Child Welfare Services

Emergency Response Services

Emergency Response workers investigate reports of child maltreatment. While protection of the child is the goal, maintaining the family unit is emphasized whenever possible. Emergency response services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Emergency Response Units also provide short-term intensive services to stabilize the family so that children can be safe and receive appropriate care. Emphasis is on crisis intervention and avoiding further intervention, such as Juvenile Court action.
Family Maintenance Services

Family Maintenance Services provides time-limited services to children in their homes, aimed at preventing or correcting neglect or abuse.

A primary goal of Family Maintenance Services is to allow children to remain safely in their own homes by providing services and supervision for the family.

Dependents

Families whose children have been declared dependents of the Juvenile Court may be eligible for Family Maintenance Services if the children can safely remain in the home of the parent(s) and if the problems which brought the family before the Juvenile Court can be corrected within the time allowed by law.

Neglect or Abuse

Families whose children are at risk of neglect or abuse, and who are willing to accept voluntary services from Child Welfare Services, may also be eligible for Family Maintenance Services if the children can safely remain in the home while services are being provided. Voluntary services can be provided for up to 6 months and may be extended under certain circumstances if the family is willing to work on correcting the problems that brought the family to the attention of Child Welfare Services.

Family Reunification Services

Family Reunification Services provide time-limited services to families whose children cannot remain safely in the home and have been placed in foster care by the Juvenile Court. The goal of the Family Reunification Services is to help the family overcome safety issues so that children can be reunited with parents or guardians.
Permanency Planning

This program is designed to provide a permanent family for those children who, because of neglect or abuse, cannot safely remain at home or return to the home of the parent(s). Possible permanent plans include: adoption, guardianship, or long-term foster care. The goal of Permanency Planning is to ensure that each child has the most stable home available to grow up.