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ACS Divisions


Administration

The Division of Administration ensures that ACS has the resources and support necessary to function efficiently and effectively.

Offices within the Division include Procurement, Facilities, Personnel, Administrative Services, and Accountability and Audit.

The Division's functions include personnel management as well as building maintenance, workplace safety, health, and security, transportation, purchasing of goods and services, graphic services, and records management.

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Child and Family Well-Being

The Division of Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) provides access to quality resources and opportunities that promote child and family well-being, enhance families' capacity to thrive, and helps minimize child welfare system involvement. CFWB's programs fall into what is commonly referred to as primary prevention. Within a child welfare context, this refers to programs and services directed at the general population that attempt to stop child maltreatment before it occurs. CFWB works to achieve this by providing access to resources and opportunities that strengthen family protective factors, defined as attributes that, when present, mitigate or eliminate risk in families and communities by fortifying their stability and well-being.

The Division has the following units:

The Child Care Operations Unit staffs the child care voucher hotline and supports eligibility determination and resolving enrollment issues.

The Performance Unit works across the entire Division to provide vital supports. Within the Unit are: the Policy and Procedure team, which performs all tasks to ensure compliance with regulations that govern our city, state, and federal funding streams; the Data Management and Systems unit, which oversees the data collected through ACCIS (Automated Child Care Information System), the centralized database for subsidized early care and education services; and the Administrative Services team.

The Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships manages ACS' Community Partnership Program (CPPs) and the Family Enrichment Centers (FECs).

The Office of Child Safety and Injury Prevention provides educational resources designed to protect the safety and well-being of children and families throughout the year, including about safe sleep for babies, cannabis edible safety, window guard safety and more.

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Child Protection

The Division of Child Protection (DCP) investigates all allegations of child abuse and neglect that the City receives from the New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. Each year the division investigates about 55,000 reported cases. The Division comprises approximately 3,500 employees spread across the five boroughs at nineteen sites.

The Division includes the following offices:

Child Protective Borough Offices are made up of teams of child protective specialists who investigate reported cases of abuse and neglect.

Emergency Children's Services provides 24-hour investigative coverage, including on evenings and weekends.

The Office of Special Investigations investigates reports that involve foster parents, child care providers, and ACS staff.

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Commissioner's Office

The Commissioner's Office is the central management point for the daily operations of the agency and the first point of contact for external partners.

The Commissioner's Office includes:

The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity ("OEEO") is a confidential office that is responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable Federal, State and City employment laws that prohibit discrimination based on actual or perceived age, alienage or citizenship status, caregiver status, color, credit history, disability, familial status, gender (or sex), height and/or weight (referred to as “body size”), marital status, military status, national origin, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics/genetic information, prior record of arrest or conviction, race or ethnicity, religion or creed, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, unemployment status, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of sex offenses, and status as a victim of stalking.

The Office of Agency Accountability: The Office of Agency Accountability is a critical partner in managing time sensitive and cross-divisional projects and also serves as a central point of contact between agency personnel, city, state, and federal officials when external reviews and audits of the agency are conducted. This office deals with complex matters ranging from: auditing caseloads of child protective staff when there are concerns regarding potential willful misconduct, investigating employees who have submitted potentially fraudulent workers compensation claims, auditing areas of potential fiscal weakness within the agency to ensure regulatory compliance. The office is also responsible for tracking systemic recommendations that emerge from the existing quality assurance and quality improvement efforts, to report to the Commissioner on their implementation and completion. The CAO also evaluates and renders determinations on appeals for reasonable accommodation decisions made by the agency's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity.

Office of Investigations: The Division of Investigations includes the Investigative Consultants, the Office of Safety First and Instant Response.

  • The Investigative Consultants program, a team of former law enforcement investigators, provides training, consultation, and support to ACS investigative staff.
  • The Office of Safety First assists mandated reporters to resolve concerns about the progress of a current child protective investigation.
  • Instant Response helps improve coordination between ACS and law enforcement in high-risk child abuse cases.

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External Affairs

The Division of External Affairs comprises the Offices of Communications, Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs, Advocacy, Immigrant Services and Language Affairs, and Marketing.

