New Zealand Department of Child, Youth and Family Services
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The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services (In Māori, Te Tari Awhina I te Tamaiti, te Rangatahi, tae atu ki te Whanau), commonly known as the shorter "Child, Youth and Family", or by its acronym, "CYFS", is a state sector organisation of New Zealand whose role is the provision of social services to ensure the protection of children and youth. New Zealand's associate Minister of Social Development and Employment, responsible for CYFS, is the Hon. Ruth Dyson.
In March 2006, Ruth Dyson said the Department will merge with the Ministry of Social Development.
[edit] Responsibilities
Protecting children and young people who are at risk of, or who have been, abused or neglected, or who are at risk of offending is the department's primary responsibility, and it carries out investigations when a child or young person is believed to be "at risk". Where there is a risk of serious harm, it can exercise powers to ensure that a child is kept safe from that risk. The department also deals with youth justice, a section of the law that deals mainly with offending by young people aged 14–16 years, and adoption through The Adoption Information and Services Unit (AISU).
In addition, the department provides residential and care services for children and young people who require placing away from their parents, guardians or usual caregivers, and funds a wide range of community-based social services, with a focus on children, young people and families in need of support.
[edit] CYFS Watch controversy
In January 2006 an anonymous blog named CYFS Watch was launched inviting attacks on CYFs staff in what the site called a "name and shame" campaign. The site called for the public to log what it saw as CYFs abuses. The site has been described as potentially defamatory. In response to the blog, Child Youth and Family stated its staff "put up with anger, violence and abuse on a daily basis".
In response to the campaign the interest group Family First called for an official complaints authority to investigate claims made against CYF staff.
