The Division for Children, Youth and Families manages protective programs on behalf of New Hampshire's children, youth and their families. DCYF staff provide a wide range of family-centered services with the goal of meeting a parent's and a child's needs and strengthening the family system. Services are designed to support families and children in their own homes and communities whenever possible. The major program areas of DCYF are:

Child Protection Bureau

The Bureau of Child Protection works to protect children from abuse and neglect while attempting to preserve the family unit. Child Protective Service Workers help prevent further harm to children from intentional physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, exploitation or neglect by a person responsible for a child's health or welfare.

Foster Care

The Foster Care program provides foster family homes  and  a family experience for children who cannot be safely cared for in their own homes. Specially trained Foster Care Workers in each DCYF District Office recruit, train and license foster families, and match children in need of out-of-home care with a foster family best suited to meet the specific needs of each child.

Permanency

Permanency means that a child has a long term, safe, stable environment. This creates a lifelong relationship with a nurturing caregiver to establish the foundation for a child's health development. Permanency Workers are located in each District Office and are trained to assist children and their families to identify permanent, lifelong connections. Reunification is the preferred permanency option. When reunification is not possible, adoption, guardianship or another permanent living arrangement is sought.

Adolescent Program

The Adolescent Program ensures that current and former DCYF and DJJS youth obtain the preparation, resources and positive youth development they need to establish connections with caring adults and become healthy, self sufficient and successful adults.  Adolescent Workers with specialized training in adult living preparation, positive youth development and teen services are located in each District Office. They provide case management for youth in out-of-home placement and consultation to other child protection staff working with this population. In addition, DCYF offers services to young adults as they leave out-of home placement, including assistance with post-secondary expenses, housing expenses, and other self-sufficiency needs.

Foster Care Health Program

The Foster Care Health Program is designed to meet the health care needs of every child in out-of-home placement. All children in out-of-home placements through DCYF receive the on-going care they need to achieve and maintain optimal physical, emotional and developmental health.

Adoption

The Adoption Program provides an array of services to families who adopt children through DCYF. These services include

• Case management
• Education
• Information and referral
• Financial Assistance
• Support groups
• Assistance to adoptees searching for their birth families

Child Development

The Child Development Bureau

• Provides technical assistance and support to early care and education programs
• Provides consumer education and child care training programs to help develop and maintain child care programs
• Maintains statistics on the supply and demand of child care throughout NH.
• Develops policy for the NH child care scholarship program.

Through the scholarship program, parents may apply for payments to subsidize the cost of child care when needed to look for work, remain employed, or participate in training.

Head Start State Collaborative Office

The NH Head Start State Collaboration Office fosters collaboration and teamwork among the Head Start community, and state and local public and private partners concerned with families of young children aged birth to five years. To improve long-term outcomes for income-eligible families, the Collaboration Office works closely with the NH Head Start Directors Association to support coordination of efforts in eight priority areas:

• Health care, including oral health
• Quality child care services
• Welfare services
• Early childhood education opportunities
• Community services
• Family literacy
• Serving children with disabilities
• Services for children who are homeless.

Community and Family Supports

Community and Family Support Services provides services both to families in their communities, and to families that are involved with DCYF, including

• Funding for community-based programs that work to prevent child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, and out-of-home placement of children and youth.
• Clinical services and mental health support for children involved with DCYF
• Educational advocacy and support for children involved with DCYF
• Voluntary Services