The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in Los Angeles County is responsible for protecting children from abuse and neglect. This article provides essential information on when and how to contact DCFS, as well as details on the reporting process.
When to Call the Child Protection Hotline
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, or know of a family that may need additional support or access to resources, please contact DCFS immediately. “Reasonable suspicion” means that most people, given the same facts and information, would suspect child abuse. Hard proof is not needed to make a report. However, reports must be in good faith. Use common sense - and never make a false or malicious report.
Individuals who report child abuse in good faith are protected by law from civil or criminal liability. All reporters, except those mandated by law, may remain anonymous. You can also use the online reporting system, CARES (Child Abuse Reporting Electronic System).
In addition to receiving reports of suspected abuse, neglect and/or exploitation, the CPH receives questions and provides consultation and referrals to the mandated reporters and the public on child safety concerns. The CPH also receives requests for after-hours emergency medical consent for dependent children, after-hours reports of DCFS dependent runaways, and re-entry (AB-12) requests for youth who wish to re-enter foster care.
Determining the Appropriate Response
The CPH must identify the types of calls that constitute reports of alleged child abuse or neglect and determine the appropriate response and response priority pursuant to statute and with the support of the Structured Decision Making (SDM) Tools. The purpose of the SDM Hotline Tools is to assess whether a report meets the statutory threshold for an in-person investigatory response, and if so, how quickly (e.g., Immediate Response/Response Within 5-Days) a social worker needs to respond.
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CPH screeners should use the SDM Hotline tool definitions from the beginning of any call made to the CPH. DCFS recognizes the importance of accurate and equitable response and response priority decisions to ensure safety and equity for all children and families and the impact of these decisions on families across child protective services intervention.
When a report is made that does not fall within the purview of child welfare (i.e., it is not an incident of alleged abuse or neglect), it is screened and referred to other agencies for potential services, as appropriate. Calls requesting information and referral to community services are specifically defined by CDSS’ Manual of Policies and Procedures (MPP) Division 31 sections 30-051 and ACL 17-91. To protect the privacy of these individuals, the personal information and nature of the inquiry of these callers is not maintained in CWS/CMS.
The CPH also receives calls in which callers request information, but have no concerns regarding a child. These are known as “Information Calls,” and while they do not necessarily require documentation, they may be entered into the Automated Referral Entry System (ARES). ARES is a web-based application that allows the CPH to track calls it receives that are not entered as referrals or Information to CSW calls in CWS/CMS. It provides an online single data entry screen for quicker assessments of child safety.
Calls that relate to an existing open case or referral, but that do not allege new allegations of abuse or neglect, are documented on an “Information to CSW” form and sent to the assigned regional office. A consultation or “consult” is a call that involves a child; however, it is assessed as not meeting the legal definition of abuse and/or neglect pursuant to statute and with the support of the SDM Tools. These calls may be entered into ARES.
According to the CDSS MPP (MPP) section 31-101, counties shall respond to all calls that allege a child is endangered by abuse, neglect, or exploitation by conducting an in-person investigation or assessing the referral by completing an ER protocol. If upon completion of the ER protocol, the social worker determines an in-person investigation is not required, the county may evaluate out a referral with or without a referral to another community agency, as appropriate.
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An evaluated out referral can be a referral that alleges harm or risk of harm to a child, but does not meet the criteria for investigation by DCFS. Referrals that do not meet the criteria for an in-person response will be evaluated out at the CPH after being entered as a referral in CWS/CMS.
Below is a list of allegations that do not constitute appropriate child abuse referrals and should be evaluated out. If the CPH CSW determines that an in-person investigation is not required but that the services of another community agency are appropriate, the CPH CSW should refer the reporter to that agency. In some instances they should be directed to other agencies, [e.g. Allegations where the described maltreatment or threat does not meet the definition of abuse, neglect, or exploitation contained in MPP sections 31-002(c)(9), 31-002(e)(13), or 31-002(n)(1).
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For information on evaluating out referrals by regional staff, please refer to Changing Response Times, Evaluating Out, and Re-Mapping Emergency Response Referrals by Regional Staff.
Companion referrals will be created by the CPH only when there is reasonable suspicion of child abuse and/or neglect regarding the other children living in the home, who are not siblings to the victims. If there is no reasonable suspicion and a companion referral is not created, it will be documented in the Screener Narrative that there is more than one (1) family living in the home. If the ER CSW investigates a referral and has reasonable suspicion of child abuse and/or neglect on a separate family living in the home, the ER CSW is to call the CPH for initial assessment of the allegation(s).
At times, the volume of calls received by the CPH exceeds the number of CSWs available to receive those calls. When this occurs, a CPH SCSW or designee monitors the Hotline queue screen for incoming calls and utilizes the Call Back Automated System (CBAS) to enter non-emergent call information. The call information in CBAS is then assessed by a CPH CSW for processing and the caller may be contacted by the CPH CSW if additional information is needed to address the concern. When a caller reports imminent danger, calls are transferred to CPH CSWs for immediate investigation. CBAS is also used as a backup system during CWS/CMS downtime.
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Although many of the reports to the CPH contain specific allegations within the general categories, some reports do not present clear, current allegations. The SDM Hotline tool and definitions should be used to help determine if specific reported concerns meet the criteria for an in-person response, in addition to whether or not an override of the screening decision from evaluate out (no criteria marked) to in-person (local protocol) is appropriate.
