Student safety in Maricopa Unified School District's #1 priority--Help us protect our students by reporting any suspected abuse or neglect!

Kern County Human Services Department

Report suspected abuse or neglect:

Child Abuse Hotline:
(661) 631-6011 (Countywide)
(Report 24 hours per day, 7 days per week)
For all emergencies call 911

Mandated Reporters

All district employees are mandated, reporters!
Any suspected child abuse or neglect must be reported Immediately to CPS or Law Enforcement and a written report (Form 8572) must be filed within 36 hours. All reporting is CONFIDENTIAL!

Mandated Reporter Manual, "A Guide to Mandated Reporting Responsibilities"
California Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training

Mandated Reporters may obtain forms here:
http://www.ag.ca.gov/childabuse/pdf/ss_8572.pdf
California Department of Justice Child Protection Program Forms

What Is Child Abuse and Neglect?

Child abuse is the purposeful physical injury inflicted on a child by a parent, guardian, or another adult. Child neglect is any treatment or mistreatment that threatens the child's health, safety or welfare. Abuse and neglect can be categorized as follows:

• Sexual Abuse: any sexual act by an adult in the presence of a child or to a child
• Physical Abuse: bodily injury inflicted on a child by other than accidental means
• Emotional Abuse: non-physical mistreatment that endangers a child's emotional health
• General Neglect: failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical treatment or supervision where no physical injury to the child has occurred
• Severe Neglect: refers to situations where the child's health and life is endangered, including severe malnutrition and failure to thrive
• Exploitation: forcing or coercing a child into performing activities that are beyond the child's capabilities or which are illegal or degrading

What Happens After I Make A Report?

Once a report of suspected child abuse or neglect has been made, various steps are taken as a part of the resolution process. These steps generally involve the Child Welfare Services and Juvenile Court. The resolution process consists of four main components:

1. Emergency Response: The Child Welfare Service's investigation will determine if abuse or neglect is occurring if a child is at risk in the home, and if protective custody is necessary

2. Family Maintenance: To provide support services to prevent abuse and/or neglect while the child continues to live in his or her own home

3. Family Reunification: To provide support services to the family while the child is in temporary out-of-home care [foster care or placed with relatives.] These services include counseling, parent training, and referrals to other community resources, to address precipitating factors such as substance abuse or domestic violence.

4. Permanent Placement: This occurs when children cannot be returned to their families. These children are referred for permanent placement through adoptions, legal guardianship, or long-term foster care.

Child abuse and neglect is a community problem and a community responsibility. Until YOU make a commitment, there can be no solution.