DC Child and Family Services Agency

What DC Child and Family Services Agency does

The DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) is the District of Columbia's public child welfare agency, responsible for receiving reports of child abuse and neglect, investigating those reports, and providing ongoing protective services, foster care, adoption, and in-home supports across the District. CFSA serves children, youth, and families in Washington, DC, with a mandate rooted in DC Official Code § 4-1303 and operating under mayoral authority with an approved budget drawn from District appropriations and federal Title IV-E reimbursements.

The agency's core service portfolio includes Child Protective Services (intake and investigation), Foster Care Licensing (Resource Parent Academy), In-Home Services, Adoption and Post-Adoption Services, the Office of Youth Empowerment (extended foster care up to age 21), and the Stronger Families DC prevention track delivered through 10 Family Success Centers under the Families First DC program. In June 2025, CFSA launched STAAND, a centralized case management platform replacing legacy systems, with role-based portals for social workers, community partners, foster parents, and birth parents, plus a public-facing performance dashboard on data.dc.gov. CORA, an AI-assisted documentation capability, is deployed within the STAAND workflow to reduce caseworker administrative load.

CFSA's business model is government appropriations — there is no commercial revenue stream, no pricing model, and no customer acquisition motion. Services are funded through the District's annual budget process and federal child welfare entitlements. The agency's growth levers are programmatic expansion (e.g., Families First DC, SOUL Amendment Act entitlements) and operational modernization via the STAAND platform, rather than revenue generation.

Name

DC Child and Family Services Agency

Legal name

DC Child and Family Services Agency

Website

https://cfsa.dc.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CFSA is the District of Columbia's public child welfare agency, providing child protective services, foster care, adoption, in-home supports, and prevention programs through the STAAND case management platform and 10 Family Success Centers serving DC children and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Foster care services
• Child protective services
• Case management system
• Family support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) is the public child welfare agency for the District of Columbia, responsible for investigating child abuse and neglect, providing foster care and adoption services, supporting family reunification, and offering youth empowerment programs. The agency operates the modernized STAAND case management system (CCWIS), launched June 16, 2025, and delivers services through its headquarters, satellite offices, and 10 community-based Family Success Centers. Services are provided at no direct cost to District residents and funded through government appropriations and federal Title IV-E funding.

Product overview

DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) is a government child welfare agency offering a portfolio of services rather than a unified software product. The core operational platform is STAAND (Stronger Together Against Abuse and Neglect in DC), a modernized CCWIS case management system launched June 16, 2025, with modules for intake/investigations, clinical case management, finance, placement, eligibility, and services. Supporting products include the public CFSA Data Dashboard for performance transparency, the Mandated Reporter Training system, Child Protection Register background check system, and the Voluntary Foster Care Registry. Service programs include Older Youth Empowerment (OYE) for teens in care, Safe Havens for Newborns, Grandparent/Close Relative Caregiver Programs, Families First DC Success Centers, and Partners for Kids and Families donation program. External-facing portals include those for Resource Parents, MPD, OSSE investigators, and community partners, all connected through the STAAND platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Partners for Kids and Families (PKF): Community donation and support program providing essential resources for children, youth and families in foster care.
• Older Youth Empowerment (OYE)
• Office of Thriving Families (OTF)
• Families First DC
• STAAND
• Office of Youth Empowerment

Products and services

• STAAND (Stronger Together Against Abuse and Neglect in DC) CFSA's modernized CCWIS case management platform launched June 16, 2025, providing streamlined, user-friendly case management with modules for intake/investigations, clinical case management, finance, placement, eligibility, provider management, and services. Includes external portals for mandated reporters, MPD, OSSE, community partners, and resource parents. Used by CFSA social workers, private agency partners, and partner agencies.
• CFSA Data Dashboard Public-facing performance dashboard demonstrating CFSA's commitment to performance, transparency, and public reporting. Located at cfsadashboard.dc.gov. Provides agency metrics and outcomes for District residents, oversight bodies, and the public.
• Older Youth Empowerment (OYE) Program serving District teens and young adults ages 14-21 in foster care, providing case management, college and career preparation services, and workforce development support. Coordinated with private agency social workers managing cases for older youth.
• Mandated Reporter Training Free online training for mandated reporters in the District of Columbia to identify and report child abuse and neglect. Available at dc.mandatedreporter.org. For teachers, social workers, and other professionals required to report suspected abuse or neglect.
• Safe Havens for Newborns Program under the Newborn Safe Haven Amendment Act of 2010, allowing parents to safely surrender newborns less than 14 days old at designated DC hospitals without legal consequences. Provides an alternative to abandonment for parents in crisis.
• Grandparent/Close Relative Caregiver Program Subsidy program providing monthly financial assistance to District residents raising grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or close relatives to support family unity and prevent children from entering the child welfare system. For District grandparents and kinship caregivers outside the formal foster care system.
• Child Protection Register (CPR) Confidential database tracking substantiated, inconclusive, and unfounded reports of child abuse and neglect in DC. Provides background checks for foster/adoptive parents and child-serving employees. Paperless application process launched October 1, 2024.
• Voluntary Foster Care Registry Registry enabling current/former foster youth and birth family members separated by the District foster care system to find each other through mutual enrollment. For both foster alumni and birth families seeking reconnection.
• Families First DC Success Centers Family-strengthening centers in targeted neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River (Wards 4, 5, 7, 8) offering programs including nutrition workshops, professional development, stress management, and parenting classes. Operated by community partners including Martha's Table, Community of Hope, Georgia Avenue Family Support Collaborative, Edgewood/Brookland Family Support Collaborative, East River Family Strengthening Collaborative, North Capital Collaborative, Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative, and Smart from the Start.
• Partners for Kids and Families (PKF) Community donation and resource program providing essential items and support to children, youth, and families in foster care, including clothing, toiletries, infant supplies, luggage, and enrichment activities. Coordinates donations through Amazon Wish Lists and the Target New Clothes Matter Donation Drive for children aged 5-12.

