Child Protective Services

Child Supervision Brochure

Child Supervision Guidelines

960 Reporting Form

North Dakota Century Code 50-25.1 defines the law to “protect the health and welfare of children by encouraging the reporting of children who are known to be or suspected of being abused or neglected; the providing of adequate services for the protection and treatment of abused and neglected children and to protect them from further harm.”

• Anyone can report suspected child abuse and neglect
• Certain professionals are required by law to report suspected child abuse and neglect
• Reporter’s name must remain confidential by law
• Types of Child Abuse or Neglect

1. Abuse-caregiver inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon the child bodily injury, substantial bodily injury, or serious bodily injury. ie: unreasonable severe corporate punishment
2. Sexual Abuse-sexual contact between a child and an adult or significantly older, more powerful person.  ie:  inappropriate sexual comments, taking or showing sexually explicit photographs, exposing a child to pornography or adult sexual activity
3. Neglect-
   inadequate supervision Ultimately, the safety, care, well-being, and behavior of dependent children is the parent’s responsibility. Parents are responsible to arrange for appropriate childcare in their absence
   ,
   inadequate physical environmentConditions such as broken glass, spoiled food, feces, drugs accessible to a child, inadequate sewage disposal, inadequate or unsafe heat, accessible chemicals or other dangerous conditions are present in the home. The surroundings of the home (neighborhood) are also considered
   ,
   nutritionChild is not provided adequate nutrition and nourishment
   ,
   clothing and hygieneFailure to provide adequate clothing for the weather, lack of cleanliness causes the child to be offensive to others or ostracized because of body odor
   ,
   medical or educational neglectFailure to make arrangements and/or provide for a child’s education whether it is public schooling, private schooling or home schooling
   or
   psychological maltreatmentConsequences to a child related to patterns of behavior by a caregiver that involve rejecting, isolating, threatening, ignoring and/or exposing a child to negative influences, regardless of the adult’s intention in doing so. For example: children who exhibit emotional or behavioral problems related to the caregiver’s behavior, children who are placed in the middle of disputes between caregivers and children whose caregiver’s ability to provide protection or supervision is limited by substance abuse, mental illness, or other reasons. Extreme discipline such as confinement by being locked in a closet, excessive control of the child’s actions which inhibit growth and development and exposure to domestic violence are other examples.
4. Medical Neglect-parents or caregivers fail to seek medical or dental treatment for health problems or conditions, which if left untreated, could present danger to the child

• After report is received, trained Child Protection worker is assigned to assess the concerns in the report
• 1^st steps are to assess for immediate safety of the child
• Past history and current reports are reviewed
• Collateral contacts may be contacted who can give more information regarding the child’s safety and risk of future maltreatment
• The child protection worker may talk to the child at school or at home
• The child protection worker does not need consent to talk to the child from the person responsible for the child’s welfare per North Dakota law
• Child protection workers try to keep families together by working on a safety plan unless a child is in danger and cannot be protected in the home or with other appropriate family members
• The outcome decision of the CPS assessment decides whether or not services are required to provide for the protection and treatment of an abused or neglected child.  Each full assessment will have the finding of either:  Services Required or No Services Required

1. No Services Required-decision reflects the belief that a child is not abused or neglected as defined by law.  Services may still be offered or recommended to the family
2. Services Required-decision reflects the belief that a child is abused or neglected as defined by law.  These cases are referred to the court for potential legal action.  In addition these cases are also referred to Burleigh County Social Services In-Home Services department to work on a case plan. 

   Legal Action warranted

• If a child is in immediate danger, the child will be placed in temporary protective custody by the court, police officers, or doctor pending a Shelter Care hearing
• Parent(s) or legal guardians will have a Shelter Care hearing within 96 hours when their child(ren) is placed in emergency protective custody