10A NCAC 71R .0916. PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN

(a)  Primary Service.  Protective services for children are social services provided to children and their parents or other caretakers in response to instances of actual or suspected child neglect, abuse or dependency.  The primary elements of protective services consist of:

(1)           Identifying children at risk;

(2)           Receiving and assessing reports of neglect, abuse or dependency;

(3)           Evaluating the degree of damage or risk to the child;

(4)           Cooperating with law enforcement agencies as required to obtain suitable care and services for children in or out of their own homes and initiation of court action where necessary;

(5)           Counseling and planning with the child's family toward the solution and prevention of problems causing neglect, abuse or dependency; and

(6)           Arranging for the provision of, and assisting families in utilizing appropriate services and community resources such as foster care, child care, health and mental health services, and homemaker services as needed.  These services are included for runaways, harmed or threatened with harm by virtue of their status as runaways.  Included also are service activities necessary to carry out statutory responsibility to approve or disapprove the separation of a child under six months of age from its parent.  The county may provide counseling and therapy for children and their parents or guardians, training courses for parents or guardians of the individual child, and services of lawyers to represent the agency where court action is necessary to protect children.

(b)  Components:

(1)           A component of protective services for children is the provision of medical, psychological and medicolegal diagnostic studies and evaluations where needed to substantiate, find services needed and assess the circumstances of abuse or neglect are included;

(2)           A component of protective services for children may be the provision of emergency shelter, at county option.

(c)  Resource Items.  There are no resource items.

(d)  Target Population.  The target population is children (birth through 17 years) in actual or suspected danger of child neglect, abuse, or dependency.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143B‑153;

Eff. February 8, 1977;

Amended Eff. October 1, 1979; October 1, 1977;

Transferred from T10.43D .0223 Eff. July 1, 1983;

Amended Eff. November 1, 2007; July 1, 1984; December 1, 1983.