{"id":8299,"date":"2019-09-05T22:44:48","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T22:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kh.org\/?page_id=8299"},"modified":"2023-06-20T20:33:00","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T20:33:00","slug":"child-protection-regulations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.kh.org\/child-protection-regulations\/","title":{"rendered":"Child Protection Regulations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n

1. What is Child Protective Services?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Child Protective Services, CPS, is part of the division of Family and Community Services under the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Their services are designed to help protect children while providing supports to strengthen families to prevent abuse and neglect. If a child needs to be removed from his or her family for safety, CPS will work with the family to lower the safety concerns so the child can be returned home as soon as it is safe. For additional information, please see the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare\u2019s website at www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.<\/p>\n

2. Who is involved in making decisions about child protection and regulations?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Laws are issued by state and federal authorities. They are enforced by local, state and federal law enforcement. They are followed by many organizations and individuals who work with children including health care providers, schools, childcare providers and child protective services.<\/p>\n

3. When do Idaho hospitals contact Child Protective Services?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Idaho State law deems all physicians, nurses and other hospital workers mandatory reporters. The term \u201cmandatory reporter\u201d is a legal term outlined in Idaho State law (Idaho Code sec. 16-1605). This means these employees are legally required to report when they observe a child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect. The definition of \u201cneglected\u201d includes a child who is without proper medical or other care or control necessary for his well-being because of the conduct or omission of his parents (Idaho Code sec. 16-1602).<\/p>\n

4. What is \u201cleaving the hospital against medical advice\u201d (AMA) with a pediatric patient?<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it is deemed clinically important by a health care provider to continue treatment and the parent or legal guardian chooses to leave the hospital without treatment, this is considered leaving against medical advice or AMA.<\/p>\n

5. In Idaho, if a parent wants to leave the hospital against medical advice with their child, what criteria do hospitals use to determine when to contact Child Protective Services?<\/strong><\/p>\n

As health care providers hospitals play a key role in caring for and advocating for patients, including pediatric patients. We value the safety, security, and health of these patients, and care for patients with the utmost sense of responsibility.<\/p>\n

When making the determination to contact additional resources, we categorize patients into one of three scenarios:<\/p>\n

Scenario 1: The child is at risk of imminent harm or death <\/strong>and cannot leave the hospital.<\/p>\n