A hour child abuse hotline, COKIDS , is available for reporting child abuse and neglect situations. Calls are recorded for quality assurance purposes; anonymity of reporting parties continues to be protected. The Department works closely with doctors, hospitals, law enforcement officials, schools, and others to identify maltreatment and intervene with families where children have been abused or neglected.
While every attempt is made to keep the family together, if children are in immediate danger, they are removed from the home on a temporary basis. Email inquiry to Child Welfare records custodian. Assesses and checks into all child abuse and neglect allegations. Specific protocols are followed for each report. Services are directed toward alleviating danger in order to protect children, and if possible, keep the family intact.
Adolescent assessment and services are available to families whose youths are experiencing severe parent-child conflicts, truancy, or delinquency. Sexual abuse intervention and family education services Garfield County DHS is the lead agency in assessment of intrafamilial sexual abuse cases. Garfield County DHS works with local law enforcement, community agencies, and other treatment providers.
Child Welfare permanency services provides home-based services to families who have allegations of physical abuse, neglect or are at high risk for these factors. They are assessed, then referred by child welfare intake if they need continued services to protect children and rehabilitate families.
When children cannot be maintained or reunited with their parents within a reasonable time, efforts are dedicated to provide alternative living arrangements that are most beneficial to the child which preserve emotional kinship, identity, and continuity.
