Help  Child Abuse |
Child Protective Services is a legally mandated service to children known or alleged to be abused, neglected, or dependent. The foremost responsibility of the Child Protective Services section of the Durham County Department of Social Services is "to Protect Children". Services are provided in collaboration with other community agencies on behalf of children, youth, and their families.
Investigative Assessment
Reports of child maltreatment that meet the definition of abuse, neglect, or dependency are accepted for investigation. Out of home placement is considered when there is evidence that leaving a child in the home would jeopardize the child's safety.
The reporter who makes a report alleging abuse, neglect, or dependency of a child can expect the following:
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To receive a 5 day letter informing the reporter of the agency's decision to investigate or not to investigate |
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That if the report is accepted for investigation, that an investigation will be initiated within 24-72 hours, or document why not. |
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That face to face interviews are conducted with all children and all persons living in the household. |
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That a home visit of the alleged victim child(ren) is made or documentation to justify why this was not done. |
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That face to face interviews are conducted with the alleged perpetrator(s) or documentation to justify why this was not done. |
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That other CPS issues that come up during the investigation are addressed. |
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That legal, medical, and/or psychological resources are utilized appropriately in the assessment of victims of severe neglect and/or physical , sexual, or emotional abuse. |
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That a written protection plan is developed jointly with the family that specifically addressed the removal of the conditions, situation, or persons that threaten the safety and well being of the child(ren) when appropriate. |
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That sufficient contact with the family is made to ensure the safety of the child. |
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That when the case is substantiated and a risk assessment indicates a need for continued CPS intervention, that the case is transferred to the Case Management Unit. |
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That the reporter, parent/caretaker, perpetrator, District Attorney/law enforcement are notified of case decision by letter within 5 days of the decision. |
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The case decision is made within 30 days of receipt of the report or there is documentation indicating why the investigation was not completed within the time-frame. |
Case Management
Case Management services are a legally mandated and integral part of the Child Protective Services continuum. It is the phase of CPS that provides the greatest opportunity to prevent future abuse, neglect, or dependency of a child. The purpose of case management is to maintain the safety of the child while helping the parent to modify the harmful behavior, by continually assessing the risk to the child and taking necessary action to prevent future harm. The family risk assessment is used to develop a family services case plan to address the needs of the family.
Substantiated cases of abuse and neglect are received from CPS investigative Assessment and assigned on a rotating basis to the social workers in the unit. Family services case plans art jointly developed with the family within 1 week of the case transfer or there should be documentation to justify why this was not done.
Contact with families and significant others are made monthly. The Case Management Social Worker arranges and coordinates services needed and focuses on issues such as child protection, and prevention of future abuse /neglect. The Social worker monitors progress or lack of progress of the family by getting consent forms signed and contacting other agencies involved throughout the case. Cases are closed when the family satisfies the requirements of the family services case plan and when the risk assessment indicates a low risk of harm to the child(ren).
Use of the Juvenile Courts
The provision of child protective services is frequently enhanced by the involvement of the juvenile court system. Court intervention may be required if families refuse to cooperate with the investigation, families are unwilling to accept needed services although their child is in substantial danger, circumstances indicate the need for immediate removal of the child, or if case management services have been unsuccessful, and the parents have made no progress toward providing adequate care for the child. The courts may help parents see the seriousness of the situation, and to know that their behavior must change.
Day Care and Out-of-Home Placement Investigations
It is also the responsibility of the Department of Social Services to investigate reports of abuse and neglect in child day care arrangements and in foster home settings. The same procedures used in investigating families are used when investigating day care homes, day care centers and foster homes.
At-Risk Services
When a report is received that does not meet the definition of abuse or neglect it is possible that the family may benefit from the services of an At-Risk social worker in order to eliminate the risk of abuse, neglect or dependence. There are two social worker positions that provide At-Risk services to families who are willing to accept services on a voluntary basis. It is the At-Risk social worker?s primary responsibility to provide intensive short term services to families in crisis. A thorough psycho-social assessment of the family is completed in order to identify the needs and develop a service plan. The worker is then responsible for providing or coordinating needed services from this agency or linking the family to community resources to solidify the family unit and enhance its functioning. The At-Risk social worker also makes and initiates reports concerning neglect according to the N.C.G.S.5447A.
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