Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect

• If you believe that a child is being abused or neglected by their mother, father, caretaker or a member of their household call CPS at (209) 468-1333 to make a report. Please be prepared to provide as much demographic information for the family as possible – to include, names, dates of birth (or approximate age), address, etc
• If you believe that a child is being abused or neglected by someone other than their parent, caretaker or household member call law enforcement
• You will be asked questions about why you suspect the abuse or neglect – answer them truthfully and if you don't know say that
• If you are mandated reporter, you must provide your name, address and phone number. If you are not a mandated reporter, you can be anonymous; however, we are now required to ask more information about your request to be anonymous. It is helpful to leave at least your first name and phone number in the event that clarification or additional information is needed.
• You will need to provide a name or address for the family, or the current location of the child you feel has been abused or neglected so that they can be located

SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE REPORT

• Hotline social workers will assess the information and determine whether or not CPS will respond
• If CPS does not respond in all likelihood the matter will be referred to a community agency to contact the family and offer them services
• If CPS does respond the response will be
  • Within 24 hours if the child is thought to be in immediate danger
  • Within 10-days if there is not immediate danger to the child

If a decision is made for there to be an in person investigation, the social worker will make contact with the children and parents to determine if there are safety issues. CPS often does joint investigations with law enforcement. Parent can be arrested because of child abuse or neglect behaviors.

After a social worker has completed the investigation, they can:

• Close the referral with no further CPS intervention
• Close the referral with a referral for support by a community based organization
• Open a voluntary CPS case with the family agreeing to participate in services
• Open a court ordered CPS case with the children remaining in the home with court oversight
• Open a court ordered CPS case with the children removed from the home.

Removing a child from their home is the last resort after all other options have been explored. We understand that removing children is a traumatic experience.

The decision to remove a child from the home has to be made with the social worker and supervisor and they have to get approval from a Judge before actually removing the child(ren), with the assistance of law enforcement. If children can't be safely maintained in the family home, we are obligated to search for relatives that the children can be placed with. Relatives or non-related supports for the family can be assessed to determine if they are appropriate options for placement for the children.

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 evidence based 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.

If a child is removed from your home, a detention hearing will be held within 3 Court days to discuss the allegations that led to removal. CFT engager will be assigned. Once assigned contact will be made to identify your support network. A Child and Family Team meeting will be scheduled to discuss your case plan, as well as discuss placement options for your children

The Court hearing will be at 8:30 in the morning on the day of your hearing at the San Joaquin County Courthouse located at 180 E. Weber Avenue, Stockton, CA 95202. The hearings are usually held in Department 9C or 9D. Be sure to bring any information you would like to share with the Court, including family documents such as birth certificates.

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. Guardianship is a court-ordered relationship that gives an adult legal and physical custody of a child, with the right to make parental decisions about the child's care and control, education, and medical treatment. Guardianship does not terminate parental rights.

Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program
The Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program provides out-of-home placements for children in need of group homes or specialized services for mental, emotional, behavioral or physical issues.

• Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program

Adoption Program

The Adoption program provides services for children needing permanent homes, adoptive home studies, and counsels parents relinquishing their child for adoption.

• Frequently Asked Questions about Adoptions in California

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.

• Adoptee Information
• Adoptions
• Adoptions Assitance

Extended Foster Care/Non-Minor Dependent Program

• Extended Foster Care AB 12

Extended Foster Care (EFC) allows youth ages 18 to 21 to continue to receive foster care services and assistance such as:

• Case management
• Financial (housing) support
• For housing options available to EFC youth, please see our Transitional Housing Programs web page.
• Transitional support including Independent Living Program (ILP) services
• For further information about the ILP, please see our Independent Living Program web page.

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for EFC, youth must be age 18-21 and have had an order for foster care placement on their 18th birthday.
They must also meet one of the following participation requirements:

1. Be enrolled in high school or equivalent program
2. Be enrolled in college/vocational school
3. Work at least 80 hours/month
4. Participate in a program/activity that helps them find a job or remove barriers to employment
5. Be unable to do one of the above because of a medical or mental health condition

Some youth are eligible for benefits until 21 even if their case was closed:

1. Re-Entry into Extended Foster Care (EFC)

Youth who exited foster care at or after age 18 but before turning 21 can re-enter the system through a Voluntary Re-Entry Agreement (VRA) if they meet one of the EFC participation requirements. They can re-enter at any time before their 21st birthday if they need support.

• The process is relatively simple and typically involves contacting their previous social worker, probation officer, or the local child welfare agency.
• Once re-entered, they regain access to the same benefits as before, including housing, financial assistance, case management, and healthcare.

