If you plan on starting or continuing a social work career, you may at some point encounter a case of child abuse or neglect. That’s because all types of careers for social workers from clinical social workers to child and family social workers to school social workers, work with people and families experiencing difficult situations. Sometimes, these situations can lead to or involve the maltreatment of children.
There are systems in place to help. Every state in the U.S. has an agency devoted to helping ensure child welfare. Called Child Protective Services (CPS) in most states, these agencies investigate and respond to cases of child abuse and neglect. In your social work practice, if you encounter a situation where you suspect child mistreatment, CPS is where you can turn for help. But to know how much they can help, you need to understand how the system works and who it affects.
Many jurisdictions have children's advocacy centers in place to assist and guide the child interview process. Children's advocacy centers provide a multidisciplinary team approach to investigations of child abuse, including forensic interviews, therapeutic interventions, victim support and advocacy, and case management. Such facilities provide a safe, child-friendly environment to conduct forensic interviews of a neutral, fact-finding nature. Often these agencies work in collaboration with law enforcement and CPS to minimize the number of times the child victim is interviewed.
If the alleged maltreatment constitutes criminal behavior, law enforcement personnel should be brought into the investigation to ensure that the criminal aspect of suspected maltreatment is thoroughly investigated and that the evidence necessary for criminal prosecution is adequately safeguarded. The reporter may contact the police directly, or this may be done through an established mechanism within CPS. Many jurisdictions have guidelines to ensure cooperation between law enforcement and CPS.
The CPS Process Is Thorough
In most states, a CPS investigation begins when anyone reports a case of suspected child abuse or neglect. Once a case is reported, CPS is required by law to investigate, although some cases are screened-out quickly due to a serious lack of evidence.
For cases that are screened-in, CPS will typically request to visit the child’s home and interview the child. They may also request to drug test the child’s guardian and/or interview the guardian and other adults familiar with the child’s situation. CPS workers are not law enforcement, so individuals under investigation may refuse to follow CPS requests. However, CPS can obtain court orders.
If CPS believes a child is being abused or neglected, they can remove the child and put the child in the legal care of another family member or in a foster home. In most states, CPS must receive a court order for removal within 24 hours of removing a child. Guardians who’ve had a child removed can challenge that removal in court. In lieu of removal, CPS can give guardians the option of placing the child with a friend or family member while the guardian resolves issues relating to the child’s care.
CPS, however, is not just about investigations. In most states, CPS agencies also provide child services designed to keep families stable. CPS can help secure resources such as diapers and formula, and can also provide counseling services. In fact, there are quite a few social worker jobs within CPS agencies.
One of the most important aspects of the child protection system is the ability to take a child into protective custody on an emergency basis if his or her safety is believed to be in jeopardy. Once this is done, the CPS agency must obtain a court order granting it temporary legal custody of the child within 24 hours from the time the child was placed in protective custody. Then, within 72 hours, the matter must be brought before the court to determine whether there is enough evidence that the child would be at risk if he or she were returned to the family environment. If so, further legal procedures must be initiated and followed.
