Frequently Asked Questions

 

How does the Child Protection System work?

In Milwaukee, child protective services are known as the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (BMCW). It works with families to ensure the safety and well-being of children. If you are concerned about a child’s safety, you can report suspected abuse or neglect directly to a local child protective service agency or law enforcement agency.

Intake is the service that takes referrals on cases of alleged child abuse/neglect from the public. The (414) 220-SAFE line is answered 24 hours, every day. Intake workers screen calls and determine if the information given meets the criteria for child protective services to become involved. If so, the case is assigned a response time before forwarding the case to one of the three regions for assessment. Intake workers also provide callers with social service resources.

It is helpful to have as much of the following information as you can when you call:
• Name of birth parents or guardian
• Date of birth for parents and children
• Address of parents and children
• School in which the children attend
• Articulate the safety issue (What is the parent or guardian doing or not doing that is causing the child to be hurt or harmed in some way)
• When the safety issued occurred and how often
• Name, date of birth, and location if possible, of the person who is causing the hurt or harm.

FYI’s
• When reporting a safety incident or concern to the police you should contact the police in the county in which the incident occurred. When contacting Child Protective Services about a safety incident or concern you should contact the county in which the parents reside.
• It is helpful to document for yourself who you spoke to when you called and the time and date.

What happens next?

Initial Assessment (BMCW)
Initial Assessment (IA) staff investigates the referral by visiting the child at the child’s school, home, or other location. If the child is in imminent danger, he or she will be removed from the home. The Initial Assessment worker will assess and control for the safety of children by interviewing the family and others involved with the child and documenting the case. Services to ensure the safety of the child will be put into place if a risk of maltreatment is determined. If the referral is unsubstantiated, the case will be closed.

Safety Services (Children's Family and Community Partnerships, Integrated Family Services, a subsidiary of St. Aemilian-Lakeside)
Safety Services are provided when an Initial Assessment determines that the children can remain safely in the home with services in place that address the safety issues. BMCW’s partners provide 18 core services that help families deal with the crisis that may put the child at risk.

For more information please visit the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families website.

The Fostering Healing Program is supported in part by Victims of Crime Act Subgrant No. 2006 -081-08 awarded by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of Crime Victim Services under a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the grantor agencies.

 

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