Child Welfare Services

The major system of intervention of child abuse and neglect in California is Child Welfare Services. Existing law provides for services to abused and neglected children and their families. The goal is to keep the child in his/her own home when it is safe, and when the child is at risk, to develop an alternate plan as quickly as possible.

Preventative Services

Early Intervention (EI)

EI provides home-base education and referrals drawing from natural and community based supports with the goal of improving child safety and welfare in Butte County. EI also provides ongoing case management by actively collaborating with families and community services.

Immediate / Emergency Response (IR / ER)

When a referral is received, the Children's Services Division (CSD) staff obtains facts from the person making the referral to determine if the referral alleges abuse, neglect, or exploitation; CSD workers use an assessment tool to aid in this determination. The Emergency Response staff determines if an in-person response is indicated. Whenever a report indicates the need for protection, Children's Services will:

  • Accept the case
  • Intervene in the crisis, if required
  • Apply Family Preservation and Support Services for some families
  • Assess or identify problems, gather facts and clarify the problems
  • Plan and provide services, set goals, identify resources and time frames
  • Document the case
  • Terminate the case or transfer it to another program

Ongoing Child Welfare Case Management Service

Family Maintenance (FM)

Family Maintenance provides services designed to promote a safe and stable home environment, enabling children to remain in their own home. Services include parent education, counseling, life skills and substance abuse treatment.

Approximately 12 months of services are provided to children who remain safely in the home while the family receives services. If it is determined that a child cannot remain in the home, even with family preservation and support services, then foster placement is arranged in the most family-like setting, that is located close to the parent's home, consistent with the best interests of the child.

Family Reunification (FR)

Family Reunification services provide assistance to those families whose children are in out-of-home care. Services assist the parent(s) in meeting the court's requirements for the return of a child to the parent's custody. Parent education, counseling, help with domestic abuse and substance abuse treatment are among the many services available.

Up to 18 months of services are provided to children and their families when a child has been removed from the home and the family is making progress toward reunification.

Permanent Placement (PP)

Permanency planning provides children who are dependents of the court with a permanent placement plan in the event family reunification or maintenance are not successful. These can include plans of adoption, relative placement, guardianship and long-term foster care.

When a child cannot be returned to a safe home after services have been delivered, the child must be provided with a family-like living arrangement as soon as possible. For whom these services are available to children and their families when children are victims of, or at risk of, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or parental absence.

  • California law defines child abuse as any of the following:
  • A child is physically injured by other than accidental means
  • A child is subjected to willful cruelty or unjustifiable punishment
  • A child is abused or exploited sexually
  • A child is neglected by a parent or caretaker who fails to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care or supervision

Mandated Reporter Information

The free training has seven modules, ranging from 2 to 4 hours in length. In addition to a general module for all mandated reporters, there are 6 profession-specific modules for clergy, school personnel, child care providers, law enforcement, mental health professionals/social workers, and medical professionals.

You can find the free mandated reporter trainings on the CA Mandated Reporter website.

Presumptive Transfer (AB1299)

To provide children and youth in foster care, who are placed out of county of original jurisdiction access to Specialty Mental Health Services in a timely manner a prompt transfer of the responsibility for the provision of, or arranging of payment for services from the county of original jurisdiction to the county in which the foster child resides.

For Presumptive Transfer requests, please contact:
Adriana Ramirez
Health and Human Services Program Analyst I
Phone: 530-552-6316
Email Adriana Ramirez

Connect with Children's Services

For all other questions, comments or concerns please send an email to the Department of Employment and Social Services or visit during business hours of 7:30 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday:
765 East Avenue Suite 120
Chico, CA 95926
Phone: 530-879-3731
Toll Free: 800-400-0902
Fax: 530-879-3614

78 Table Mountain Boulevard
Oroville, CA 95965
Phone: 530-538-7617
Toll Free: 800-400-0902
Fax: 530-534-5921