
Child Protective Services is a unit within the Department of Social Services that
assesses abuse, neglect, and dependency of children from birth to 18 years of age. The purpose of the assessment is to determine the extent of any abuse or neglect, the risk of harm to the child, whether the child and family need assistance or intervention services by the Department of Social Services to
insure child safety in the home, what services would be most helpful, and whether a petition should be filed to take the matter to juvenile court.