2. THP-Plus (Transitional Housing Program)

Even if a youth's foster care case is closed, they may qualify for THP-Plus, which provides housing and supportive services for former foster youth up to:

• Age 24 (in most counties)
• Age 25 (in counties that have extended the program)

THP-Plus helps with housing, job support, education, and life skills to support independent living. Transitioning to Extended Foster Care

• The youth and their social worker are required to meet when the youth is age 17 1/2 to agree to stay in foster care or exit.
• The youth must sign the Mutual Agreement for Extended Foster Care (form SOC 162) after turning age 18 and no later than six months after reaching age 18.
• Court hearings continue to be held every six months; however, the youth's status as an adult (Non-minor Dependent or NMD) is recognized.

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.

• Link to PUB 456 Important Information for Relatives
• Link - SOC 817 Checklist of Health and Safety Standards for Approval of Family Caregiver Home

Intake and Assessment

• Takes reports of suspected child abuse and neglect
• Responds to and investigates reports of suspected child abuse and neglect for children currently between the ages of 0 through 17
• Refers families to community agencies when the information provided does not rise to the level of an in-person CPS investigation
• Hold CACI Grievance Hearings when a person's name is submitted to the Department of Justice due to a substantiated finding of abuse and they request a review.
  
  Please review all documents sent during the CACI Grievance Hearing Process. For specific questions call the CACI desk at 209-468-1688


• Family Preservation Services
  • A collaborative effort between families, the San Joaquin County Human Services Agency/Children's Services, and community-based organizations to support families with children who are at risk of entering foster care.
  • Services include assessments, intensive family-centered case management, advocacy and crisis stabilization.
  • Participation in this program is voluntary and failure to follow the program's requirement may result in filing a petition under Welfare & Institutions (W&I) Code 300.
  • The goal is to support families to safetly maintain their children in the home and help prevent child abuse, neglect, as well as out-of-home placements.
• Child and Family Team (CFT's)
  • Through the CFT process the family, their natural supports and CPS Social workers identify supports and services that are needed to achieve permanency, enable a child to live in the least restrictive family setting, and promote normal childhood experiences.
  • A team is created with the support of an engager who will help the parents and the minors identify their natural supports, to be included on the Child and Family Team.
  • A meeting will be facilitated by a skilled and trained facilitator who will meet with the family, their natural supports, service providers and CPS Social Worker, as a neutral party ensuring that the voice of everyone is heard at the table.
  • Meetings can occur at any time, as needed or called by one of the members of the CFT. However, they need to be held every six-months at the least.
• Child Advocacy Center
  • The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) was established to provide a child-friendly, centralized location for the investigation of sexual assault cases involving child victims. Its primary mission, shared by all Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) partner agencies, is to ensure a coordinated, compassionate, and effective response for children who have experienced sexual abuse, particularly in cases that require ongoing investigation following initial screenings and reports.
• Transportation
  • Assist with transportation needs of children and adults working with CPS as necessary to medical appointments, visits, court ordered programs, etc.
  • Children under the age of 6 cannot be housed at Mary Graham Children's Shelter and thus need alternate temporary placement.
  • Work with case carrying social workers to move children into appropriate long term placements, and to assist social workers when it is learned that a child is struggling in their current placement and may not be able to remain in the home.
  • Participate in Child and Family Team meetings to talk about the needs of the child and once a potential home is identified they arrange pre-placement visits

San Joaquin County provides some training to those agencies that are required by law to report suspected child abuse and neglect.

If you would like someone to provide training to your organization please contact Treena Johnson at (209) 468-1118.

Additionally the State of California provides information on their website. Helpful information can be found at 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 oag.ca.gov.

There are two components to the Family Social Work program: Family Reunification and Family Maintenance.

Family Reunification and Family Maintenance
The goal of both the Family Reunification and Family Maintenance programs is to provide every dependent child a safe, stable, permanent home, nurtured by healthy families and strong communities. Family Reunification services focus on first providing the parents with the best chance of success at reunification while acknowledging, recognizing and providing for the child's long-term needs for safety, stability and permanence.

The length of Family Reunification court-ordered services is dependent on the age of the youngest child at the time of removal. If the age of the youngest child at the time of initial removal was under three years of age, a parent is entitled to 6 months of services. If the age of the youngest child at the time of initial removal was three years of age or older, a parent is entitled to 12 months of services. There are exceptions in which a motion may be filed to terminate services before the legal timelines for children over the age of three.

A comprehensive Court report is needed for each status review hearing, which are held every 6 months. Review hearings occur at 6, 12, and 18 months and in exceptional circumstances may occur at 24 months.

There are three options at each status review hearing while receiving court-ordered reunification services:

1. Return the child to the home of the parent.
2. Order that the parent receive additional more time to reunify.
3. Terminate services and set a hearing to establish a permanency plan for the child.

In situations where the Court determines that it is appropriate to place or maintain the children with their parent(s), the case is referred to as a Family Maintenance case. The Court maintains legal jurisdiction and responsibility for the care of the child but placement is with one or both parents. A comprehensive Court report is needed for each review hearing to determine whether court supervision continues to be necessary.

The Court Program is critical in the Family Reunification process by conducting regular reviews and hearings. These court sessions assess family progress, review case plans, and determine the necessary steps toward achieving family stability and child safety.