The Department of Social Services (DSS) is the state agency responsible for
protecting children and helping troubled families. DSS does the following:
- Investigates all reports that a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect.
- Provides services to help families in trouble. You can ask for these services
on your own. DSS can also ask you to accept services as a condition of letting
your children remain in your home.
- Goes to Court to get permission to remove children from their home if DSS
believes that the children are at risk of abuse or neglect. The Court can
order you to accept services from DSS as a condition before getting your
children back.
- Is also a licensed child placement agency and can place children in foster
care, voluntarily or though a court order.
- Arranges for the adoption of children.
