Child Protective staff work with families to complete an assessment regarding safety of the children, identifying needs and developing a case plan.  This plan defines the specific safety needs of children and family members and outlines the method by which a family's protective service issues will be resolved.  Services are primarily delivered directly to a child and family in the home and community.  The process for resolving abuse and neglect has three primary functions, intake, assessment and family services.

• Intake - Intake is centrally managed by specialized workers.  DCYF receives more than 15,000 reports of suspected child abuse and neglect annually as well as reports of Children in Need of Services (CHINS).  A toll-free number is staffed by highly trained, experienced workers.  DCYF staff make referrals to community agencies and provide information to District Office staff for assessment purposes.

• Assessment - This function is performed by the District Office staff who comprehensively investigate and assess each report of alleged child abuse and neglect.  Approximately 6,000 reports are assessed annually.

• Family Services - Treatment and rehabilitative services are provided to families whose children have been neglected or abused.  Workers interact with families, courts, and providers to ensure that children's safety is protected and that service goals and objectives are met in a timely manner.

If treatment and rehabilitative services are unable to provide a safe environment for the children, Foster Care or Adoption may be utilized to provide children with the safety they require.

To further ensure the safety of NH children, a Special Investigations team investigates all allegations of abuse and neglect in foster homes, institutional settings, and residential, educational, and treatment facilities.

BCP supports a number of initiatives for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.  These initiatives provide support for families and strive towards goals of reducing risks to children, improving parenting skills, and strengthening social support networks for families.  In addition, certain initiatives seek to bring together national, state and local experts to address issues of child abuse and neglect in efforts to educate the general public and for professional development.

Anyone who suspects that a child is being abused or neglected needs to call the  Child Abuse Report Line maintained at 1-800-894-5533.