What is a Child in Need of Services (CHINS)?
A CHINS (also known as a status offender) is a child under the age of 17 who persistently runs away from home or persistently refuses to obey reasonable rules at home, or a child between the ages of 6 and 16 who repeatedly and willfully fails to attend school or repeatedly violates school rules. Depending on the case, a parent, police officer, or school supervisor of attendance can file a CHINS petition saying that the child is in need of services.
