All children deserve safety and a basic level of care.
Public agencies have a responsibility to conduct thorough investigations in response to reports.
The primary function of investigation is to identify families who require support and services to assure child safety and care. When a child has been maltreated by an individual outside of the family, CPS should act as collaborators with and consultants to the parents. According to the law, specific professionals are mandated to report child abuse and neglect. The reporter must do so if they have reason to believe that a child seen in the course of their professional duties has been abused, or neglected or threatened with abuse or neglect and the person has reason to believe the threats will be carried out. Every instance of child abuse or neglect must be reported no matter when it happened or where it happened.