Child Protective Services

Abstract

Worldwide, young children, who are dependent on others for their survival and healthy development, are victims of maltreatment (abuse and neglect) by their caregivers, often with long‐lasting, cascading effects on their personal lives and communities. Child maltreatment takes place in all cultures, religions, ethnicities, and socioeconomic classes, with younger children being the most vulnerable to such maltreatment. How can societies and communities, each with its own complicated legal and moral systems, organize around the well‐being of children and respond appropriately and in a timely manner to the maltreatment of minors? In the United States, a complex and broad child welfare system has evolved over time to meet the multitude of needs of maltreated children and their families. Typically, child welfare services include Child Protective Services (CPS), family preservation, reunification, foster care, and adoption services.