Divorce is a challenging time for everyone involved, including the spouses and their children. After the divorce or separation, the parents will have to figure out how to...
What Is the DCPP’s Least Restrictive Setting Rule?
April 2, 2019
When the New Jersey Department of Children and Protection and Permanency must intervene with a family, it typically means that the family is not functioning in such a...
How to Keep Children Happy During and After Divorce
March 6, 2019
Divorce is a chaotic time for all involved. This includes not only the changes for the spouses, but also the upheaval in the children’s lives. The spouses can...
Keep It Out of Court: How Child Welfare Mediation Can Protect the Privacy of Your Family
June 22, 2018
Protecting Your Privacy In matters involving child welfare, confidentiality is a top concern. Not only could disclosure of case information damage the parent’s reputation, but it can...
When the Offense Is Criminal Most child abuse cases do not result in criminal charges. But CPS is obligated to notify law enforcement of abuse or neglect allegations...
Mitigating Factors in Child Welfare Investigations
November 8, 2017
The Factors That Matter Child welfare investigators are supposed to consider relevant factors in a case before deciding to remove a child or take some other action. Some...
Aggravating Factors in Child Welfare Investigations
November 6, 2017
Serious Factors When caseworkers are investigating a report of child abuse or neglect, they look for certain factors that could indicate the child was harmed or put at...
The Child Welfare Litigation Process When a child is removed from the home by CPS, the family court must oversee the case. The court will hold a series...
Testing Clean: What to do Before Your Child Can Return Home
September 29, 2017
Substance Abuse and Safety Plans New Jersey’s child welfare agency—the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P)—frequently asks parents under investigation to take drug tests. Even if you...
The Role of Credibility in Child Welfare Investigations
September 28, 2017
The Weight of Words in Child Welfare Investigations CPS must investigate all reports of child abuse or neglect it, even if they are anonymous. The source of the...