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| WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE NEGLECT?
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| • A child exhibits evidence of skin bruising, bleeding, malnutrition, failure to thrive, burns, fractures of any bones,
soft tissue swelling, and/or death; the condition is not justifiably explained; and/or the circumstances indicate that such condition may not be the product of an accidental occurrence.
Any case in which a child subjected to sexual assault or molestation, sexual exploitation, or prostitution.
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| • Any case in which a child is in need of medical services because the child’s parents, legal guardian, or custodian fails to take the same
actions to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision that a prudent parent would take.
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| • A parent, guardian, or legal custodian has abandoned the child or has subjected him or her to mistreatment or abuse, or has suffered or allowed another to mistreat
or abuse the child without taking lawful means to stop such mistreatment and prevent it from reoccurring.
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| • A child lacks proper parental care through the actions or omissions of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
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| • The child’s environment is injurious to his/her welfare.
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| • A parent, guardian, or legal custodian fails or refuses to provide the child with proper or necessary subsistence, education, medical care, or any care necessary for his/her health, guidance, or well being.
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| Services are provided to reduce or eliminate conflicts between youth and their family members or the community when those conflicts affect the youth’s well-being, the normal functioning of the family or the well-being of the community.
The focus of services shall be on alleviating conflicts, protecting the youth and the community, re-establishing family stability, or assisting the youth to emancipate successfully.
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| Statutorily authorized services are provided to specified children and families in which the reason for service is not protective services or youth in conflict. These services are limited to children and families in need of subsidized adoption or Medicaid only services, or to children for whom the goal is no longer reunification.
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| When someone in the community, or someone whose job requires him/her to report suspected abuse, has reason to suspect abuse or neglect of a child, s/he should call the Department of Social Services at (719)336-7486 or the local law enforcement agency at 911.
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| Notice:
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| Persons reporting concerns from the abuse or neglect of a child or children shall be immune from liability, civil or criminal, if the reporting is done in good faith. The names and the identification of persons who report (if revealed during the making of the report) shall be kept confidential unless the court orders such a disclosure. On rare occasions,
reporting parties may be called upon to testify in court hearings if needed to safeguard the well being of a reported child.
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| To report suspected child abuse/neglect call Prowers County Dept. of Social Services at (719)336-7486 or the local law enforcement agency at 911.
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| The main goal is to keep the family intact, but when necessary, other living arrangements are made.
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| 1. Fill out an application.
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| 2. Complete a Foster Parent questionnaire.
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| 3. Participate in family and individual interviews for the home study.
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| 4. Submit names of references.
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| 5. Participate in an inspection of your home.
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| 6. Submit to FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and law enforcement checks.
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| 7. Submit to a Central Registry check.
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| 8. Have family health examinations.
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| 9. Participate in training.
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| 10. Participate in CPR and First Aid training.
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| • Protect the child
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| • Provide the basics.
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| • Discipline in a positive way.
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| • Help the child grow.
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| • Provide services such as transportation and arrange for medical and dental care, as well as involvement in counseling sessions.
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| • Encourage positive relationships.
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| • Participate with the Department of Social Services as an active team member in case planning and service delivery.
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| • Attend staffings and meetings.
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| • Work actively with the family of origin during and after placement.
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| • Keep records of child’s behavior and progress.
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| • Prepare the child to return home.
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| • Know the satisfaction that comes from providing a temporary home for a child or children in need.
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| 1. We do not place a lot of children in foster care because we support children being in their own homes.
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| 2. We remove children from their parents as a last resort, for safety reasons. This is when we need foster placements.
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| 3. The foster home provides safe, temporary care for children.
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| 4. The foster parents work with the Department of Social Services in supporting reunification of the foster child with his/her family.
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| 5. Sometimes reunification is not possible, no matter how hard everyone tries. In this case, a child might become available for adoption.
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| 6. Decisions concerning a foster child’s future are made for the best interest of the child.
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| DEFINITIONS
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| Abuse: Infliction of physical pain or injury as demonstrated by, but not limited to, substantial or multiple skin bruising, bleeding, malnutrition, dehydration, burns, bone fractures, poisoning, subdural hematoma, soft issue swelling, suffocation, unreasonable confinement/restraint, or subjection to non-consensual sexual contact or conduct.
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| Self-Neglect: An act or failure to act whereby the at-risk adult substantially endangers his/her health, safety, welfare, or life by not seeking or obtaining services necessary to meet their essential human needs. (Choice of lifestyle or living arrangements shall not, by itself, constitute self-neglect.)
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| Caretaker: A person who is responsible for the care of an at-risk adult as the result of a family or legal relationship or who has assumed responsibility for the care of an at-risk adult.
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| Caretaker Neglect: When food, clothing, shelter, psychological/physical/medical care, or supervision is not secured for the at-risk adult or is not provided by a caretaker in a timely manner and with the degree of care that a reasonable person in the same situation would exercise.
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