My Dependency & Neglect Case

What the child welfare system does:

The child welfare system was created to help ensure that children have a safe and secure home life. It is the responsibility of BCDHHS to:

• Respond to reports of possible child abuse or neglect and conduct a comprehensive assessment with the family to determine what services and supports they may need to help them solve the problems that led to BCDHHS involvement, assure the safety of their children, and to strengthen their family
• Partner with families to set goals for their safety and wellbeing, and develop culturally relevant, individualized, service plans that promote their ability to build parental capacity and maintain their children in the home safely
• Use creative intervention strategies to prevent the separation of children from their families whenever possible, and when that is not possible, to return their children home quickly
• If children have to be removed from their parents, ensure that they are provided with safe and supportive alternative care
• Make all efforts to assist the parents to have their children return home, but when it is determined that they cannot, find another safe, permanent, home for the children