Child, Adult & Family Services

The Child, Adult & Family Services Division of the Prince George's County Department of Social Services has the following program areas:

Child Protective Services

Allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and mental injury of children under age 18 are investigated in this program. Any person who observes, suspects or is a victim of child abuse or neglect should report alleged abuse or neglect to the Department. There are several mandated reporters such as teachers, therapists, doctors, etc.

Here are some Abuse Indicators

Child Advocacy Center

This is a specialized unit within Child Protective Services, which investigates sexual abuse allegations of Children under 18 years of age. A multi-disciplinary, joint investigative approach is used to lessen trauma to children and families and support them through the process of investigation, prosecution and treatment supports.

Sexual Abuse Services Unit

Highly skilled and professional staff provide ongoing monitoring and treatment to children and families impacted by child sexual abuse. Treatment groups are coordinated and facilitated by this unit.

Assessment

This unit provides front-end family services assessment to determine the level of risk of maltreatment to a child/ren or assesses family functioning to determine the level of supports needed by the family to prevent placement of child/ren in foster care. These assessments are particularly conducted where there is not clear abuse or neglect of a child/or children but there appear to be significant stressors in the family requiring some intervention. This unit is also responsible for the Inter State Compact and Referral from other Agency home-studies.

Family Preservation/Families Now Programs

These programs are designed to serve families experiencing a serious crisis involving child abuse or neglect requiring intensive family services to preserve the family for a period of six months or more. These families participate both voluntarily and on occasion involuntarily by virtue of being court ordered into services. These services include interventions with four levels of intensity to address poor parenting and other stressors in the family.

Treatment of Mothers of Addicted Newborns

This is a pilot project for the State of Maryland and provides treatment services to mothers who give birth to babies affected by cocaine, crack or heroin. The goal is to ensure permanency for the child either with his/her family of origin or in an adoptive home.

Student Units

The Department is strongly committed to students from the schools of social work in the Washington Metropolitan Areas. These students are offered both clinical and administrative internship in child and adult services program areas in. They help create a strong learning environment within the Department.

Foster Care and Adoption Services

Foster Care

This program offers alternative placements for children (birth - age 18) who can not remain in their own home due to issues of abuse or neglect. These services include:

• Intake
• Reunification
• Specialized Placement
• Independent Living - Addressing the needs of adolescents 16 years and older until age 21.

Adoption Program

The adoptions program helps children who are in need of adoptive parents find appropriate adoptive homes. The program completes the legal process for these children to become free for adoption and be placed in adoptive homes.

Post-Adoption Services

These services are aimed at supporting the adoptive family and the child after adoption is complete. The effort is aimed at preserving adoptive placements from the risk of disruption, and provided much needed supports to families and children as they deal with issues of adoption through the life-cycle. This program primarily offers case management and linkages to appropriate resources.

Facilitation Services

This is a grant funded program whose goal is to engage the family, the community and the treatment resources in the decision-making process around safety, well-being and permanency for children and their families. There are specific triggers in the model that require a meeting to be held and identify the potential outcomes of such a meeting.

For more information about these services call, (301) 909-2450 or TDD (301) 779-2179.

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