DCP&P Closed During New Jersey Government Shut Down

DYFS Defense Lawyers in Hackensack, NJ

As part of the ongoing government closure in New Jersey, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (“DCP&P”), formerly known as the Division of Youth and Family Services (“DYFS”), will be closed, with a few exceptions. At this time, all DCP&P local offices are closed to the public and case workers are not reporting to their posts. However, the Special Response Unit (“SPRU”) and the State Central Registry (“SCR”) will remain open. Other than SPRU and SCR, all Division offices are closed pending approval of a new budget and reinstatement of government function in New Jersey.

DCP&P is part of New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families (“DCF”). The entire list of DCF offices that are closed as a result of the shutdown includes: Business Offices, Children’s System of Care, Division of Child Protection and Permanency (with exception of Special Response Unit and State Central Registry), Division of Family and Community Partnerships, Division on Women, Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit, Office of Administration, Office of Adolescent Services, Office of Adoption Operations, Office of Advocacy, Office of Child Care and Youth Residential Licensing, Office of Clinical Services, Office of Contract Administration, Office of Finance, Office of Grants Management, Auditing, and Records, Office of Human Resources, Office of Legal, Regulatory, and Legislative Affairs, Office of Performance Management and Accountability, Office of Resource Home Licensing, Office of Strategic Development, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Chief Program Officer, and Office of Training and Professional Development.

As it relates to DCP&P, all child abuse and neglect investigatory and emergency functions will continue uninterrupted and the child abuse and neglect hotline, 1-877-NJ-ABUSE, will continue to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Child abuse and neglect investigations happen fast: SCR receives the call from whoever is reporting the allegation, and then the matter gets assigned to an investigator who goes out into the field to assess the situation by interviewing the children and alleged perpetrators. And if the investigator determines that there is an immediate risk of harm to the child, DCP&P takes custody of the child on an emergency basis – and this can still happen during the government shutdown. The DCP&P defense team at the Tormey Law Firm includes a former Deputy Attorney General who represented DCP&P in court and is fully familiar with DYFS investigations. If you or a loved one is being investigated by the Division or if you have any questions about how the government shutdown is impacting DCP&P’s functions, call the Tormey Law Firm today at (908)-356-6900.