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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
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- What is child abuse?
What is child neglect?
What should I do if I see unsupervised children in my neighborhood and I am worried about their safety?
Do parents have the right to discipline their children as they see fit?
How old does my child have to be before I can allow her/him to be home alone?
Does child abuse and neglect occur only in the home?
What happens when a report of child abuse or neglect is made to the Frederick County Department of Social Services?
If I make a report on a family to Child Protective Services will my name be revealed?
Will my children be removed from my care as a result of the Child Protective Services investigation?
Is maltreatment a private family matter in which no one should try to interfere?
Can anything be done to help parents who maltreat their children?
1. What is child abuse?
We may observe behavior towards children that we feel is inappropriate. Child abuse and neglect are legal terms and are defined by the Maryland Family Law Article 5-701 as:
- Physical injury, not necessarily visible, of a child by a parent, other individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of a child, or by a household or family member under circumstances that indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or at substantial risk of being harmed;
- Any sexual abuse to a child, meaning an act or acts involving sexual molestation or exploitation, whether physical injuries are sustained or not, by a parent, other individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of a child, or by a household or family member; or
- Mental injury to a child, meaning the observable, identifiable and substantial impairment of a child’s mental or psychological ability to function, that is caused by the act of a parent or other individual who has permanent or temporary care, or custody or responsibility for supervision of the child, or by a household or family member.
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2. What is child neglect?
- The failure to give proper care and attention to a child, including the leaving of a child unattended by the child’s parent, or other individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody, or responsibility for supervision of the child, under circumstances that indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or placed at substantial risk of harm; or
- Mental injury to a child, meaning the observable, identifiable and substantial impairment of a child’s mental or psychological ability function, or a substantial risk of mental injury that is caused by the failure to give proper care and attention to a child by the child’s parents, or other individual who has permanent or temporary care or custody, or responsibility for supervision of the child.
If you believe a child is being abused or neglected, contact the Department of Social Services at 301-600-2464 to discuss this situation with a social worker.
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3. What should I do if I see unsupervised children in my neighborhood and I am worried about their safety?
Call 911 or the Frederick City Police Department at 301 600-2102. They will make an immediate assessment of the child's safety and if necessary, the police will contact Child Protective Services at the Department of Social Services.
If you have a general concern and there is not an immediate issue of the child's safety, you can call 301 600-2464 to discuss the situation with a social worker. Depending on what you have observed, a child neglect investigation might result.
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4. Do parents have the right to discipline their children as they see fit?
Parents have the right to discipline their children. Parents do not have the right to abuse or neglect their children.
Discipline means helping children learn right from wrong and helping them learn how to succeed in life. There are many ways to discipline children. If you or someone you know has questions about discipline, wants information about community counseling services, or wants information about support groups for parents, call the Frederick County Department of Social Services at 301-600-2464 or the Mental Heath Association of Frederick County at 301-600-0011.
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5. How old does my child have to be before I can allow her/him to be home alone?
Family Law 5-801 (Unattended Children Law), the most commonly referred to law on this subject, states that a child under the age of 8 must be in the care of a person who is at least 13 years old. Generally, it is left up to the parent's judgment to decide whether a child who is 8 or older is mature enough to be home alone. Anytime you leave your child alone, be sure the child knows what to do in the event of an emergency. The Frederick County Department of Social Services' Child Protective Services (CPS) may become involved if a child of any age is left alone and is placed at risk of harm because he/she is unable to manage on his/her own. CPS may also become involved if your child's babysitter or caretaker is unable to properly care for her. This is particularly important if you have an older child babysitting your child. Is the babysitter responsible? Is she mature? Is she emotionally and intellectually able to handle the job?
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6. Does child abuse and neglect occur only in the home?
Child maltreatment can affect children in a number of settings. Children in day care homes and centers, schools, foster and group homes, as well as residential facilities are protected under the law in the same way that children in their own homes are protected.
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7. What happens when a report of child abuse or neglect is made to the Frederick County Department of Social Services?
If Child Protective Services receives a report of child abuse or neglect that needs to be investigated, a social worker will visit the family and discuss the report with all family members. Services may be provided to the family to help them better care for their children. The social worker will advise the parents orally and in writing of the outcome of the investigation.
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8. If I make a report on a family to Child Protective Services will my name be revealed?
No, the names of individuals who make reports cannot be released according to Maryland law.
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9. Will my children be removed from my care as a result of the Child Protective Services investigation?
Efforts are made to keep families together. However, when children are in immediate danger and their safety cannot be assured, they may be removed from their parents’ care and placed temporarily with a relative or in foster care under the court’s jurisdiction.
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10. Is maltreatment a private family matter in which no one should try to interfere?
While parents do have the right to raise their children as they see fit, they do not have the right to discipline or punish them in an abusive manner. Everyone is legally and morally obligated to protect children and to report any suspected incident of abuse or neglect to the local department of social services or to the police.
Maltreatment is a social as well as a family problem. The consequences are too far reaching for it to be considered strictly a private family matter. Research has shown that children who have been maltreated are at high risk of developing learning or behavior disorders. Severe abuse may also lead to permanent brain damage and mental and/or physical retardation. Another sobering fact is that large numbers of our prison population were abused and/or grossly neglected as children.
For some adults, acting out their abusive tendencies is their way of asking for help. They may recognize that they have a serious problem but, at the same time, feel powerless to change their behavior. Only through outside intervention can these individuals receive the help they need. Your call could connect them with the resources they require to assist them.
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11. Can anything be done to help parents who maltreat their children?
Many abusing and neglecting parents are under the misconception that being a good parent comes naturally. They do not realize that effective parenting is learned behavior and that they can alter patterns of negative behavior with skilled, professional help. Services such as family planning, marriage counseling, parent effectiveness training and individual and group therapy can be beneficial in assisting parents with their difficult role. Anyone needing a referral for these services can call 301-600-2464.
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