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Child Protective Services: A Caretaker's
Guide
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What is Child Maltreatment?
Child maltreatment means
abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, sexual exploitation or abandonment by the caretaker of the
child (a parent, guardian, custodian, or foster parent). The caretaker may be anyone who
is age 10 or older and entrusted with the child's care. Child maltreatment occurs when the
caretaker harms the child or lets harm come to the child, or fails to meet the
child’s basic needs.
Sexual abuse and exploitation are
child maltreatment under Arkansas law whether by a caretaker or by someone else.
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Who Reports Child Maltreatment?
Anyone who suspects child
maltreatment may report. Some people (for example, doctors, teachers and school
counselors) must, by law, report suspected child maltreatment.
If you need to report child maltreatment, please call the
Crimes Against Children Hotline at 1-800-482-5964.
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What Happens When There is a Report of Child
Maltreatment?
When the Division of Children
and Family Services (DCFS) gets a report of suspected child maltreatment, Arkansas law
says that DCFS or the Arkansas State Police Family Protection Unit will assess the report.
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What Happens if the Report is True?
DCFS will work with you to
make sure that children in your care are protected, and their basic needs met. If you do
not protect the children in your care, court action may be taken.
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What if the Report is Unsubstantiated (not
True)?
If you are the subject of the
report, you can request a copy of the report. See "Obtaining a Copy of the
Report" below. If requested, DCFS can tell the court and the prosecuting attorney
about the report.
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How Can I Find out What DCFS
Learned?
DCFS
will tell you in writing. You will not be told who made the
report. If you have been named as an offender in a true
report, and you do not agree with the finding, you have 30
days from the date you are handed the written notice, or the
date it was mailed, to ask for a hearing to appeal the
finding.
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Obtaining a Copy of the Report
Send a
written, notarized request, along
with a check or money order in the amount of $10.00, to
get a copy of your report. The written request must give your
name and address and the names of the children involved. You
should send the written request to:
Arkansas Department of Human
Services
Division of Children and Family Services
Central Registry Unit
P.O. Box 1437, (Slot S566)
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-1437
Contact Person:
Vellor
Williams at
501-682-0402 |
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