The Right Connection - Child Abuse

The State of Michigan Child Protection Law is available at the following website: 
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Adult-and-Childrens-Services/Abuse-and-Neglect/Forms-and-Publications/DHS-PUB-0003_167609_7.pdf

The Department of Health and Human Services' Children's Protective Services Mandated Reporter’s information is posted at: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-73971_7119_50648_44443---,00.html

Requirements for Reporting Abuse and Neglect Summary Sheet is posted at: https://www.gihn-mi.org/userfiles/filemanager/37lfb0hkk1l2mosabi6h/Abuse%20and%20Neglect%20Summary.pdf 

Children's Protective Services investigates complaints of child abuse and/or neglect of infants through 17 year olds. Available from the Department of Health and Human Services - Protective Services Division:

After making a referral to Children’s Protective Services, professionals are required to complete and submit DHS form 3200 within 72 hours.
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv/abuse-neglect/forms-pubs

NOTE: Reporting your suspicion to your supervisor or administrator does not meet the requirement imposed by the law.

Children's Protective Services investigates complaints of child abuse and/or neglect of infants through 17 year olds. Available from the Department of Health and Human Services - Protective Services Division:

After making a referral to Children’s Protective Services, professionals are required to complete and submit DHHS form 3200 within 72 hours.

NOTE: Reporting your suspicion to your supervisor or administrator does not meet the requirement imposed by the law.

At the present time, Michigan Children's Protective Services (CPS) policy, based upon the Child Protection Law, does not define a fetus as a child. Therefore, the in-utero exposure of a fetus to drugs or alcohol is not within the authority of Children’s Protective Services. While CPS cannot legally intervene prior to a child's birth, pregnant females who are suspected of abusing drugs or alcohol and who are the subject of a complaint can be referred for substance abuse services and to local Maternal Infant Health programs as appropriate:

TO REFER FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES: Macomb County Community Mental Health Access Center, (586) 948-0228.

TO REFER TO A MATERNAL INFANT HEALTH PROGRAM (MIHP): Maternal and Infant Health Program services are specialized preventive services provided to pregnant women, mothers, and their infants who have Medicaid to help reduce infant deaths and illnesses.

Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) are required to provide Maternal and Infant Health Program services to their members when the services are determined to be medically necessary. Maternal and Infant Health Program services may require prior authorization from a QHP or its providers.

For a list of MIHP service providers, go to.

https://www.michigan.gov/mihp/0,5421,7-311-66378_66386---,00.html

It is the policy of the Michigan DHHS that substance abuse or addiction of the parent-caretaker or adult living in the home to alcohol or drugs does not in and of itself constitute credible evidence of abuse or neglect of the child. Parents use drugs (including legally or illegally obtained controlled drugs or other drugs) and/or alcohol to varying degrees and many remain able to care for their children without harming them.

A careful assessment needs to be made to determine whether a child is at risk. When alcohol and/or other drug abuse/addiction interferes with a person's ability to meet parental responsibilities and causes harm or threatened harm to the children, these failures of parental duty provide the basis for substantiating abuse.

In this case, call: Department of Health and Human Services - Children's Protective Services Centralized Intake (855) 444-3911 (Toll-Free number, available 24/7).

If other adults are residing in the child's home and are using drugs/alcohol, the parent/caretaker's capacity to care for the child and ensure his/her safety and well-being is to be assessed by DHHS. For example, if it is determined that the child is being exposed to the violent environment in a drug house, this is considered to be a failure of parental duty and provides a basis for substantiating a finding of abuse or neglect.

Drug and alcohol exposure also includes environmental exposure to drugs and alcohol. For example, cocaine/crack is being smoked in the home and the infant and/or children present are inhaling the smoke, or infants or children are given alcohol to drink or have access to alcohol or other drugs. It may also include exposure to the violent and other unhealthy environments in which drugs are commonly sold or used.

In these situations, contact the Department of Health and Human Services - Children's Protective Services Centralized Intake. (855) 444-3911 (Toll-Free number, available 24/7)

Information on child physical and sexual abuse and child neglect (including child abuse prevention trainings and reading materials) is available from Care House, (586) 463-0123.

A child-friendly, safe and neutral environment that provides intervention and treatment services for cases of suspected child sexual abuse reported in Macomb County including a multi-disciplinary team response for child victims of abuse and their non-offending family members to reduce the trauma of the abuse and to provide sensitive and consistent support throughout the investigation. Care House (586) 463-0123 (Mt. Clemens) or visit www.mccarehouse.org