Child Protection

Other Reasons for Investigation

Exposure to Domestic Violence

Exposure to domestic violence is when a child is exposed directly or indirectly to physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological harm between current or former intimate partners or spouses. Exposure can include seeing and hearing violent acts, seeing related injuries and/or being told about the violence.

Abandonment/Separation

Abandonment/separation occurs when a child has been abandoned, a child’s parent has died, or a child’s parent is unavailable to exercise his or her custodial rights over a child and has not made adequate provision for a child’s care and custody. It also occurs when a child is in out-of-home placement and the parent refuses or is unable to resume the child’s care and custody.

Caregiver Capacity

Caregiver capacity can be questioned when a caregiver demonstrates, or has demonstrated in the past, characteristics that indicate the child would be at risk of harm without intervention. These characteristics can include a history of abusing/neglecting a child, being unable to protect a child from harm, problems such as drug or alcohol use, mental-health issues, or limited caregiving skills.