Protective Services for Children are provided to children and
their parents/caretakers in response to instances of actual or suspected child
neglect, abuse, or exploitation. This includes investigating reports of neglect,
abuse, dependency or exploitation; evaluating the degree of damage or risk to
the child; cooperating with law enforcement agencies and initiating court action
when necessary; counseling and planning with the child's family toward the
solution and prevention of problems causing neglect, abuse, dependency, or
exploitation; and arranging for the provisions of services such as foster care,
day care, health, and mental health services and in home aid
services.
These services are provided by an intake unit, investigative
units, treatment units, and an extended duty unit. The extended duty social
worker responds to emergency situations, which cannot be handled during regular
office hours - nights, weekends, holidays, etc.