Child Protective Services (CPS)

Child Protective Services (CPS)

CPS works at the "front end" of the child welfare system, screening and responding to allegations of child abuse and neglect and taking steps to protect children's safety, including removing them from home when necessary. Among other things, state law defines maltreatment, mandates reporting of abuse by certain people, and specifies procedures and timeframes that must be followed by CPS workers in responding to reports. During the past several years, a number of states have passed laws giving CPS more flexibility in responding to reports. Other emerging issues in CPS include how to handle cases involving domestic violence, how to promote community participation in child protection and whether clergy should be required to report abuse.

States Which Require Clergy to Report Child Abuse and States Which Allow Clergy Penient Privilege

A New Look at Child Protection

SLR: Children's Exposure to Domestic Violence: Is it Child Abuse?

For more information regarding child welfare issues, contact Steve Chrstian in the Denver office at 303.364.7700 or cyf-info@ncsl.org or either She Steisel or Lee Psey in the D.C. office at 202.624.5400 or fedhumserv-info@ncsl.org.

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