The Office of Communications works with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure that the agency speaks with one consistent voice regarding priorities and promotes and supports all agency divisions with their programs and initiatives.

The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Interagency Affairs is the main point of contact for elected officials within the agency, and is responsible for working with elected officials and other stakeholders to advance the agency's mission.

The Office of Advocacy responds to inquiries, complaints, and concerns of parents, youth, foster parents, and the general public.

The Office of Immigrant Services and Language Affairs carries out the mandates of New York City Local Law 73, which prohibits public employees from asking clients about their citizenship status, other than to determine eligibility for a specific service or benefit, and requires certain kinds of free language assistance for persons with limited English proficiency who receive ACS services. ISLA ensures that all non-citizen youth in care who may be eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status or other forms of relief are appropriately referred for legal services.

The Office of Marketing oversees print, radio, television and video promotions, public awareness campaigns, large scale events, and marketing materials such as brochures, flyers and content for the intranet and public website.

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Family Court Legal Services

The Division of Family Court Legal Services is responsible for representing Children's Services in child welfare proceedings in the New York City Family Courts. The division provides legal assistance for the agency and foster care provider agencies and training for attorneys and caseworkers on Family Court practice.

The following units are part of FCLS:

Family Court Litigation Units located in the five New York City Family Courts represents Children's Services in court proceedings.

The Legal Support and Training Unit provides training for attorney and child welfare staff as well as litigation support for the FCLS court units. In addition, the unit provides legal advice to other Children's Services program areas. The unit also develops policies and procedures for the division and provides input into agency policies and legislation.

Legal Compliance Unit assists FCLS attorneys with issues involving compliance with court orders, expediting provision of services, guidance on agency policies, federal and state regulations, immigration issues, and other issues impacting permanency and well-being of children.

Title IV-E Management Unit assists the Central Eligibility Unit by obtaining court orders and legal documents to support claims for Federal and State Reimbursement for foster care and adoption.

Court Document Dissemination Unit obtains and distributes court orders to Children's Services and provider agency staff.

Contract Management Unit manages the contracts for process service, expert witnesses and court transcripts.

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Family Permanency Services

The Division of Family Permanency Services (FPS) ensures high quality services are provided to children and youth in foster care to improve outcomes related to permanency, safety and well-being. The Division supports foster care providers by offering guidance on child welfare policies and procedures and delivering technical assistance to enhance in provider's practice.

The Division includes the following offices:

Office of Older Youth Development Services (OYDS) partners with our foster care providers, youth, and families to support timely and safe permanency planning for youth, primarily in residential care settings. OYDS works closely with residential care providers delivering technical assistance that promote best practices used with youth managing complex behavioral needs, expectant and parenting girls, and youth preparing to transition from foster care. Additionally, OYDS provides guidance to foster care agencies around child sex trafficking and supporting juvenile-justice involved youth. The ACS' Youth Leadership Council is housed in OYDS.

The Office of Strategic Program Support (OSPS) provides macro-level technical assistance (TA) and support to foster care agencies on permanency, foster home recruitment, foster care budgets and invoicing, interjurisdictional placements, and new program and project implementation. This includes sharing best practices, identifying and addressing challenges, and utilizing data to inform focus areas, strategies, track progress and highlight successes.

Provider Agency Collaboration and Engagement (PACE) offers assistance on individual case specifics, working with provider agencies, stakeholders, and other ACS Divisions, to assist young people and families involved in the foster care system, and help resolve any issues that may arise. PACE works closely with foster care agencies on placement, critical incidents, vital records, childcare vouchers, and visiting services.

The Office of Youth Success Services (OYSS) works cross-divisionally to ensure youth have access to support services and programs focused on education, academic coaching, career readiness, vocational training, paid internships, employment, and housing. This unit works on implementing comprehensive strategies to address chronic absenteeism, promotes employment and workforce development opportunities for youth, provides services and connections for youth and families to have access to quality and safe housing and offers resources to youth who are seeking a two or four-year degree. The OYSS programs are designed to improve well-being and increase success for children and youth in foster care.

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Family Services Division

The Family Services Division (FSD) oversees the delivery and monitoring of preventive services for children and families in their community through our contracted providers. FSD aims to reduce the gap between poor infant/child/adolescent developmental and adult outcomes by promoting child and parent well-being, strengthening the ability of parents and guardians to keep their children safe, and reducing the risk of repeat maltreatment, neglect and placements/re-placements into foster care.

