The Onslow County Department of Social Services provides public assistance programs to assist low income families in our community to become self-sufficient by providing basic financial, nutritional, and health care assistance on a temporary basis. These programs include Food and Nutrition Services, Work First Family Assistance, Work First Employment Services, Energy Programs, Program Integrity, Adult Medicaid and Family and Childrens Medicaid, and Day Care Services. Additionally, the Department receives reports and investigates child maltreatment. The goal of Child Protective Services CPS Assessments is to protect children from further maltreatment and to support and improve parentalcaregiver abilities to assure a safe and nurturing home for each child. CPS Assessments determine if children are abused, neglected, andor dependent, or if the family is in need of services, and what level of intervention is necessary to assure safety of the children. CPS In-Home Services are provided to support families to safely maintain their children in their own home by eliminating identified safety and risk concerns and reducing risk of future child maltreatment. This is achieved through engagement of the family, their support system, and other service providers. These services are legally mandated, non-voluntary services for families that encompass services for maltreated children abused, neglected, andor dependent and those who are at imminent risk of harm due to the actions of, or lack of protection by, the childs parent or caregiver. Permanency Planning Services consists of an array of mandated placement services to children and families in the agencys custody. When children cannot be safely maintained in their own home, the first priority is to find relatives or kinship placements for the children. When relatives or kinship providers are not readily available, children are placed in licensed foster homes. The agency is charged with ensuring children in o