The Department of Social Services enriches the quality of life for Westchester citizens in need of assistance and services by providing child support, financial, food, housing, medical and home energy assistance as well as protective and preventive services for vulnerable children and adults.

Our goal is to enable temporary assistance customers and applicants to gain self-sufficiency through employment, securing support for children, and offering other services that remove barriers to independence.

Our child welfare units conduct investigations and family assessments, provide in-home case management and administer foster care and adoption services. We recognize that some segments of our population, adult and children, are vulnerable and require services to assist and protect them.

To apply for services or inquire about your benefits, call or visit the district office serving your area. My Benefits is a quick and easy way for people in New York State to find answers to questions about New York State's programs and services.

In the event of a specific emergency, you can call:

• Child Abuse Hotline (800) 342-3720
• Abandoned Infant Information (866) 505-SAFE (7233)
• Adult Protective Intake (914) 995-2259
• Emergency Services (914) 995-2099
• Or, you can always call 911 in any emergency

Energy Assistance  The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that assists eligible low-income, elderly, and disabled persons with their home heating costs. Learn More

Adoption Being an adoptive parent means making a lifetime commitment to a child. For those children who can't return to their birth family, adoption provides a new home and family to call their own.   View profiles of adoptable children in Westchester. To receive information on foster care, call (800) 4KIDS-27. Learn More

Warming Centers  During the months of November through March, warming centers for single individuals seeking shelter from the cold are open throughout Westchester. Learn More

Child Support New York State law requires both parents to financially support their children to age 21. This responsibility exists even if a parent leaves the home or has never lived with the child.   For the seventh year, Westchester County’s Office of Child Support Enforcement has received a certificate of achievement for outstanding performance in helping families obtain child support. Learn More