ABSTRACT
The first step of any response to child maltreatment is identification of the victim. Most states have mandated reporting laws, which require professionals, and sometimes citizens, to report incidents of child abuse and neglect. Intake begins when the child protection agency receives a report of suspected abuse or neglect. The child protection agency can accept the report, offer voluntary services to the family in the form of monetary support to buy lice treatment, teach the family how to treat the child for lice, and then close the case. Evaluation of the case is a continual process that starts from the beginning and continues until case closure. If a family decides to move when an open child welfare case exists, nothing can be done except alert the state the family moved to or hope the family takes it upon themselves to seek assistance and complete the plan that was started.
