What is State Child Protection?
State child protection involves situations where parents are investigated by that state for allegedly neglecting or abusing their child. Each state’s Department of Social Services or the division of Child and Family Services, often called Child Protective Services, handles state child protection. State Child Protection Procedures The procedure for state child protection is as follows: • A report of suspected abuse or neglect is made to the appropriate state agency. • By law, a caseworker or law enforcement officer must investigate the report’s validity. A protective services investigation is a fact-finding process. It includes gathering information through interviews, observations, reviewing documents and use of the risk assessment tool. • If the child is determined to be at risk, the child may be put in temporary placement out of their homes to ensure their safety. • Usually, the child will be kept with his or her parents unless there is an unequivocal safety concern. • If the situati