The Division includes the following Offices:

The Office of Family Home Care oversees the Family Home Care program which provides crisis intervention services to ensure that children remain in their homes and communities when possible.

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Financial Services

The Division of Financial Services (DFS) is responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring the fiscal functions of the agency in accordance with City, State and Federal oversight guidelines.

DFS comprises five major departments:

Budget department is responsible for planning and monitoring the agency budget, working closely with ACS executive management to ensure that agency priorities and initiatives are adequately funded and for acting as liaison with budgetary oversight entities including the Mayor's Office of Management and Budget.

Claiming & Revenue Accounting is responsible for verifying and submitting eligible expenses for claiming in addition to planning, implementing and verifying the receipt of all appropriate revenues for the agency from the State and Federal governments.

Finance Audit & Banking monitors the financial health of provider agencies through financial review and audits and maintains all agency bank accounts.

Payment Services ensures that provider agencies, vendors, and clients are reimbursed for goods and services in a timely and accurate manner.

Revenue Maximization ensures the accurate and timely eligibility review of child welfare cases for the agency and the maintenance of accurate case data for those cases.

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Office of Agency Accountability

The Office of Agency Accountability is a critical partner in managing time sensitive and cross-divisional projects and also serves as a central point of contact between agency personnel, city, state, and federal officials when external reviews and audits of the agency are conducted. This office deals with complex matters ranging from: auditing caseloads of child protective staff when there are concerns regarding potential willful misconduct, investigating employees who have submitted potentially fraudulent workers compensation claims, auditing areas of potential fiscal weakness within the agency to ensure regulatory compliance. The office is also responsible for tracking systemic recommendations that emerge from the existing quality assurance and quality improvement efforts, to report to the Commissioner on their implementation and completion. The CAO also evaluates and renders determinations on appeals for reasonable accommodation decisions made by the agency's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity.

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Office of the First Deputy Commissioner

The Office of the First Deputy Commissioner plays a significant role in implementing agency goals and carries out ACS' mission to foster a collaborative, community-based, integrated approach to child and family safety, permanency, and well-being. The First Deputy Commissioner serves as the Commissioner's senior delegate and represents the Commissioner when necessary.

The Division includes the following offices:

The Office of Children And Family Health - manages health care issues throughout the agency, providing expert technical assistance to our child welfare, juvenile justice, and child care programs. The Office also develops and implements strategies to enhance the understanding of medical issues throughout our systems in order to improve case practice and outcomes. OCFH consists of the following units:

  • Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Unit
  • Pre-Placement Unit
  • Clinical Programs and Services Unit
  • Mental Health Coordination Unit
  • Health, Policy and Planning Unit
  • Developmental Disabilities Unit
  • Children with Special and Exceptional Needs Unit

The Office of Public-Private Partnerships - acts as ACS' liaison to the philanthropic community. In addition, they manage private and government funding for several collaborative initiatives. This Office also serves as the agency's primary point of contact with New Yorkers for Children, ACS' non-profit partner. This office consists of the following units:

  • Development and Special Projects Unit
  • In-Kind Contributions and Pro-Bono Resources Unit

The Office of Equity Strategies is committed to promoting equity and reducing disparities based on race, ethnicity, sovereignty, gender, gender identify and expression, sexual orientation and socioeconomics. This Office was established in 2017 to build upon and broaden the advocacy efforts undertaken by the agency, with an immediate focus on implementing legislation signed by Mayor de Blasio to strengthen justice and equity in New York City. OES leads agency wide initiatives and serves as an in-house resource, providing technical assistance on the development and implementation of equity centered strategies. This office consists of the following units:

  • Race Equity Strategies
  • LGBTQAI+ Equity Strategies

Hope Services provide opportunities for youth incarcerated in two secure detention centers (Horizon Justice Center in the Bronx and Crossroads Justice Center in Brooklyn) to access spiritual and/or religious education and to build their faith and hope during their time in detention. Hope Services is staffed by a Director and Chaplain who each coordinate religious programs to include services of various faiths at the two centers, in partnership with internal and external stakeholders and faith-based organizations.

