Child protection in the United States is primarily the responsibility of state and local governments, operating within a frame-work created by federal law and funding. Public child welfare agencies are required by federal law to receive and respond to reports of child abuse and neglect. By 1967, all states had enacted laws requiring certain persons to report child abuse and neglect, though these laws vary from state to state with regard to their scope. In addition, while CPS generally has wide latitude to screen cases into the system, there is variation in state policy and practice regarding investigation of reports, assessment of risk of harm to the child, level of risk required for opening a CPS case, and appropriate intervention.
Nonetheless, the core responsibility of CPS in each state encompasses, and is structured around, two primary functions: screening and investigating child maltreatment reports to determine whether child abuse or neglect has occurred; and, when it has, assessing the risk of harm to the child and the needs of the family in order to determine what, if any, CPS intervention or other service provision is necessary.
Child protection is fast-paced and high-pressure work. CPS workers must investigate reports of abuse quickly and assess extremely complex family situations. Multiple risk factors such as poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, and domestic violence may be present in the families being investigated. These factors, and issues such as cultural and religious differences and language barriers, further complicate CPS casework (Arizona Department of Economic Security, 12-19).
After investigation and assessment, the CPS worker will decide in some cases that there is not sufficient risk to the child to warrant continued CPS involvement. If, on the other hand, the risk is sufficient, a case will be opened, and the CPS worker will determine, along with the family whenever possible, what services and support the family needs in order to reduce the risk of harm to the child..................
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