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Overview
Responding to child abuse and neglect involves protecting children from harm and supporting families to reduce the risk of future harm to children. Reports from professionals and concerned citizens are received by child protective services (CPS) staff alerting them to concerns about a child's welfare. CPS staff may initiate an investigation to determine if a child has been or is at risk of being harmed. Staff may also assess the child's and family's needs or engage in other interventions to support the family's efforts to provide a safe, nurturing environment for their children. CPS professionals may work with law enforcement, courts, other professionals, and community members to protect children and support families.
A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and Neglect: The Foundation for Practice | |
Author(s): | Office on Child Abuse and Neglect Goldman, Salus, Wolcott, Kennedy |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 4,110KB) Order (Free) - Add to Cart |
Year Published: | 2003 - 114 pages |
Written for new child protective services (CPS) caseworkers, professionals working with children and families, other professionals and concerned community members, this manual addresses the definition, scope, causes, and consequences of child abuse and neglect. It presents an overview of prevention efforts and the child protection process from identification and reporting through investigation and assessment to service provision and case closure. This manual is intended to accompany each profession-specific manual in the User Manual Series. Appendices include a glossary of terms, resource listings of selected national organizations concerned with child maltreatment, and State toll-free child abuse reporting numbers. 150 references. |
The Role of First Responders in Child Maltreatment Cases: Disaster and Nondisaster Situations | |
Author(s): | Office on Child Abuse and Neglect Cage, Salus |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 2,205KB) |
Year Published: | 2010 - 158 pages |
This manual is for professionals, such as emergency medical technicians, child protective services caseworkers, and law enforcement officers, who have the primary responsibility for the initial on-scene response to situations in which child abuse or neglect may have occurred. The manual describes the various types of child maltreatment and the signs that may indicate that maltreatment has occurred, provides an overview of the initial response and investigation in cases of suspected maltreatment, explains how first responders should prepare for and provide testimony in court for maltreatment cases, and outlines how first responders and their agencies can respond to child maltreatment ... |
National Resource Center for Child Protective Services
Provides training, technical assistance, and other support to State, local, and Tribal child welfare agencies to assist with achievement of safety, permanency, and well-being for children and families.
Child Abuse: Types, Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Help
Helpguide (2004)
Information on consequences and help for children, parents, and adult survivors.
Child Abuse and Neglect in the Home
Dedel (2010)
Presents a guide written for police who must address incidents of child abuse and neglect in the home. The guide includes a series of questions to analyze child maltreatment in the community and reviews evaluative research and practice regarding the police response. (PDF - 676 KB)
A Child's Journey Through the Child Welfare System
The Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care (2003)
Discusses the impact of decisions made at each stage of the child protection and foster care process. Typical procedures are identified and statistics of children in custody during 2001 are highlighted. (PDF - 80 KB)
CWLA Standards of Excellence for Services for Abused and Neglected Children and Their Families
Child Welfare League of America (1999)
View Abstract
These goals for continuous improvement of child protective service systems address services to be provided, social work practice, the role of the community, cooperation with civil and criminal justice systems, program organization and administration, and child placement.
A Family's Guide to the Child Welfare System (PDF - 846 KB)
Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (2003)
Addresses many questions families face when involved with the child welfare system.
Also available in Spanish: Guía Para la Familia Sobre el Sistema de Bienestar Infantil (PDF - 889 KB)
Finding Your Way: Guides for Fathers in Child Protection Cases. | |
Author(s): | National Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System. |
Availability: | Download (PDF - 15,811KB) |
Year Published: | 2011 - 30 pages |
Studies have shown that increased father engagement in children's lives results in better outcomes for children and families. This series of short guides provide important tips for non-custodial fathers involved in child protection cases, focusing on issues such as the father's legal rights, child support and courtroom etiquette. They include information written specifically for fathers on how they can be active participants in their children's case and successfully navigate the protection system. (Author abstract) |
How the Child Welfare System Works | |
Series Title: | Factsheets |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 565KB) Order (Free) - Add to Cart |
Year Published: | 2012 - 9 pages |
Provides an overview of the purposes and functions of child welfare systems. It explains what happens when abuse or neglect are reported, how those reports are processed, and what happens to the adults and children who are involved in the child welfare system. A flowchart illustrates how cases may move through the child welfare system. |
Leaving Your Child Home Alone | |
Series Title: | Factsheets |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 164KB) Order (Free) - Add to Cart |
Year Published: | 2007 - 4 pages |
Every parent eventually faces the decision to leave their child home alone for the first time. This factsheet provides some questions for parents to consider before leaving their children home alone, as well as tips to help make the experience safe and successful for all. |
National Center for Children Exposed to Violence
A comprehensive website providing Internet resources and a bibliographic database of information on the effects of violence exposure on children. The center also provides training and technical assistance to a variety of collaborative community programs that respond to children and families exposed to violence.