Medicaid Strategies is responsible for driving and coordinating ACS's use of Medicaid to achieve the agency's strategic goals and serves as the lead ACS contact for New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and identify and advocate as necessary pertaining to policy and systems issues related to Medicaid Redesign. Within this area is housed the Transitional Medicaid Unit (TMU) which collaborates with internal departments, the State Department of Health (SDOH), managed care organizations, Human Resources Administration (HRA), and Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to ensure that youth leaving foster care have health care coverage and for maintaining Medicaid coverage for all adopted and Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP) youth, up until they turn 21.

Parent Advocacy Council Spearheaded by the first Parent Engagement Specialist at ACS in 2019, the Parent Advocacy Council (PAC) was created to bring parents' voices into all aspects of ACS's work to improve child and family outcomes. Since 2019, the PAC has brought parents with lived experience into policy and practice by convening and collaborating with ACS leadership.

Special Projects is responsible for projects that work across divisions and with other stakeholders including the agency's resource sharing and training on Perinatal Mood Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) to multiple divisions (including DCP, Prevention & Foster Care) and contracted prevention providers and foster care agencies. In addition, this area oversees the citywide implementation of Safety App to enhance protection of staff conducting home visits in communities.

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Office of the General Counsel

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides legal representation, counsel and advice to the Commissioner and all divisions. OGC identifies areas of legal vulnerability and coordinates with other Divisions to ensure compliance with court orders, consent decrees, and other legal and regulatory mandates. OGC also works closely with the NYC Law Department to minimize risk and avoid litigation and defend ACS in class action and individual lawsuits. OGC is comprised of six legal units and two non-legal units.

Business Law Unit is responsible for drafting, reviewing, revising and interpreting contracts, which include, but are not limited to, memoranda of understanding (MOU), licenses, cooperative agreements between ACS and other City agencies, leases, requests for proposals, and various technology related agreements.

Employment Law Unit handles employment related administrative (disciplinary) cases and external discrimination complaints on behalf of the Agency, liaises with the NYC Law Dept. on employment related lawsuits against the City, and provides legal counsel and training to Agency leadership and program areas.

Fair Hearings & Compliance Unit represents ACS at administrative hearings (for challenges to indicated cases) held before both the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), for foster parent and adoption rate disputes, and related appeals held before the NYS Supreme Court.

Legal Counsel Unit provides legal advice on policy and program issues, and acts as in-house counsel conducting legal research, drafting memoranda, interpreting laws, regulations, and policies governing ACS services, reviewing draft policies and procedures, responding to conflicts of interest matters and program inquiries, and acting as liaison to NYC Law department in significant federal litigation.

ACS Labor Relations Unit: Serving as the agency's chief liaison with union and labor organizations representing ACS employees, the ACS Office of Labor Relations is responsible for maintaining this collaborative relationship by working to resolve local labor-management issues and convening labor-management meetings as necessary, as well as provide advice to management and program directors consistent with collective bargaining contracts and applicable labor laws.

ACS Office of Procurement purchases goods and services for ACS. Procurement staff work closely with program divisions to understand their needs and to harness the various procurement methods made available by the City. Purchases are compliant with the Procurement Policy Board (“PPB”) rules and, wherever possible, prioritize Women- and Minority-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE). The Office of Procurement coordinates solicitation documents, proposal/bid evaluation and award, and processes new contracts as well as contract amendments for registration by the City Comptroller.

The Records & Compliance Unit responds to requests for closed child protective services investigations to those entitled to receive them pursuant to NY Social Services Law 422.4(A) and 422.5 and Freedom of Information Law requests in accordance with Public Officers Law. The Agency Privacy Officer is responsible for monitoring and managing how the Agency collects, retains and discloses identifying information in accordance with the Identifying Information Law (NYC Admin. Code 23-1201-1203), as well as provide legal consultations for ACS staff and human service contractors on the Identifying Information Law.

The Special Projects Unit provides legal advice on policy and program issues, and acts as the in-house counsel for special projects, conducting legal research, interpreting laws and regulations governing the provision of ACS services. SPU is the primary liaison with the Law Department related to the over 650 Child Victim's Act (CVA) cases, and nearly 500 Gender Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) cases.

