Alabama. Division of Family and Children's Services.

Sources:

Alabama Dept. of Human Resources, Annual reports, Alabama Dept. of Archives and History.

The function of the Division of Family and Children's Services is to regulate the various services designed to improve the quality of life for abused and neglected children. The division is responsible for investigating reports of child abuse and neglect and providing protective services to victims and potential victims. Substitute care is provided through foster families, group homes, institutions, and nursing homes.

The division is the licensing agency for child care institutions, group homes, and child placing agencies in Alabama. The approval of foster care homes is another duty of this division. It also provides training workshops and literature to foster care parents. Child day care centers must be licensed by the Dept. of Human Resources. The department also assists low-income working families with child care costs.

The division produces literature, visual aids, and advertisements to educate the public regarding child abuse and other child-related problems. It also works with other state agencies and organizations to combat problems that affect children in a negative manner.

Previous agencies which have provided children's services include the Child Welfare Dept., the Dept. of Public Welfare, and the Dept. of Pensions and Security. The sub-agency has had various titles throughout the years.