Understanding the Legal Line Between Discipline and Abuse Spanking as a form of discipline has long been a controversial topic among parents, educators, and child welfare advocates. While some argue that it is an effective way to correct behavior, others believe it can cause lasting harm. In New Jersey, spanking is not automatically considered child…
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Special Needs Children and Custody
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 move forward with co-parenting along side their former spouse or partner. The children will also have to adjust to having their parents live in two separate households,…
Read More »What Is the DCPP’s Least Restrictive Setting Rule?
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 way as to ensure the best interest of the children is always being safeguarded. Although many people think of the DCPP as an agency whose purpose is…
Read More »How to Keep Children Happy During and After Divorce
Children can experience even stronger feelings of powerlessness, as they are not involved in the decision to divorce at all, and typically are not involved in any of the rest of the divorce process.
Read More »Keep It Out of Court: How Child Welfare Mediation Can Protect the Privacy of Your Family
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 harm the child as well. Accordingly, New Jersey’s DCPP (formerly DYFS) maintains strict confidentiality policies to protect the identities of both children and parents. Even so, information about…
Read More »What Is Endangering Welfare of Children?
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 under certain circumstances. When this occurs, law enforcement then submits a report to the county prosecutor who then decides whether or not to file criminal charges. The…
Read More »Mitigating Factors in Child Welfare Investigations
Child welfare investigators are supposed to consider relevant factors in a case before deciding to remove a child or take some other action. Some factors are more significant than others.
Read More »Aggravating Factors in Child Welfare Investigations
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 risk of harm. Some factors weigh in more heavily than others and can significantly influence the outcome of the investigation.
Read More »Days in Court: Child Welfare Hearings
When a child is removed from the home by CPS, the family court must oversee the case. The court will hold a series of hearings.
Read More »Testing Clean: What to do Before Your Child Can Return Home
New Jersey’s child welfare agency—the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P)—frequently asks parents under investigation to take drug tests.
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