To Report Child or Elder Abuse call (209) 754-6677 or 1-844-690-5137.

Contact CPS at (209) 754-6452 or send a fax to (209) 754-3293

 

Children's Services

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.

Ongoing Services

Family Reunification (FR), Family Maintenance (FM) & Permanent Planning (PP)

Ongoing Services are provided once a Child Welfare Services (CWS) case is transferred from an Emergency Response social worker to a CWS Ongoing social worker. The goal of the Ongoing social worker is to assist the family in completing the conditions of the court-ordered case plan for them to successfully reunify. The assistance involves supervision and case management services including oversight of out-of-home placement situations. The level of involvement, frequency of contact, and types of services depend on multiple factors. These factor the needs of the child and family, the results of the family assessment and development of the case plan, the potential for further child maltreatment, what has been court-ordered and the evaluation of progress toward goals. There may be referrals, as appropriate to community-based services.

The Calaveras County Adoption Program, under Child Welfare Services (CWS), works to develop alternate plans for a permanent, loving family if children cannot reunify with their parents. 

Independent Living Program (ILP) to current and former foster youth. ILP focuses on helping youth gain the basic life skills and information needed to become successful self-sufficient adults.

Child Family Team Meetings

A teaming approach to working with families, children and caregivers to help meet the needs of children in foster care. A Family Team Meeting brings family, friends, neighbors and community members together with resources from child welfare, mental health, schools and other helping agencies. Together, the team works to find solutions that build on the family's strengths that can lead to necessary changes, make a plan for who will do what and when and agree on next steps.

Katie A - Pathways to Well-Being

A Mental Health program under Calaveras County Behavioral Health that serves youth in foster care or juvenile probation. Program contact information:  (209) 754-6525 Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm.