Child, Youth and Family "CYF", was the government agency that had legal powers to intervene to protect and help children who are being abused or neglected or who have problem behaviour until it was replaced by a new Ministry for Vulnerable Children in April 2017. CYF worked with the Police and the Courts in dealing with young offenders under the youth justice system. It provided residential and care services for children in need of care and protection and for young offenders. CYF assessed people who wished to adopt children and it reported to the Family Court on adoption applications. CYF facilitated the exchange of identifying information for parties to past adoptions. The agency also funded community organisations working with children, young people and their families to support the community’s role in protecting and helping children.
History
Child, Youth and Family was a functional unit of the Ministry of Social Development, following the 2006 merger of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services and MSD. CYF had been established in 1999 from the former Children and Young Persons Service. Until April 2017, CYF fell under the portfolio of the Minister for Social Development. In April 2017, CYF was replaced by the Oranga Tamariki—the Ministry for Children.
Legislation
MSD administers, or is involved in administering, the following CYF-related legislation:
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 service'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. 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.
CYFS Watch blog
In January 2007, a controversial blog "CYFS Watch" appeared on Google's Blogger. The blog's stated aim was unveiling examples of alleged incompetence by the Child Youth and Family Service and published the personal details of several CYFS social workers. The Ministry responded by complaining to Google. In late February, the blog's anonymous author made death threats towards Green MP Sue Bradford as a result of her Crimes Amendment Bill 2005. Google responded on 22 February 2007 by deleting the site as a breach of their terms of service.
