{"id":11374,"date":"2022-05-05T12:07:40","date_gmt":"2022-05-05T16:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fireflyin.org\/?p=11374"},"modified":"2025-02-25T12:05:16","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T17:05:16","slug":"kris-corner-how-does-a-family-come-under-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fireflyin.org\/cnh\/resources\/news-library\/kris-corner-how-does-a-family-come-under-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Kris’ Corner – How Does a Family Come Under Investigation?"},"content":{"rendered":"

One question I sometimes get is: \u201cHow do kids come into care?\u201d In other words, \u201cHow does Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) know when to check in on a family?\u201d\u00a0Well, there are different ways, such as when police are called to a home (which may be about drugs, violence or something other than the children) and it\u2019s discovered that children in the home are in an unsafe environment; or children are removed through reports from individuals including, but not limited to, doctors, teachers, neighbors, family members, etc.<\/p>\n

BUT bottom line: each person in the state of Indiana is considered a mandatory reporter, which means that if anyone even suspects abuse or neglect of a child, we are required by law to report it. And just in case you were curious, it is always an anonymous call, so the family who is being investigated will never know who made the report. They will have their suspicions and may make accusations, but they will never, ever, know who made the call.<\/p>\n

Once a report is made, and if DCS determines that there may be abuse or neglect,\u00a0a report will be registered, and then DCS will begin an investigation. DCS will most likely also make a report to the police. After this, the police may conduct their own investigation (which will usually occur within 24-hours of a report being made).<\/p>\n

So what would make someone suspect child maltreatment (which is simply an all-encompassing word for abuse, neglect or exploitation)? Again\u2026there are many different reasons why and how abuse and\/or neglect presents in a child (keeping in mind that every child is different so it might affect each child in a different way). But here are a few general clues for which you may keep watch:<\/p>\n