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Address: |
143
E. Center Street
Juneau, WI 53039 |
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Phone: |
920-386-3750 |
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Fax: |
920-386-3533 |
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Office Hours: |
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Purpose
The Child Protective Services
Unit is required to recognize that children have certain
basic needs, which must be provided for, including the need
for adequate food, clothing, and shelter; the need to be
free from physical, sexual, or emotional injury or
exploitation; the need to develop physically, mentally and
emotionally to their potential; and the need for a safe and
permanent family. It is also a paramount goal of this unit
to protect children and unborn children and when appropriate
strengthen family life through assisting parents in
fulfilling their responsibilities.
What is child abuse and
neglect?
Child abuse is the physical,
sexual, or emotional maltreatment of a child by a caretaker
or non-caretaker. Physical abuse involves cuts, broken or
fractured bones, burns, internal injuries, or "severe and
frequent bruising" inflicted on a child by other than
accidental means. Sexual abuse will involve sexual
intercourse, other sexual contact, or exploitation.
Emotional abuse will involve the verbal mistreatment of a
child, withholding of love or companionship, and the like.
Child neglect is the failure of a parent or other caregiver
to provide necessary care, food, clothing, shelter and
medical care for reasons other than poverty so as to
seriously endanger the physical health of a child.
How to report child
protection concerns?
If you believe that a child has
been abused or neglected, you should report your concerns to
the Dodge County Human Services and Health Department. You
can contact the Department at (920) 386-3750 from 8:00 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The
names and identifying information of reporters is kept
confidential by this agency, however, a person may report
child protection concerns anonymously.
What will happen when
concerns are reported?
Upon contacting this agency, a
social worker will write up your report. It is very
important to have at least basic information such as names,
ages, and addresses of family members. It is also very
helpful to give information about the suspected abuse or
neglect. The more information a reporter is able or willing
to provide to the intake worker, the better subsequent
agency decision making will be. A supervisor will review
the report and decide if a situation warrants action on the
part of the child protective services unit. Should the case
be screened in and assigned to a social worker for follow
up, the social worker will interview children and family
members regarding the maltreatment concerns. We will do
this in an attempt to assess child safety as well as
maltreatment risks and other family strengths and needs.
Upon completion of the investigation, the assigned worker
will then make a decision as to whether the maltreatment is
substantiated or not as defined in state Statutes. The
assigned worker will also then make decisions as to what
sort of action might need to be taken and what sort of
services might benefit the children and family.
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