The Department of Social Services provides a wide variety of human services and financial assistance to assist families and individuals to achieve self-sufficiency and strengthen family life. The Department employs approximately 90 individuals assigned to the following divisions: 

• Temporary Assistance: Determines eligibility and administers financial assistance such as Public Assistance, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Emergency Assistance, HEAP and burials. This Unit places heavy emphasis on identifying fraudulent applications both prior to and during case opening. It also assigns activities to clients that will assist them in locating employment to end or decrease their need for assistance.
• Child & Family Services: Provides casework services in the fields of Child Protection, Adult Protection, Foster Care, Preventive Services, Adoption, and Domestic Violence. Caseworkers assist families in dealing with complex human problems that impair or prevent their families from achieving or maintaining independence.
• Child Support and Enforcement Unit: Assists custodial parent in proving paternity, filing support petitions in Family Court, and collecting Court Ordered Support obligations. The work utilizes a variety of databases, mailings and employer contacts to investigate the location of absent parents who are not currently paying on support orders.
• April is Child Abuse Awareness month: Click Here for New York State information on this vital program. Click here for the Governor's Proclaimations about this program.
• Click here to read a PDF document with links to Kinship Care Navigator, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and MyBenefits.
• Kinship care refers to grandparents, other relatives, and even family friends who are caring for children. Most kinship caregivers are not foster parents and privately provide full time care for children. For all kinship families in New York State, the Kinship Navigator provides information, referrals, and assistance via its website and toll free telephone line. The Kinship Navigator provides information on a wide range of kinship topics, including:
  • National, State and Local Resources and Services for Kinship Families
  • Federal and State Laws about Kinship Care
  • Financial Assistance Grants for Kinship Families
  Contact Information:
  Kinship Navigator - Call Toll Free - 1-877-454-6463 or Click here for their website.
• Hotline Phone Numbers:
  • Child Protective Services Hotline: 1-800-342-3720
  • Welfare Fraud Hotline: 589-7177

  Tom Kuryla, Commissioner
  14016 Route 31 West
  Albion, New York 14411
  Phone: (585) 589-7000
  Fax: (585) 589-7479
  Email: Lori.Draper@dfa.state.ny.us