333 E. Washington Street, Stockton, CA 95202 (209) 468-1000
To Report Child Abuse or Neglect call: (209) 468-1333
The Department of Social Services may, to the extent the Department deems necessary to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, allow any state monthly face-to-face caseworker visitation requirement, standard, or criteria set forth in the Welfare and Institutions Code sections 16501.1, subdivision (l), 16516.5, and 16516.6, as well as accompanying regulations or other written directives, policies or procedures, to be accomplished through videoconferencing, instead of in-person contact. This flexibility shall only be utilized by caseworkers in keeping with guidance from the Department and after a child-specific decision based on the training and experience of the social worker, considering all available information, that an in-person visit is not necessary to ensure the child’s safety and well-being. Any flexibility granted pursuant to this paragraph shall not waive or conflict with applicable federal requirements in United States Code, Title 42, sections 622, subdivision (b)(17) and 624, subdivision (f), as modified for emergency waivers in guidance issued March 18, 2020, in the Child Welfare Policy Manual Title IV-B, section 7.3, question 8and shall expire at the end of the emergency declaration, in 90 days, or sooner as determined by the Department.
There is no simple answer to this as lots of things go into making a decision about the danger the child is in as well as the risk that the child may be abused or neglected again. CPS social workers rely on their education, training as well as specific tools available to them to decide what level of services will keep the child safe. Some common things that can help reduce the risk of the child being abused or neglected again are the willingness of the person that caused the abuse to admit to it and seek help as well as the family having support in terms of friends or family that will also help make sure the child is safe.
Within 2 working days of the child being removed there will be a Team Decision Making meeting. This is an important meeting because it is a time for family and friends to meet along with the social worker and others that might be able to provide services to the family. At this meeting decisions about the child’s placement will be talked about and decided upon. If the decision is that the child cannot safely return to the home of the parent then there will be a Court hearing in Department 12 of the San Joaquin County courthouse on Weber Ave in Stockton.. This hearing will be at 8:30am three working days after the child was removed. The parents will be told of the exact date before the hearing and arrangements will be made to get any parent in the San Joaquin County jail transported to the hearing.
FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION The Resource Family Approval Program evaluates and approves prospective foster and adoptive parents.
Please call (209) 465-KIDS (5437) if you are interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent.
INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM The Independent Living Program is integrated with the Foster Care Program and is designed to prepare foster youth for life beyond foster care, which includes career, employment, educational and living arrangement goals.
GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM The Guardianship program provides supervision and assessments for children placed in non-relative and probate guardianship's.
TREATMENT PROGRAM The Treatment Program provides out-of-home placements for children in need of group homes or specialized services for mental, emotional, behavioral or physical issues.
The Adoption program provides services for children needing permanent homes, adoptive home studies, and counsels parents relinquishing their child for adoption.
Please call (209) 465-KIDS (5437) if you are interested in adopting.
ADOPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) Program provides post-adoption resources to Adoptive Families and handles post adoption inquiries.
RELATIVE/NON-RELATIVE EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBER ASSESSMENT The Relative/Non-Relative Extended Family Member (NREFM) program completes assessments of potential placements for children in Relative/NREFM placements and conducts family finding efforts.
Intake and Assessment
mandatedreporterca.com. additionally the Suspected Child Abuse Report that is mandatory for all mandated reporters to complete and send in after their call to CPS can be downloaded at ag.ca.gov.
(209) 468-1333
(209) 468-3780 or (888) 800-4800
(209) 953-7733