate a culture of accountability; maximize federal revenue; provide an integrated and inclusive system of care for youth; safeguard staff and promote professional satisfaction.
DCF's values guide the work of the Department, serving as the professional compass for decisions large and small, in all that we do.
- Collaboration
- Equity
- Evidence
- Family
- Integrity
As DCF moves ahead, it has identified a set of core approaches that are not initiatives or programs, but instead are practices that will be embedded in all aspects of our work.
- Fairness for all families
- Healing centered practice
- Protective factors framework
- Family voice
- Culture of safety
DCF's strategic focus identifies major priorities for the Department as we strive to maintain excellence in core service delivery, while achieving a large-scale, fundamental transformation that includes:
- Prevention of maltreatment and maltreatment-related fatalities
- Preservation of kinship connections
- Promotion of staff health and wellness
- Integration of an inclusive Children's System of Care (CSOC)
DCF is comprised of the following divisions and offices:
- Central Administrative Offices
- Division of Child Protection and Permanency
- Division of Children’s System of Care
- Division of Family and Community Partnerships
- Division on Women
- Office of Community and Connection
- Office of Education
- Office of Family Voice
- Office of Licensing
- Office of Resilience
- Office of Staff Health and Wellness
- Office of Training and Professional Development
- The Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit
Since its creation in 2006, the NJ Department of Children and Families has designed and managed a strong, state-wide network of core services including child protection and child welfare services, children's behavioral health care, programming to support children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, community-based family strengthening services, specialized educational programming, and services and programming to support women. Over 100,000 New Jersey constituents are impacted by these services each year.
In keeping with our vision for a safe, healthy, connected New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Children and Families is undergoing an urgent transformation that is informed by evolving national best practice, ongoing self-evaluation of the Department's performance, advances in science, and staff and consumer voice.
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