Office of Child Welfare / Avoyelles Parish

AKA:

OCW / OCS / Office of Community Services

Description:

Keyword: Child protection
The Avoyelles Parish Office of Child Welfare (OCW) administers and supervises a broad scope of programs designed to provide comprehensive social services to children and families. These programs include:
FOSTER CARE: Provides temporary, substitute care for children in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) because of parental abuse or neglect.
ADOPTION SERVICES: Provides adoptive home placement of available children who are in DCFS custody. Services include the approval of adoptive homes, matching available children with available homes, preparing children for placement and services to the adoptive family and children after placement. In some cases, subsidies are provided to adoptive families.
CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES: Investigates reports of abuse and neglect of children. When a situation warrants action, DCFS can seek intervention of the courts on a emergency basis or by petition of the district attorney to safeguard the rights, safety and security of children found to be at risk of significant harm. Short-term social services may also be provided to stabilize the family reducing the risk of harm to the child or children in the family.
FAMILY SERVICES: Provides intensive in-home services to families subsequent to substantiated reports of abuse and neglect. The goal is protecting the child while in the home, thereby keeping the family together.
ADOPTION PETITION SERVICES: Investigates independent adoptions to determine the availability of the child and the suitability of the adoptive home, reporting findings of these investigations to the courts and assists families in obtaining revised birth certificates.

Hours:

8:30-4:30 / Monday - Friday

Intake Process:

Call for more information

Program Fees:

None

Eligibility:

Residents of Avoyelles Parish

Handicap Accessible?

No

Is Shelter?

No

Related Resource

Date of Official Change:

October 20, 2010

Address Listings

Phone Numbers