Cross-Reporting Requirements
DCFS must cross report every known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect to law enforcement and the district attorney’s office immediately or as soon as practically possible after receiving the information by way of the Suspected Child Abuse Report (SCAR), and also shall send, fax, or electronically transmit a written report within thirty-six (36) hours of receiving the information concerning the incident to any agency to which it makes a telephone report.
DCFS is required to report allegations regarding children abused in licensed foster or day care to Community Care Licensing (CCL) within twenty-four (24) hours of the receipt of new allegations. Penal Code 11166.1 (b) also requires a report to the child’s attorney within thirty-six (36) hours whenever a child in protective custody [including the child of a minor dependent parent or a nonminor dependent (NMD) parent with an open case] is known or suspected to have been the victim of child abuse or neglect. Several other circumstances also require DCFS to notify a child’s attorney within specific time frames.
E-SCARS (Electronic Suspected Child Abuse Reporting System) is used to electronically transmit SCARs (Suspected Child Abuse Reports) to law enforcement agencies and the district attorney’s office. E-SCARS is a web-based system that allows rapid and secure electronic transmission and receipt of SCARs between the agencies.
A positive toxicology report at the time of delivery of an infant is not in and of itself a sufficient basis for reporting child abuse or neglect. When an infant is born with signs suggestive of prenatal drug or alcohol exposure, the mother has had a positive toxicology screen, or there is other credible information that there was prenatal substance abuse by the mother, medical staff must perform an assessment of needs before the infant is released from the hospital to identify needed services for the mother, child, or family, and the level of risk to the newborn upon release to the home.
When the assessment leads to a reasonable suspicion of abuse and/or neglect or if other factors are present that indicate risk to a child, a report should also be made to the CPH. If at any time during a call, the CPH CSW determines immediate action must be taken, the caller will be advised that the CPH CSW will be contacting 911 and will call them back.
Additional Considerations
- Conduct an American Indian ancestry inquiry.
- “What is the member/citizen’s full name and, if applicable, maiden name?
- “Does the child or any of the child’s relatives receive services or benefits from a Tribe or the federal government due to their Indian status?” [e.g., scholarships, grants, Tribal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (Tribal TANF), and health services at an Indian health clinic].
If the answer to the initial American Indian ancestry question from item 5.b.i. In cases where a referral is not warranted, elicit all information known to caller that is necessary to determine if the call constitutes an Information Call, an Information to CSW or a Consult, to fully complete the fields of the Information to CSW/Consultation form or ARES record. Upon reviewing the CBAS call information, create a referral, Information to CSW, or consultation.
Do not utilize the CBAS when law enforcement is reporting having children in custody, for expedited responses, Extended Foster Care requests, critical/missing youth, or referrals requiring specialized processing (e.g., child fatality, near fatality, critical incident, Safe Surrender, CSEC, or sensitive referrals/cases).
All DCFS case records are confidential, irrespective of whether a petition has been filed in Dependency Court. Confidential reporting party (RP) information is never shared with the court/judge. The CPH must maintain the confidentiality of case records. Medical or mental health service providers may contact CPH during non-business hours.
A provider may have access to juvenile case information (psychological, medical, dental records) when a service provider is providing treatment to that child. A provider may not have access to any child abuse reports, attorney-client privileged information, or any information regarding unrelated children contained in any case record documentation. The identity of the reporting party always remains confidential under CANRA. The only exception is when cross-reporting information to another Child Protective Service Agency (e.g.
Information known to DCFS may be shared with law enforcement or other investigative bodies (e.g. Coroner’s Office) for the purpose of assisting with an investigation, only after the identity of the caller has been verified. If the caller is requesting information, and a response can be provided quickly, provide the requested information. If the caller is requesting the name and phone number of an assigned CSW or is requesting information on community resources during times of high call volume, the call should be transferred to the information line (ext.
The CPH also receives calls that relate to an existing open case or referral but do not allege new allegations of abuse or neglect. Assess for any service needs. Conduct a search of CWS/CMS to determine if there is history associated with the household members. Determine if the allegation(s) were previously reported. Print out the referral (Emergency Response Document and Screener Narrative). Complete and attach the Live Call Sheet and any additional necessary attachments (e.g.
For each allegation, enter the “Start Date” and “End Date,” and “Number of Occurrences”, as well as the “Location of the Incident,” if known. Create a referral. DCFS must cross-report every known or suspected incident of child abuse, exploitation and/or severe neglect to law enforcement and the district attorney’s office immediately or as soon as practically possible after receiving the information by way of the Suspected Child Abuse Report (SCAR).
Do not report allegations of general neglect or caretaker absence. DCFS is also required to cross-report allegations regarding children abused in licensed foster or day care to Community Care Licensing (CCL) within twenty-four (24) hours of the receipt of new allegations. Do not use the address of the reporting party, DPSS office addresses, institutions (e.g.
To create a SCAR for law enforcement outside of Los Angeles County, but within the State of California, follow the steps to generate a SCAR. Inquire whether domestic violence has occurred recently and, if so, how recent and how severe. When a Newborn Risk Assessment determines child safety concerns due to prenatal exposure to drugs and/or alcohol, medical staff will make a report to the CPH.
The medical staff should also complete a “Newborn Risk Assessment” form and a SS 8572 Suspected Child Abuse Report (SCAR) as soon as reasonably possible, but prior to the infant’s discharge from the hospital, and send these documents to the CPH. WIC Section 369 (a-g) - States, in part, when social workers can authorize medical treatment for a dependent child.
