Overview of Child Protection Overview of Child Protection ProcessProcess

Presented to:Presented to:Task Force on Child ProtectionTask Force on Child Protection

August 3, 2007August 3, 2007

Bill NavasBill NavasOffice of Attorney GeneralOffice of Attorney General

1313thth Judicial Circuit Judicial Circuit

Initial response to a call Initial response to a call from the Hotlinefrom the Hotline

CPI conducts on site CPI conducts on site investigationinvestigation

Result:Result: No action requiredNo action required Voluntary services offeredVoluntary services offered Judicial intervention and/or removalJudicial intervention and/or removal

If a child is removed,If a child is removed,

A shelter hearing must be held within A shelter hearing must be held within 24 hours24 hours

An Early Services Intervention An Early Services Intervention Staffing is held to identify the service Staffing is held to identify the service needs of the child and familyneeds of the child and family

In consultation with a Child Welfare In consultation with a Child Welfare Legal Services attorney, a Legal Services attorney, a Dependency Petition is filedDependency Petition is filed

Options for Placement of a ChildOptions for Placement of a Child

An approved adult relativeAn approved adult relative

A licensed shelter/foster homeA licensed shelter/foster home

An approved non-relativeAn approved non-relative

Prior to approving relative or Prior to approving relative or non-relative placements,non-relative placements,

A Homestudy is required to evaluate A Homestudy is required to evaluate each caregiver’s capacity to provide each caregiver’s capacity to provide a safe, stable and supportive home a safe, stable and supportive home environment for the child, andenvironment for the child, and

Background checks are required Background checks are required (including fingerprints, local law (including fingerprints, local law enforcement, FDLE, NCIC, DJJ, and enforcement, FDLE, NCIC, DJJ, and abuse reports) abuse reports)

Placement Supervision Placement Supervision RequirementsRequirements

The caseworker must visit with the The caseworker must visit with the childchild

and the caregiver in the home:and the caregiver in the home:

Prior to disposition, every 7 daysPrior to disposition, every 7 days

After disposition, every 30 daysAfter disposition, every 30 days

Frequency of caseworker visits can Frequency of caseworker visits can be increased if the situation warrantsbe increased if the situation warrants

If parents If parents admitadmit or or consent consent to the to the allegations in the Dependency Petition, allegations in the Dependency Petition,

thenthen The child is adjudicated dependentThe child is adjudicated dependent

A Guardian ad Litem is appointed by A Guardian ad Litem is appointed by the court to represent the child’s best the court to represent the child’s best interestsinterests

A Disposition Hearing is heldA Disposition Hearing is held

If the parents If the parents denydeny the the allegations,allegations,

The case is set for an Adjudicatory The case is set for an Adjudicatory Hearing, andHearing, and

If the court finds by a preponderance If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the child was of the evidence that the child was abused or neglected, the child is abused or neglected, the child is adjudicated dependentadjudicated dependent

Once the child is Once the child is adjudicated dependent,adjudicated dependent,

A Disposition Hearing is held A Disposition Hearing is held

The court determines the most The court determines the most appropriate protections, services and appropriate protections, services and placement setting for the childplacement setting for the child

The Case Plan is approvedThe Case Plan is approved

Judicial ReviewsJudicial Reviews Are held to review the child’s status and Are held to review the child’s status and

the parents’ progress towards the goal, the parents’ progress towards the goal, objectives and tasks of the case planobjectives and tasks of the case plan

Are held at least every six months until Are held at least every six months until the court terminates supervision, the court terminates supervision, oror

Are held every 90 days if the child is in Are held every 90 days if the child is in residential treatmentresidential treatment

Permanency Review Permanency Review HearingHearing

Is held no later than 12 months after Is held no later than 12 months after the date the child was shelteredthe date the child was sheltered

At this hearing, the court makes a At this hearing, the court makes a determination of the child’s determination of the child’s permanency goal, in order of prioritypermanency goal, in order of priority

Permanency GoalsPermanency GoalsIn order of priority are:In order of priority are:

ReunificationReunification AdoptionAdoption Permanent GuardianshipPermanent Guardianship Permanent Placement with a Fit and Permanent Placement with a Fit and

Willing RelativeWilling Relative Placement in Another Planned Placement in Another Planned

Permanent Living ArrangementPermanent Living Arrangement