Child protective services

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Child Protective Services

Child Protective Services (pronunciation: /tʃaɪld prəˈtɛktɪv ˈsɜːrvɪsɪz/) is a government agency in many states of the United States that responds to child abuse and child neglect issues.

Etymology

The term "Child Protective Services" is derived from the agency's primary mission, which is to protect children from harm. The term was first used in the United States in the 20th century.

Function

Child Protective Services is responsible for investigating reports of child abuse and neglect, providing services to children and families in their homes, placing children in foster care, providing services to help youth in foster care make the transition to adulthood, and placing children in adoptive homes.

Related Terms

  • Child abuse: Any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.
  • Child neglect: The failure of a parent or other person with responsibility for the child to provide needed food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision to the degree that the child's health, safety, and well-being are threatened with harm.
  • Foster care: A system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home, or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent" or with a family member approved by the state.
  • Adoption: A process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents, and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from the biological parent or parents.
Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.