ABSTRACT
This chapter presents many of the procedural aspects related to the child welfare system in the United States, from the time an initial report is made to a child protection agency to case closure, and the federal legislation, policies, and agencies that help guide this process. Steps in this process include investigation and initial assessment, family assessment, case planning, service provision, and assessment of family progress. Some of the specific aspects of this process that are explored in more detail include evaluating the credibility of reports, the substantiation of child maltreatment, the assessment of child safety and emergency needs, the importance of culturally sensitive and strengths-based family assessments, the basis for the family group decision-making model, variable service provision for low-, moderate-, and high-risk families, the factors involved in evaluating family progress, and the important role that decision making plays throughout this process. The chapter ends with a closer look at how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted those working in child protection and the very important work that they do.
