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Overview
California law defines child abuse as any of the following:
A child is physically injured by other means than accidental.
A child is subjected to willful cruelty or unjustifiable punishment.
A child is abused or exploited sexually.
A child is neglected by a parent or caretaker who fails to provide adequate food, clothing,
shelter, medical care or supervision.
Children and Family Services (CFS) provides intervention and support services to families and
children when allegations of child abuse and/or neglect are substantiated within the County of San
Bernardino. The goal of CFS is to keep the child in his or her own home when it is safe, and if it is
determined that the child is at risk, to develop an alternate plan as quickly as possible.
CFS
interventions and services include the following:
Emergency Response (ER) - ER services are in-person investigations of cases in which children
are in danger due to abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days
a week.
When an abuse referral is received by CFS, the ER staff obtain facts to determine the risk
factors and whether the referral is related to abuse, neglect or exploitation.
The emphasis of ER
services is on crisis intervention and avoiding a Juvenile Court action if possible.
ER staff may
provide the following services:
Assess or identify risks and danger by gathering facts and clarifying the problems
Accept/open a case
Intervene in the crisis, if immediate assistance is required
Family Maintenance (FM) - The goal of FM is to allow children to remain safely in their own
homes by providing services and supervision to the family. FM services are time limited service to
children and families in their own home. FM services are intended to prevent or correct neglect
and abuse issues and help create a safe environment for children to remain in the home.
Family Reunification (FR) - In cases where it is determined that a child or children cannot safe-
ly remain in their own home the court may order them to be removed. The goal of FR is to pro-
vide services, supports and resources to families and teach new skills and behaviors that lead to
providing a safe and healthy environment for children.
Successful completion of FR goals are
required for parents, guardians, or caregivers to reunite with a child.
Permanency Planning (PP) - PP is defined as a comprehensive case planning process directed
toward the goal of having a permanent stable home for a child. In cases where the court determines
that the child’s safety would best be provided by permanent removal from the parent or guardian,
PP services are implemented. PP plans are generated during the FR process as an alternate plan in
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