The Division of Central Operations provides services that support the development and maintenance of key elements of the safety net for children in New Jersey.  Central Operations does this through the screening and direction of reports of child maltreatment and requests for services, investigation of allegations of child abuse and neglect in out-of-home settings, and in-depth evaluation of case practice in matters of child fatality, near fatality and critical incidents involving children under the care and/or supervision of the Department of Children and Families.

Central Operations further supports the identification and establishment of best practices and agency accountability through support of the New Jersey Citizen Review Panels required under the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA).

The Division of Central Operations serves as an incubator for select special projects as needed to support the evolving child welfare reform efforts.

The Division of Central Operations consists of the following: Office of Education (OOE), Office of Evaluation, Support and Special Investigations (ESSI), Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit (IAIU) and State Central Registry (SCR).