If the child is in immediate life threatening danger, call 9-1-1. Otherwise, if you believe a child is being physically abused or neglected, you can make an anonymous report to the child abuse hotline by calling 1-888-767-2445.

DES Child Care Assistance eligibility requirements vary with each program. To apply you must: Apply for Child Care Assistance at your local DES Child Care office. Meet the eligibility requirements. Provide verification as requested by the Child Care specialist. Provide information to Child Care specialist to arrange and maintain Child Care Assistance. Inform your Child

Yes. DCS is required by statute to investigate all reports it receives. If DCS has received the same report numerous times in one week, then CPS must investigate each report individually.

Yes. A parent or subject of a hotline report can request a copy of the report made against them by calling the hotline at 1-888-767-2445. DCS will send a form for the requester to complete, have notarized, and return to DCS. The reporter’s identity is always kept confidential.

Making malicious and/or false reports to DCS is prohibited by law as a class three misdemeanor. The subject of the report is held responsible for pursuing legal action against the malicious reporter. The subject of report can contact the police to report the malicious and/or false reports to DCS.

Yes. CPS can interview a child at school, or anywhere else, without a parent’s consent. CPS has six hours after the interview to inform the parent.

A written notice, called a Temporary Custody Notice (TCN) is given to the parent or guardian explaining why the child was removed, upon removal of the child.

A parent or guardian can contact the Department of Economic Security (DES) Family Advocacy Office by calling 602-364-0777 or 1-877-527-0765 to review the removal of the child before the dependency petition is filed. The Family Advocacy Office accepts requests for removal reviews received within 72 hours (not counting weekends and holidays) of the child’s removal.

DCS has 72 hours (not counting weekends and holidays) after removing the child to file a dependency petition, or return the child.

A preliminary protective hearing is held between five and seven days (not counting weekends and holidays) after the dependency petition has been filed. An attorney will be appointed prior to the hearing.