Quantifiable outcome

• 62% of children served in their homes vs 38% in out-of-home care
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Behavioral Health (DBH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBH is represented on-site at the Mayor's Services Liaison Office (MSLO) to provide behavioral health services coordination for children and families involved in Family Court proceedings.
• Department of Disability Services (DDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDDS including Developmental Disability Administration (DDA) and Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) are represented at MSLO to coordinate disability services for families in the child welfare system.
• Department of Employment Services (DOES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOES provides employment services coordination through MSLO for families involved in Family Court proceedings.
• District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCPS partners with CFSA on school enrollment processes, educational neglect reporting, and the CFSA Educational Neglect Reporting Form for school personnel.
• District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCHA is represented at MSLO to coordinate housing services for children and families involved in Family Court proceedings.
• Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDYRS partners with CFSA at MSLO to coordinate services for youth involved in both systems.
• D.C. Superior Court – Family CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Court works with MSLO to facilitate delivery of social and community-based services to children and families involved in Family Court proceedings.
• Office of the Attorney General (OAG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAG works with CFSA on court proceedings seeking agreement with separation from DC Superior Court - Family Court and has access to STAAND portal.
• Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSSE investigators partner through the OSSE Portal in STAAND to investigate DC daycares and coordinate with CFSA on child welfare matters.
• Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPD Youth Detectives use the MPD Portal in STAAND to determine referrals requiring MPD involvement and document MPD disposition.
• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCFSA's Partners for Kids and Families accepts donations through Amazon Wish Lists including diapers, formula, and essential items for families served.
• TargetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartners for Kids and Families hosts the New Clothes Matter Donation Drive through Target Gift Registry for children aged 5-12 in foster care.
• Martha's TableminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMartha's Table operates the Historic Anacostia Family Success Center as part of the Families First DC initiative.
• Community of HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity of Hope operates the Bellevue Family Success Center as part of Families First DC.
• Georgia Avenue Family Support CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Brightwood Family Success Center in Ward 4 as part of Families First DC.
• Edgewood/Brookland Family Support CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Carver-Langston Family Success Center in Ward 5 as part of Families First DC.
• East River Family Strengthening CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Marshall Heights Family Success Center in Ward 7 as part of Families First DC.
• North Capital CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Deanwood Family Success Center in Ward 7 as part of Families First DC.
• Far Southeast Family Strengthening CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Congress Heights Family Success Center in Ward 8 as part of Families First DC.
• Smart from the StartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Knox Hill/Buena Vista Family Success Center in Ward 8 as part of Families First DC.
• Private Agency Social WorkerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFSA partners with private agencies whose social workers manage cases for older youth and provide case management services with access to OYE programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Texas Department of Family and Protective Services: Direct peer — state-level public child welfare agency providing CPS investigations, foster care, and adoption. Comparable to CFSA in regulatory mandate, CCWIS implementation, and foster care operations.
• Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services: Direct peer — large county-level public child welfare agency providing child protective services, foster care, and adoption for Los Angeles County. Directly comparable to CFSA in mandate, service portfolio, and government structure.
• Philadelphia Department of Human Services: Direct peer — municipal-level public child welfare agency providing child protective services, foster care, and family support in Philadelphia. Comparable in mandate, CCWIS-based operations, and urban service population.
• New York City Administration for Children's Services: Direct peer — public child welfare agency responsible for child protective services, foster care, and juvenile justice services in New York City. Closely comparable to CFSA as a large municipal child welfare agency operating CCWIS-like infrastructure.

Others

• RedMane Technology: Adjacent peer — vendor that builds and implements CCWIS case management systems for state and county child welfare agencies. Comparable technology layer to CFSA's STAAND platform, serving the same end-market of public child welfare agencies.
• Annie E. Casey Foundation: Adjacent peer — large private foundation focused on improving outcomes for children and families, with deep involvement in child welfare reform and juvenile justice. Comparable end-user population and reform strategy focus.

Regional players

• Clark County Department of Family Services (Nevada): Regional peer — county-level public child welfare agency providing CPS, foster care, and family support services in Clark County, Nevada. Comparable mandate and service portfolio to CFSA, though operating in a different jurisdiction.

Emerging players

• Casey Family Programs: Adjacent peer — nation's largest operating foundation focused entirely on child welfare, providing direct services, consulting, and technical assistance to public child welfare systems like CFSA. Comparable mission and service population though structured as a private foundation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dccfsa
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61568217093543
• Instagraminstagram.com/pkfgivesback
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dcchildandfamilyservicesagency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about DC Child and Family Services Agency