Responsibility for managing child welfare services statewide has been contracted out to local Community Based Care organizations. In Broward County, ChildNet is the lead agency responsible for case management services and contracting with local agenecies to provide shelter and group care, foster home management, family strengthening and adoption support services. Children become involved with the dependency system when a report of abuse, abandonment or neglect is made to the Tallahassee Abuse Hotline. The call is then routed to Broward Sheriff's Office Child Protection Investigations unit to conduct a thorough investigation.

Once the risk assessment and investigation has been conducted by the Child Protection Investigator they will either:

• determine no findings of abuse, abandonment or neglect and close the investigation
• provide informal services and close the case
• staff the case for formal voluntary protective service agreement
• request a petition for adjudication while the child remains in the home
• remove the child from the home and request a shelter hearing within 24 hours

When a child is removed from the home there are two options:

(1) Protective Supervision - If the family identifies an appropriate and willing relative/non-relative to care for the child, a home study and background checks are completed and with Court permission, the child is placed in their temporary custody, while the parents are offered services to remedy the issue causing the removal to occur when appropriate.

(2) Foster Care - When no appropriate or willing relative is available, the child is placed into a foster home or a group home, while the parents are offered services to remedy the issue causing the removal to occur when appropriate.

Case Management
Dependency System