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CPS: FAQs

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How do I report child abuse? A. If you know or suspect that a child is currently being abused, has been abused, or is at risk of abuse, call: 1-800-632-4615 or 650-595-7922. If I report abuse or neglect, do I have to identify myself? A. No. You can remain anonymous. However, it is helpful to give your name and telephone number to the worker taking the report in the event he or she needs to obtain more information later. Some professionals who come in frequent contact with children are called mandated reporters. These people are required by law to report suspected abuse and give their names when doing so. Can I be sued for making a report? A. The law provides that anyone who reports known or suspected child abuse is protected from civil or criminal liability unless it can be proven that the report was false and that the person who made the report knew it was false. What happens after a report is made? A. No two reports are handled in exactly the same way. Decisions made by the professionals involved are based on each child's unique situation. The agency receiving the report will determine how to proceed based on all of the information available. In general, the social worker interviews the child, the parent(s), and others who may have information about the situation before deciding how to proceed. The worker's primary responsibility is the protection of the child. If I make a report does it mean that the child will be taken away from the home? A. Most reports of child abuse do not result in children being removed from their homes. The goal is to enable the child to remain safely in his or her home. To reduce the problems in the family, a social worker refers the family to community resources and services. If this is not sufficient to resolve the problem, then the social worker must protect the child's safety by removing him or her from the home and into a neutral situation, either with a responsible relative, who has been evaluated by the social worker, or in emergency foster care. Q. If my child is removed from our home, is it permanent? ? A. California has strict rules about removal of children from their families. However, because children are vulnerable, the law also affords them significant protection. If the Agency and law enforcement decide that your child has been abused, neglected, or is at risk of abuse or neglect, he or she may be placed in protective custody and removed from your home. The Juvenile Court then becomes involved to determine the best plan to protect your child. The Juvenile Court will order that you participate in specific services designed to reunify your family, and will monitor your progress. It is a very serious step for the Juvenile Court to order permanent removal of children from their parent(s) and is only done when parents fail to successfully complete the court ordered services and fail to demonstrate that they can protect their child. Q. If my child is removed from my home, how do I get him/her back? A. Specific services agreed to by the family, the Court, and the social worker are provided to the family in order to resolve the problems that brought the family to the attention of the Agency in the first place. Once it is determined that the home environment is safe the child can be returned. The Agency strongly believes in family reunification whenever possible. What are the qualifications of a social worker? A. A social worker is a highly trained professional with a minimum of 30 semester units of social welfare and / or appropriate behavioral science courses or a Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW). He/she has many years of case management experience and has knowledge and skills in: principals of human development and family behavior; social work methods and procedures; techniques and principles of interviewing, assessments and counseling; problem solving methodology; social and community resources and ability to identify, develop and utilize these resources; analyzing problems and needs of families; and developing constructive solutions.