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Department
of Human Services Families
First Online Policy Manual Protection of Children |
Revised: |
38.1 |
POLICY STATEMENT |
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The Mid-Century White House Conference on
Children and Youth defined the rights of all children which must be preserved
and protected. These rights of
children and rights and responsibilities of parents are detailed in the
Department of Children’s Services policy.
However, the following information must be made available to all
Family Assistance staff so that they will be fully aware of the Department of
Human Services’ responsibility in protecting children. Federal regulations and state law require that Family Assistance staff
be alert to possible signs of neglect, abuse or exploitation of the children
we serve and to make appropriate referrals.
Every child has the basic right to have parents and a home in which
he/she receives the necessities for sustaining life. Therefore, Families
First benefits may preserve a home and the necessities for the child when
he/she is in jeopardy of losing these.
When assistance is requested, the Family Assistance staff must
determine eligibility as quickly and objectively as possible to ensure that
income is made available to purchase these necessities (if all eligibility
requirements are met regardless of the strengths or weaknesses of the home
situation). When there is reason to
believe that a home is unsuitable because of neglect, abuse or exploitation,
the condition is to be brought to the attention of the Department of
Children’s Services staff with the facts which support this belief. Family Assistance staff must also cooperate
with the Department of Children’s Services in planning and implementing any
action which is in the best interest of the child. The Family Assistance staff must report and refer any observations of
neglect or abuse of children immediately to the Department of Children’s
Services so that that staff can provide any needed protective services. The following are examples of neglect if
the child is ·
Malnourished,
ill-clad, dirty or without proper shelter. ·
Physically
abused or cruelly treated. ·
Without
proper supervision and is left unattended or is allowed to wander about
without parental direction. ·
Overworked
or exploited. ·
Seriously
ill and the parents neglect or refuse to provide the necessary medical care
and treatment. ·
Emotionally
disturbed and his disturbance appears to be the
result of physical, mental or emotional incapacity of his parents or of other
manifestation of family breakdown, such as severe marital conflict. ·
Denied
normal exercise that produce feelings of being loved, wanted, secure and
worthy. |
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