When a report of abuse or serious neglect reaches Child Protective Services (CPS), it activates a series of events designed to establish whether a child is in danger and, if necessary, protect them from future harm.
Child welfare processes vary from state to state. Even the language used to describe each role and each decision point may vary in each state, in each county or in each tribe.
Despite such idiosyncratic elements, U.S. child welfare systems do share certain commonalities, in part because of requirements set by federal law:
- Certain professionals—including teachers and doctors—are required to report if they suspect abuse or neglect.
- CPS agencies investigate and take action in the interest of protecting a child.
- Juvenile and Family Court Judges hear cases and make decisions about a child's future.
- If necessary, foster care agencies provide case management for children who have been removed from their homes.
How Children Move Through the Child Welfare System is a flow chart that depicts the child welfare process in broad terms. This resource will be useful to you if you are new to child welfare and would like to gain a general understanding of what happens after CPS receives a report of abuse or neglect.