Child Abuse and Neglect Intake

In responding to reports of maltreatment by parents, Services (CPS) represents the community's concerns regarding families' abilities to adequately meet the needs of the children.

At investigation, the CPS purpose is to:

• Assess the safety of children in the home
• Identify the present or absence of conditions in the home as well as behaviors, perceptions and attitudes of family members related to the risk of maltreatment
• Assess whether the family needs services in order to change conditions related to the risk of maltreatment
• Introduce the agency as a provider of help
• Respond to the immediate needs of the family
• If warranted, take action to control circumstances jeopardizing child safety

Child Abuse and Neglect - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is child abuse and neglect?

A: Child abuse is the physical, sexual, or emotional maltreatment of a child (ages 0 to 18) by a parent, family member, other caregiver, or non-caregiver. Physical abuse can involve cuts, broken or fractured bones, burns, internal injuries, or "severe and frequent bruising" inflicted on a child by other than accidental means. Sexual abuse can involve sexual intercourse, other sexual contact, or exploitation. Emotional abuse can involve verbal mistreatment, withholding of love or companionship, and the similar behavior.

Child neglect is the failure of a parent or other caregiver to provide necessary care (including supervision), food, clothing, shelter, and medical care - for reasons other than poverty - so as to seriously endanger the physical health of a child.

Q: What should I do if I believe that a child is abused or neglected?

A: If you believe that a child (a boy or girl ages 0 to 18) has been abused (physically, sexually, or emotionally), neglected (physically or emotionally), or is at risk of abuse or neglect, you should report your concerns to Wood County Social Services.

Q: How do I report concerns?

A: Call the Social Services office that serves the area in which the family resides as soon as possible. In Wood County, use the following information to reach an access worker:

During business hours call:

• (715) 421-8600 in Wisconsin Rapids
• (715) 387-6374 in Marshfield

After hours:

• Social Worker on-call can be reached by contacting the Wood County Sheriff's Department at (715) 421-8700

Q: What if I am not sure if I should report?

A: Please report! Wood County Social Services staff make follow up decisions. Social workers cannot protect children unless the children are brought to our attention.

Q: Will the family know that I reported?

A: State law protects reporter confidentiality. We will not disclose your name to the family that is subject to the report. You should not be afraid of reprisals if you report.

Q: What will happen when I report child protection concerns?

A: A social worker will write up your report. They will need to know the names, ages, and addresses of family members. They will need to hear information about the suspected abuse or neglect. Please be prepared to provide information. The more information that you share, the better agency decision-making will be. A supervisor will review the report and decide if the situation meets statutory guidelines to merit investigation.

The supervisor will designate a response time for an investigation once a decision is made to open a case. Response time is determined by use of a response priority tool. Cases are designated "same day", "48 hours" or "within 5 business days". Referrals can also be opened under a child welfare report where an offer of service will be made to the family.

Q: What will happen when the social worker sees the child and family?

A: Social workers will interview children and family members regarding the maltreatment concerns. They will assess child safety, child maltreatment risk, and family strengths and needs. They will make determinations as to whether maltreatment as defined in state statutes has occurred. They will make decisions as to what sort of services might benefit the children and family.

Q: Will the child be removed from their family?

A: Social Services strives to keep families together. We serve most children and families in the family home. A minority of children are removed from family homes. Court action is necessary in all of those instances. In removal situations, Social Service actions are guided by Wisconsin State Statutes (specifically, Chapter 48, also known as the Children's Code). These statutes set forth agency child protection responsibilities, situations in which agencies may petition the Courts for involvement in children’s lives, dispositions which Courts might enter in the children's behalf, criteria which must be met in order to take children into custody, places in which children taken into custody may be held, and more. These Statutes closely circumscribe social workers' actions. Children and families are awarded many rights by these statutes.

Q: Will I learn what happened?

A: The social worker will send you a letter if you are a mandated reporter. Mandated reporters are teachers, doctors, and other professionals who are required by law to report suspected maltreatment. The letter will provide basic information about the intervention as state law provides for family confidentiality. The social worker will not send you a letter if you are a non-mandated reporter as state law prohibits this breach of family confidentiality.

Q: Who and what are mandatory reporters?

A: Persons Required to Report Abuse & Neglect are Physicians, Coroners, Medical Examiners, Nurses, Dentists, Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, Optometrists, All Medical professionals, Mental Health Professionals, Day Care Providers, Chemical Dependency Counselors, Marriage/Family Therapists, Professional Counselors, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Dietitians, Speech Therapists, Audiologists, EMTs/Paramedics, Social/Public Assistance Workers, School Administrators, Teachers/Counselors, Police/Law Enforcement Officers, Mediators under s.767.11, Treatment staff employed by or working under contract with a county department, and Child care workers in any day care center, group home, or residential care center.

Mandated reporters are required to report suspected abuse and neglect of any child they see while in the course of their professional duties. Persons required to report must report those situations in which they have reason to believe that a child has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect is likely to occur. We encourage each mandated reporter to file his or her own report. Any other person may report if there is reason to believe that a child has been abused or neglected or has been threatened with abuse or neglect. Persons required to report and who intentionally fail to report suspected child abuse or neglected may be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for up to six months or both. Persons who report in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability.

For more information regarding mandated reporters, please read the State of Wisconsin Statute 48.981(2) at the following address: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/stats.html. Type 48.981(2) in the "Go to a specific Statute (Folio)" text box. Click on "Go".