The county agency is responsible for administering a program of general protective services to children and families. Services performed by a caseworker are designed to investigate allegations of neglect. Direct case management of cases being investigated by the county agency includes the following services: keeping children safely in their own homes, whenever possible; prevention of abuse, neglect and exploitation of children; overcoming problems that could result in dependency; providing temporary, substitute placement in the home of a relative, another individual who has a significant relationship with the child or the child's family, a foster family home or residential child-care facility for children in need of this care; reunifying children safely with their families, whenever possible when children are in temporary, substitute placement; providing a permanent, legally assured family for children in temporary, substitute care who cannot be returned to their own home; providing services and care ordered by the court for children who have been adjudicated dependent. (This list is not all-inclusive; it is an example of some of the activities performed by the unit)