In our ongoing series of posts surrounding topics that fall outside of our practice areas here at TGL, we’d like to point out the Department of Family Assistance. The DFA is split into two factions…the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Office of Children and Family Services. Here is a breakdown of each and what they are responsible for:
The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance:
The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is responsible for supervising programs that provide assistance and support to eligible families and individuals.
OTDA’s functions include: Providing temporary cash assistance; providing assistance in paying for food; providing heating assistance; overseeing New York State’s child support enforcement program; determining certain aspects of eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits; supervising homeless housing and services programs; and providing assistance to certain immigrant populations.
The Office of Children and Family Services:
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) was formed on January 8, 1998 by merging the former State Division for Youth with the family and children’s programs administered by the former State Department of Social Services. The agency was created to improve the integration of services for New York’s children, youth, families and vulnerable populations and to promote their development and protect them from violence, neglect, abuse and abandonment. The Commissioner of OCFS is Gladys Carrión.
OCFS has numerous responsibilities including: foster care, adoption and adoption assistance, child protective services, preventive services for children and families, services for pregnant adolescents, child care and referral programs, and protective programs for vulnerable adults. OCFS is also responsible for the functions performed by the State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH), and coordinates state government response to the needs of Native Americans on reservations and in communities.
The agency operates 31 residential facilities, two reception centers, six community residential homes, and eight day-placement centers for juvenile delinquents and juvenile offenders placed in the custody of OCFS by family and criminal courts. OCFS works closely with municipalities such as the local social services districts and county youth bureaus to ensure that adequate youth development services and programs are available at the local level.
Programs within the OTDA include food stamps, home energy assistance, homeless housing, refugee and immigrant assistance, and temporary assistance. There are also various other forms of support services included such as child support enforcement and fair hearings.
The Office of Children and Family Services runs the gamut from adoption and child care assistance to protective services for adults. Any further forms or information that you may need on the topics can be found through each division’s website.
