Adult and Family Programs: Adoption
Adoption is a method provided by law that creates the legal relationship of parent and child. After an adoption is finalized, the adoptive parent assumes all the rights and responsibilities for the child that the birth parent would have. For more information please see our Adoption page. Adult Services
Adult Protective Services (APS) are provided to assist individuals 18 years of age or older whose physical and/or mental impairments prevent them from meeting their basic needs for food, clothing, shelter or medical care, or to protect themselves from abuse, neglect or dangerous situations. For more information please see our Adult Services page. Child Protective Services
Child Protective Services is the only government entity that is required to investigate child abuse and maltreatment reports within families to protect children (under 18 years old) from further abuse or maltreatment and to provide rehabilitative services to children, parents, and other family members involved. For more information please see our Child Protective Services page. Foster Parent Program
A foster parent is responsible for the temporary care and nurturing of a child who has been placed outside his or her own home. Their role includes working with the caseworker and the child’s family so that the child can return home safely, when appropriate. For more information please see our Foster Parent Program page. Ongoing Children’s Services
The primary goal of Ongoing Children's Services is to provide support to a family in a way that addresses threats to the safety and well-being of the child/children and decreases the likelihood that future concerns will appear. For more information please see our Ongoing Children’s Services page. |
| Commissioner
Karen Marcum
Contact Us:
Phone: (315) 785-3000
Mailing address:
Jefferson County DSS
250 Arsenal St.
Watertown, NY 13601
Office Hours:
September – June
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday – Friday
July and August
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday |
