Home > Appendix A: The Child Welfare System

How the Child Welfare System Works
Factsheet

Author(s):  Child Welfare Information Gateway

Year Published:  2008

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How the Child Welfare System Works
Appendix A: The Child Welfare System

This flow chart provides an overview of the child welfare system.

If child abuse or neglect is suspected, the first step is for a professional or community member to report the suspected abuse to child protective services (CPS). The next step is for the CPS worker to screen the report. If the report does not the meet definition of child maltreatment or if too little information is supplied, it is "screened out" and may be referred elsewhere.

If the report is "screened in," the next step is for CPS to make a determination about safety concerns. Cases that present significant safety concerns or risk for the child are investigated. In cases in which the safety concerns and risk are low, CPS may conduct a family assessment and may or may not offer voluntary services. Cases with moderate risk may go either way, depending on the individual circumstances.

For cases that are investigated, CPS workers usually make one of two findings. If the report is unsubstantiated (or unfounded) because of insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect, then CPS may close the case or refer the family for voluntary services. If the report is substantiated (or founded) because of evidence of abuse or neglect, there are several possible next steps. If a substantiated case is found to present low risk or no risk of future abuse, the case can be closed or referred for voluntary services. If the child has been seriously harmed or serious risk of future abuse is found in a substantiated case, then a court petition may be filed.

After the court petition is filed, the child may either stay with the family (with services provided to the child and family) or the child may be removed from the home into foster care (with services provided to the child and family). If the child stays with the family and the risk is minimized, the case is closed. If the child stays with the family but there is still a risk, the child could be removed from the home and placed in foster care.

If a child is removed from the home and placed in foster care, the options that follow are reunification with the family, custody given to a relative, termination of parental rights and adoption or permanent legal guardianship, or independent living with permanent family connections (usually for an older youth).

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Updated on October 9, 2009