Child Protective Services Intake

Child Protective Services Intake

​If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, contact the Department of Social Services at 704-920-2277 (2CPS). For reports after 5 pm on weekdays, on weekends, or on holidays, call 704-920-3000.

Definitions To Consider

Juvenile - Any person who has not reached the person's eighteenth birthday and is not married, emancipated, or a member of the armed forces of the US.

Caretaker - Any person other than a parent, guardian, or custodian who has responsibility for the health and welfare of juveniles in a residential setting. A person responsible for a juvenile's health and welfare means a stepparent, foster parent, an adult member of the juvenile's household, an adult relative entrusted with the juvenile's care, or any person such as a house parent or cottage parent who has primary responsibility for supervising a juvenile's health and welfare in a residential child care facility or residential educational facility, or any employee or volunteer of a division, institution, or school operated by the Department of Health and Human Services. Caretaker also means any person who has responsibility for the care of juveniles in a child care facility as defined in Article 7 of Chapter 110 of the General Statutes, and includes any person who has approval of the care provider to assume responsibility for juveniles under the care of the care provider.

Safe Home - A home in which the juvenile is not at substantial risk of physical or emotional abuse or neglect.

Definitions Of Abuse, Neglect, And Dependency

(According to NC General Statutes ~ N.C.G.S. – 7B-101)

Abuse

• serious physical injury inflicted or allowed to be inflicted upon a juvenile by other than accidental means
• uses or allows to be used upon a juvenile cruel or grossly inappropriate procedures or cruel or grossly inappropriate devices to modify behavior
• commits, permits, or encourages the commission of the violation of laws with or upon a juvenile including sexual assault and exploitation
• creates or allows to be created serious emotional damage to a juvenile
• encourages, directs, or approves of delinquent acts involving moral turpitude committed by a juvenile

Neglect - a juvenile who

• is not receiving proper care, supervision, or discipline from a parent, guardian, or custodian
• has been abandoned
• is not provided necessary medical care
• lives in an environment injurious to the juvenile’s welfare
• has been placed for care or adoption in violation of the law

Dependency - A juvenile in need of assistance or placement because he or she has no parent, guardian, or custodian responsible for his or her care or supervision, or whose parent, guardian, or custodian is unable to provide appropriate care and/or supervision.

Warning Signs of Abuse and Neglect of Children

Information For Making A Report Of Child Abuse And/Or Neglect

• Name of family member, ages and school / child care facility they attend, as well as parent’s employment
• Address of where the children can be located and directions to the home
• Information regarding the suspected child abuse or neglect, severity and frequency this occurs
• Information regarding drug use, weapons in the home, domestic violence, and any other information that addresses the safety of the child/social worker
• Family strengths and any other agencies that may have been involved with this family
• Any other information that may assist in determining the safety of the child
• Identify the primary language spoken in the family

Do not hesitate to report just because you do not have all of this information. Give us the information that you do have.

For more information, contact Sharon Shueneman, program manager, at 704-920-1400 or slschueneman@cabarruscounty.us.