Child Welfare Services

When parents are unable to provide this on their own, intervention is needed to ensure these children are free of abuse and neglect. We provide child well-being services to help children live in a safe and nurturing environment. Some parents need education and guidance to improve their parenting skills so their children can remain with them. In other cases, children must be removed from their homes. These children are placed with foster families until they can return home or become part of an adoptive family.

When a child is suspected of being abused or neglected in a hospital emergency room, the staff should: Suspect child abuse, Evaluate the child, Report to child protection services, Develop a medical treatment plan, and Make referrals as part of discharge planning. Hospitals should also:

• Provide a team approach with physicians, case managers, and social workers
• Provide consistent 24-hour care
• Assist investigating agencies
• Educate nursing, social work, and medical students on how to deal with child abuse cases