Keeping Your Children Out of Foster Care

There are many ways to prevent your children from going into foster care. The first and most logical way is not to have any child protective involvement. These are basic things you can do to prevent Child Protective Involvement:

• Never leave your child Alone


• Do Not Use Corporal Punishment


• Ensure that your children under the age of 16 go to school regularly


• Do Not Use Drugs...including Marijuana


• Do Not Drink Alcohol to inebriation while caring for your children


• Ensure that your home is clean and safe


• Make sure that you are taking your children to the doctor regularly and that they are up to date on all of their immunizations


• If arrested Make Arrangements for a responsible adult to care for your child in the interim

If a report of suspected Child Abuse/Neglect is called in and you are investigated by New York City Administrative for Children Services remain calm and listen to what the allegations are. Do Not Antagonize the Child Protective Worker as they are doing their job and they are not there to make your life miserable or to create havoc in your life. If there is a recommendation for services you should think seriously about doing services as this will prevent ACS from removing your child as you are cooperating with the Agency. There are many types of services that ACS can recommend for the the family. These services are based upon a safety assessment which is completed by Child protection Specialist when they interview you and your children. Often time ACS will refer families to Preventive Services.

Preventive Services

Preventive services are designed to ensure that children remain safe in the home and to prevent children from entering foster care. When ACS receives a report of child abuse or neglect from the New York State Central Register, an ACS caseworker goes to the family's home to investigate. During an investigation, the caseworker interviews the child, his or her siblings, the parents, other members of the household, teachers, neighbors, clergy, and other significant people involved in the child's life to determine whether there is credible evidence of abuse or neglect. The caseworker then identifies the services necessary to protect the child and help the family. Neighborhood-based preventive services may be offered, preventive services provided by ACS and its network of social service agencies can include family or individual counseling, parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence intervention, home care, support for pregnant and parenting teens, and other services.

There is Help For Parents With Child Protection Involvement

For many parents, learning that they are the subject of a child abuse/neglect report, and will be investigated by the New York City Administration for Children Services can be a very scary, confusing, intimidating or infuriating experience. Many parents will argue that the offenses considered to be Abuse/Neglect by NYC Administration for Children Services are simply cultural differences and may be considered good parenting within their culture. While cultural differences should be taken into consideration when dealing with families of various cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds, there is a minimum standard of care that is expected of ALL parents regardless to cultural differences. Here is a list of things that can lead to ACS Involvement and how many parents may mistakenly believe that they are not in violation of any Laws.

HITTING/SPANKING:
While many Social Service Professionals may frown upon the use of Corporal Punishment; Corporal Punishment is NOT abuse. Nor will the NYS Central Registry take a report on Corporal Punishment unless it is deemed to be excessive. If an object, including but not limited to a fist, belt, wire or cord is used then a parent can be investigated for Excessive Corporal Punishment. Depending on the severity of the Abuse the children may remain in the home and while the family receives services. Even if you do not use a weapon but you leave a mark or bruise on a child that is considered Excessive Corporal Punishment.

Parent Alcohol/Drug Use
While the purchase and consumption of Alcohol is legal in this country, if you drink to the point of inebriation while you are caring for a child a report can be called in against you. What Child Protective Services examines when it comes to Parental Drug and Alcohol use is how does this affect the children and if a parent is willing to admit to their drug use and seek help.

Sexual Abuse of a Child

Sex Abuse can come in different forms and includes but is not limited to the inappropriate sexual interaction with a child, exposing children to sexually explicit materials or sexually inappropriate behavior. A parent does not have to be the perpetrator to have their children removed but not taking the appropriate steps to protect their children once the abuse has been reported to them. Which includes but is not limited to ensuring that your child no longer has contact with the perpetrator you will be investigated for Neglect.

Medical Neglect

If your child is sick or has a diagnosed medical condition...including a mental health diagnosis and you do not follow up with a physician or give the child their medication you will be investigated for Medical Neglect. While parents have the right to decide the type of treatment their children will receive parent's do not have the right not to seek the appropriate medical care for their children.

Children Missing School

In New York State the Compulsory Age for Education begins at 6 years of age until the age of 16 years old. It is a parent's responsibility to ensure that their child arrives to school on time and on a daily basis prepared to learn. If your child has multiple absences or lateness's it is the duty of the school administrators to call Child Protective Services for suspected Educational Neglect.

Leaving Children Unsupervised

There is no legal age determined whereby a child can be left home alone. Parents must use common sense in determining at what age their children do not need Adult Supervision for prolonged periods of time. Children that are unable to care for themselves or escape in case of an emergency should never be left unattended, not even for 10 minutes. Children with developmental disabilities, mental health issues or serious medical conditions also should not be left unattended as the likelihood of something tragic occurring is increased.

Incarcerated Parents

People are under the misconception that getting arrested or being incarcerated in and of itself will cause them to be investigated by child protection services and this is completely false. If you are arrested while your child is present Child Protective Services is automatically called because you have committed a crime in the presence of your child and this is cause to be investigated. Child Protective Services is called also when there are no relatives or family friends willing or able to care for your children in your absence. Incarcerated Parents have rights and should seek out the prison counselor to explore their options.

Domestic Violence

It is in violation of New York State Law to remove children from a home simply because they have been exposed to Domestic Violence. Child Protective Services can not threaten to remove children simply based on this fact. In many cases whereby there is domestic violence the children are also being assaulted and it is the parent's responsibility to protect their children, even when domestic violence is present in the home.