Keeping Your Children Out of Foster Care

There are many ways to prevent your children from going into foster care. The first and most logical way is not to have any child protective involvement. These are basic things you can do to prevent Child Protective Involvement:

• Never leave your child Alone


• Do Not Use Corporal Punishment


• Ensure that your children under the age of 16 go to school regularly


• Do Not Use Drugs...including Marijuana


• Do Not Drink Alcohol to inebriation while caring for your children


• Ensure that your home is clean and safe


• Make sure that you are taking your children to the doctor regularly and that they are up to date on all of their immunizations


• If arrested Make Arrangements for a responsible adult to care for your child in the interim

If a report of suspected Child Abuse/Neglect is called in and you are investigated by New York City Administrative for Children Services remain calm and listen to what the allegations are. Do Not Antagonize the Child Protective Worker as they are doing their job and they are not there to make your life miserable or to create havoc in your life. If there is a recommendation for services you should think seriously about doing services as this will prevent ACS from removing your child as you are cooperating with the Agency. There are many types of services that ACS can recommend for the the family. These services are based upon a safety assessment which is completed by Child protection Specialist when they interview you and your children. Often time ACS will refer families to Preventive Services.

Preventive Services

Preventive services are designed to ensure that children remain safe in the home and to prevent children from entering foster care. When ACS receives a report of child abuse or neglect from the New York State Central Register, an ACS caseworker goes to the family's home to investigate. During an investigation, the caseworker interviews the child, his or her siblings, the parents, other members of the household, teachers, neighbors, clergy, and other significant people involved in the child's life to determine whether there is credible evidence of abuse or neglect. The caseworker then identifies the services necessary to protect the child and help the family. Neighborhood-based preventive services may be offered, preventive services provided by ACS and its network of social service agencies can include family or individual counseling, parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence intervention, home care, support for pregnant and parenting teens, and other services.