Division Of Youth Services

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Case Process

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES PROCESS

Intake:
CPS receives reports of suspected child abuse and neglect and refers them to the supervisor for case assignment

Initial Assessment/Investigation:
During the initial assessment/investigation, CPU gathers information to determine if the report is valid and maltreatment occurred, if the child is safe in the home and if not, what interventions are necessary to ensure the child's protection, and if CPU services are needed to reduce or alleviate the risk of future harm

Family Assessment:
This assessment obtains thorough information about the nature, extent, and causes of the factors contributing to the risk of abuse and the effects of abuse on the child and other members of the family. This process helps identify strategies that would prevent maltreatment from occurring in the future.

Service/ Case Planning:
At this stage, caseworkers and the clients work together to determine what changes need to be made to reduce or eliminate the risk of maltreatment. The service plan also include an agreement on what the client, caseworker, and other service providers will do to achieve needed changes.

Service Provision:
The service plan is implemented and CPU's primary role is to arrange for, provide, and/or coordinate the delivery of services.

Service Provision:
The service plan is implemented and CPU's primary role is to arrange for, provide, and/or coordinate the delivery of services.

Family Progress Evaluation and Case Closure:
Evaluating family progress includes emphasis on the following:
*the child's safety
*fulfillment of goals and tasks in the service plan
*reduction of the risk of maltreatment
*the success in meeting the child's and other family members' needs caused by the maltreatment

Case closure will be determined based on whether the risks have been significantly reduced or eliminated so that the family is able to meet the child's needs and protect the child without agency intervention.

Multidisciplinary Response Team (MDRT):
Due to its complexity, CPU alone cannot effectively intervene in the lives of troubled and dysfunctional families. Other professionals, from the Attorney General's Office, the Department of Public Safety, and members of the CNMI MDRT Center, may be involved to assist in meeting the needs of abused and neglected children and help reduce the risk of maltreatment. These professionals, with CPU, each play vital and significant roles in a multidisciplinary response team which provides assistance to victims of abuse and helps to alleviate trauma suffered by victims.

Last Updated ( Friday March 14, 2008 )