The Division of Child Protection and Permanency is

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

child protection Child protection is the safeguarding of children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect. Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides for the protection of children in and out of the home. One of the ways to e ...

agency. It is part of the Department of Children and Families. From 1996 through 2012, it was called Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) YE-fuss Before 1996 It was called Child Protection Services.

History

Its stated mission is to "ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children and to support families." The division is responsible for investigating allegations of

child abuse Child abuse (also called child endangerment or child maltreatment) is physical, sexual, and/or psychological maltreatment or neglect of a child or children, especially by a parent or a caregiver. Child abuse may include any act or failure to a ...

and neglect and, when needed, arranging for the child's protection... In 2004 New Jersey's

Child Advocate Child advocacy refers to a range of individuals, professionals and advocacy organizations who speak out on the best interests of children. An individual or organization engaging in advocacy typically seeks to protect children's rights which may be a ...

, Kevin Ryan called DYFS a "systematic failure" and "a debilitated agency that was in need of a complete overhaul."

Cases

*In 2003 Bruce Jackson, a 19-year-old boy who weighed only 45 pounds was found eating food out of a garbage can in

Collingswood, New Jersey Collingswood is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, located east of Center City Philadelphia. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the borough's population was 13,926,New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

for $12.5 million. It was one of the largest settlements in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

for a

child welfare Child protection is the safeguarding of children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect. Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides for the protection of children in and out of the home. One of the ways to e ...

case. * In 2013, a $166 million verdict was handed down against th
New Jersey Department of Youth and Family Services
(now known as the Division of Child Protection and Permanency) in a case concerning a 4-year-old boy beaten by his father. The award was given to Jadiel Velesquez, who lawyers said suffered severe brain damage in the alleged beating. Jadiel Velesquez's grandparents sued, accusing the agency of failing to remove the boy from his home after he was brought to the hospital with unexplained bruises. The grandparents claimed they were inflicted by the boy's father. Lawyers said the boy was returned to his mother's home despite a doctor's finding of abuse. The beating that left him dependent on 24-hour-care happened weeks later. Jadiel's father pleaded guilty to beating his son and is serving a six-year prison term for aggravated assault, lawyers said. The state of NJ plans to appeal the record-setting verdict.

References

{{authority control Child welfare in the United States State agencies of New Jersey