Social workers trained in Child Protective Services respond to child maltreatment concerns and reports. Reports may include concerns of physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and/or emotional damage.

The Social Worker will guide you through all of the necessary information. They will ask for identifying information regarding the child, household members, and the alleged maltreater such as dates of birth, addresses and phone numbers. The Social Worker will also ask questions about the suspected abuse or neglect. The more information that you share, the better subsequent agency decision-making will be.

If the information reported meets the statutory definition as outlined in Chapter 48 (the Children’s Code) of child maltreatment by an alleged maltreatment who is a parent, caregivers or other living in the household, or an unknown person, the report will be accepted and an assessment will occur.

No, we encourage every individual who has concerns of abuse and neglect of a child to call us. We will help explain options you may have to support the family if the report is not accepted for an assessment.

Reports not accepted for an assessment may have two outcomes:

• The case may be closed with no further action taken by our agency
• The case could be referred to Community Response, a voluntary program through the agency. A Community Response worker would provide support and offer assistance with resources in regards to housing, food, child care resources, parenting assistance for children of all ages, activities to do with children, help with finances and many more!

State law protects reporter confidentiality for reports made to Social Services. We will not disclose your name to the individuals whom you report.

A comprehensive assessment will be conducted by a social worker to analyze danger threats to children and to take action to address the safety concerns when necessary. The social worker will interview children, parents and other household members, learn about the family, gather information about the maltreatment, observe the family home and write a report that explains the information gathered. Resource and referral information will be provided as needs are identified.

The goal is to prevent further maltreatment and to have families remain together whenever possible.

The social worker has sixty days to complete an assessment to determine is the child is safe.

The following are possible outcomes of a Child Protective Services assessment:

• The children are safe and no further interaction with Child Protective Services is required.
• Safety concerns are identified, therefore Child Protective Services will strategize various interventions that could keep children safe in the home, if at all possible.
• Removal of children from the parental home and out of home placement may be necessary if safety cannot be established with available supports and services. This is the last option considered in social work intervention.
• On-going Child Protective Services provides case management services to families when safety cannot be established.

You will receive follow up correspondence if you are a mandated reporter. Mandated reporters are professionals who are required by law to report suspected abuse and neglect of any child they see while in the course of their professional duties. The follow up letter will provide basic information about the intervention as state law provides for family confidentiality. The social worker will not send you a letter if you are a non-mandated reporter as state law prohibits this breach of family confidentiality.