(Revision. 2/1/14)
In 1959, the territory of Alaska became a state and the Department of Health and Social Services was established through AS 47.05.010 as one of the principal Departments in the Executive Branch referenced in the Constitution of the State of Alaska. At that time the Division of Social Services was designated to be the state agency to administer social and financial assistance service programs to the eligible population in the State.
In 1975 the Division of Public Assistance was established to administer state and federal financial and medical assistance programs. The Division of Social Services began to operate as a generic social service agency with Child Welfare services as a strong component.
In 1981, Youth Corrections Services was transferred from the then Division of Corrections to the Division of Social Services. The agency's current title of Division of Family and Youth Services was introduced at that time in recognition of the merger.
Effective July 1, 1999 the Division of Family and Youth Services was split into two divisions. The youth corrections portion of the division became the new Division of Juvenile Justice and the child protection portion of the division remained as the Division of Family and Youth Services.
Effective July 1, 2003, the agency was renamed the Office of Children’s Services (OCS).
Titles 47 and 25.23 of the Alaska statutes provide OCS with its legal mandate to serve Alaskans in need of services. OCS regulations can be found in Alaska Administrative Code Title 7, Health and Social Services. Federal and state laws and regulations provide the structure and compilation of the titles or statutes and regulations which affect the delivery of service by OCS.
Effective July 1, 2022 the Executive Order 121 (EO 121) to restructure the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) into two departments become law, official as of March 19, 2022. The OCS was placed under the Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS), along with the Division of Juvenile Justice, Alaska Psychiatric Institute, and Alaska Pioneer Homes.