Based in Marlton and proudly serving clients across Camden, Burlington, Gloucester Counties and all South Jersey
Concerns related to child abuse and neglect are investigated by the New Jersey Department of Children and Family’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) – formerly called the Division of Youth and Family Services. The State of New Jersey is highly invested in ensuring the safety, welfare, and protection of children, and DCPP affords related services. If you are being investigated by DCPP, knowing your rights is critical, and you shouldn’t wait to consult with an experienced Marlton DCPP attorney.
If You Are Under Investigation
The DCPP Parent’s Handbook informs parents that they are required to participate in the investigation process, which includes allowing DCPP to conduct home visits and ensuring that DCPP can meet with each parent and child living in each household. Refusing a home visit or attempting to thwart a worker from visiting with one or more of your children can lead to court or police involvement.
If a Protection Plan is Created
If the DCPP determines that a protection plan is needed, it’s important to know that you are not required to immediately sign off on it. The fact is that DCPP protection plans often include invasive terms that have the potential to disrupt your home life, and having the professional legal counsel of a resourceful DCPP lawyer can make a great difference in the outcome of your case. Because your parental rights are at stake, taking a wait-and-see attitude is never advised.
Child Neglect
The most common issue that DCPP deals with is child neglect, which the State of New Jersey defines as failing to supervise children appropriately or failing to adequately provide any of the following when financially capable of or when assisted in doing so:
- Food
- Clothing
- Shelter
- Health care
- Education
Child neglect can take a range of forms, including physical, psychological, medical, and educational neglect.
The Signs of Potential Child Neglect
The State of New Jersey shares specific examples of what child neglect often looks like. For example, fatigue – such as falling asleep in class – can indicate a problem. Further, when children beg for or steal food, it can translate to hunger, which is often a sign of neglect.
While the above can all be indicative of physical neglect, the signs of emotional neglect tend to be more nuanced. For example, nervous habits like rocking back and forth, engaging in destructive behaviors, having antisocial tendencies, using alcohol or drugs, or exhibiting sleep or speech disorders can hint at this form of neglect.
Mandatory Reporting
The State of New Jersey has broader mandatory reporting requirements than many other states. As such, anyone who reasonably believes that a child is subject to abuse of any kind should immediately report the information to the State Central Registry.
Make the Call to an Experienced Marlton DCPP Lawyer Today
The capable DCPP attorneys at Weinberg, Kaplan, & Smith, P. A. – proudly serving South Jersey, including Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester Counties – understand just how challenging DCPP investigations tend to be, and we will leave no stone unturned in the protection of your parental rights. Learn more by contacting us online or calling us at 856-795-9400 today.