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Office of Human Resources

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) holds a broad spectrum of responsibilities that contribute directly to ACS' vision of offering comprehensive, quality services that empower children and families to thrive. ACS' Office of Human Resources' primary functions include developing and implementing the agency's human resources policies and procedures, recruiting, and hiring qualified candidates for open positions, providing onboarding and training to new employees, managing employee performance and compensation, and ensuring compliance with all applicable employment, civil service, and labor laws. In addition to our primary functions, the Office of Human Resources provides a variety of other services to employees, such as career development, employee benefits, and wellness programs. The Office of Human Resources also works in partnership with ACS program areas and divisions to provide initiatives and services that nurture and develop an environment of employee empowerment, advocacy, and involvement in the organization while attracting and cultivating a diverse dynamic workforce.

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Office of Information Technology

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) is dedicated to empowering the NYC Children's workforce with smart, safe, and secure technology.

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Policy Planning and Measurement

The Division of Policy, Planning, and Measurement (PPM) collaborates with every ACS division to bring knowledge to practice. PPM guides systems analysis, strategic improvement and policy development; monitors and improves the quality of practice at ACS and its provider agencies; trains and develops the direct service workforce; manages research and analytics; and develops new programs.

The Division includes the following offices:

The Office of Policy, Program Development and Monitoring is responsible for policy development, new program development, performance management and continuous quality improvement with ACS' contracted provider agencies. Its units include Provider Agency Management Systems (PAMS), Agency Program Assistance (APA), the Policy Unit, and Program Development and Contract Governance.

The Office of Research and Analytics produces data, reports, and analysis for the entire agency, as well as for oversight agencies, the public and elected officials. This office includes the offices of Data Analytics, the Management Outcomes and Reporting Unit, Predictive Analytics, Research and Analysis, the Scorecard Unit, Report Development and the ChildStat Data Unit.

The Office of Quality Improvement manages quality assurance and improvement primarily related to the Division of Child Protection (DCP), and has four units: DCP Zone Based Review, DCP Collaborative Quality Improvement (CoQI), ChildStat Case Review, and Systemic Child Fatality Review (SCFR). These units conduct qualitative reviews of case practice on open and closed investigations, to provide an in-depth view into DCP practice including on safety & risk. Findings are incorporated into collaboratively quality improvement plans developed with DCP zones, and support system-wide accountability.

The Office of Strategy, Innovation and Planning (SIP) manages inter-divisional strategic initiatives, capacity building, systems design and reforms. The primary functions of the team include policy and data analysis; strategy; design and innovation; project management and implementation support; participatory research and design; and continuous quality improvement and sustainability.

The Office of Training and Workforce Development provides foundational and continuous learning for child welfare and juvenile justice direct service staff and supervisors. Through the use of simulation, coaching and other best practices in adult learning, staff develop strengths-based skills to protect and support the children, youth and families of New York City.

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Youth and Family Justice

The Division of Youth and Family Justice (DYFJ) provides a wide range of services and programs for youth at every stage of the juvenile justice process. Our goals are to build stronger and safer communities and advance public safety by preventing juveniles from entering the New York City's juvenile justice system, to provide therapeutic treatment and services to youth in our custodial care, and to help juveniles develop the tools to leave the justice system for good. We strive to help families and young people by providing supportive services that are responsive to the needs of individual youth and families.

The Division includes the following Offices and program areas:

Community-Based Alternatives provides preventive services to youth at risk of getting involved in the system through the Family Assessment Program (FAP). It also oversees alternative programs that prevent youth from being detained or placed in a residential setting.

Detention provides secure and non-secure detention services for justice-involved youth whose cases are pending in Family or Criminal Courts.

Close to Home provides residential placement services for Juvenile Delinquents in a homelike setting close to their families and communities.

The Office of Juvenile Justice Programs and Services provides support across the Division by ensuring that our youth receive comprehensive and consistent medical, mental health, case management, and social services throughout their involvement with the juvenile justice system, and developing and overseeing the Division's continuum of programming and services.

The Office of Planning, Policy and Performance is responsible for monitoring detention, placement, aftercare, and community-based service providers' performance, and to support the providers through technical assistance.