Child Protective Services

Thus far, we have discussed the history, the legal process, and some fun stuff in regards foster care. Today, I continue with some info about Child Protective Services and their role in the whole foster care system...

In the Administration of Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), case management is defined as a series of related decisions, actions, and processes which are guided by assessment and ongoing evaluation of progress toward mutually agreed upon goals. Case management is a method of integrating and coordinating multiple services for multiple problems. The case manager, the family, members of the service team, and others involved share participation in case planning.

The case manager is responsible for involving others in the development, monitoring and implementation of the case plan. Services are task-centered, time-limited, and focused on the resolution of specific problems. The case manager, other department staff, contract providers, and other community resources and/or volunteers may provide services. This depends on the needs of the child and family, and the resources available.

Case management is also known as case planning, and is the responsibility of a DES case manager. The case manager must balance safeguarding the well-being and development of the children, while protecting the legal rights of the parents. Services are provided to the family so that the parent, if possible, can learn parenting skills that will allow their children to grow up in a physically and emotionally healthy environment.

Case management is anything but a linear process. Any number of activities may be occurring at the same time, with different professionals responsible for different components. For example, assessment and planning may be occurring throughout the duration of the case. The case management process can be indentified by seven basic elements. They are:

Investigation
Assessment
Case Planning
Engaging and Motivating the client
Plan Implementation
Monitoring and Evaluation
Case Closure

Just for your reference, here is the Child Abuse Hotline number for Arizona:
888-SOS-CHILD
(888) 767-2445-A-Child

The national hotline number is through Childhelp, and is 1-800-4-A-Child
(1-800-422-4453)

And remember that anyone who suspects abuse or neglect is required by law to report such suspicions. Please post the number above on your refrigerator and share it with everyone you know.

Next, we'll get into the subject of investigation.