Child Welfare Services (CWS) is committed to excellence in the delivery of culturally competent, family-centered and child-focused protective services. CWS investigates reports of suspected child abuse and neglect and intervenes with families to prevent or remedy neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children while preserving, rehabilitating, or reuniting families. Another major responsibility of CWS is to assure adequate care of children who are in out-of-home care. Calaveras County CWS believes that families can grow and change.
Program Goals
Children’s Services is charged with protecting the safety and well-being of all children in the community. Children’s Services investigates all reports of a concern of child abuse or neglect. When a family becomes involved with Children’s Services, they may work with several social workers. Different services will be offered depending upon the needs of each family.
We believe every child in Calaveras County is entitled to live in a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment and as service providers we strive to:
- Provide safety and stability for children at risk of abuse and neglect
- Care for child victims of abuse and neglect
- Work jointly with service providers to strengthen and preserve families
- Collaborate with foster parents and other care providers to ensure safe, stable placements for children
- Establish permanent homes for children who cannot return home
- Actively participate in community activities and organizations focused on the prevention of child maltreatment
Emergency Response (ER)
Emergency Response provides a 24-hour daily response to allegations of child abuse and neglect. Community members reporting abuse call our ER Hotline where a social worker takes each report and makes a determination on how to proceed by assessing the referral information with a focus on the present and potential future risk to the child. An assessment tool assists the social worker in determining how to respond and what priority to assign that referral. If an investigation reveals a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, emergency response prevention services may be offered for a maximum of 30 days. Services include case management, counseling, emergency in-home caretakers, parenting training, teaching, and demonstrating homemaking skills and transportation.