CWS Emergency Response

Emergency Response (ER)

In California, Child Abuse and neglect is defined as:

'Any act of commission or omission that endangers a child's
physical or emotional health and development'.
When there is a case of suspected child abuse or neglect, individuals (Mandated Reporters or concerned citizens) make a report to the Tulare County Child Welfare Services Hotline. On reports that meet State criteria of abuse or neglect, the report is generated into one of two possible referral responses:

  1. An Immediate referral requires a County protocol response time of two hours from the time a report is made

  2. 10-day referral's require a response within 10-days to initiate an investigation of the referral

During the investigative process, a Social Worker conducts an investigation into the alleged child abuse. The investigation includes the completion of a safety assessment to determine whether the allegations are substantiated, inconclusive or unfounded.  If the allegations are substantiated, the Social Worker conducts a risk assessment to determine what level of intervention is required by CWS to ensure the child's safety and well-being. The level of intervention can include:

  1. Referring the family to Community Based Organizations to alleviate and address the alleged child abuse or neglect.

  2. Providing the family with on-going voluntary case-management services

  3. Allowing the children to remain in the home of the family with Juvenile Court oversight

  4. Placing the children into Temporary Custody (with a non-custodial parent, relative, foster home, group home) and proceeding with formal Juvenile Court oversight.

If you suspect child abuse or neglect, please call our 24-hour, seven day a week Hotline at (800) 331-1585 and make a report. You can also go to one of the Tulare County CWS Offices listed below to make a report in person. Your report can be anonymous.

Dinuba

1066 N. Alta Ave.

Dinuba, CA  93618

(559) 595-7179

Porterville

1055 W. Henderson St

Porterville, CA  93257

(559) 788-1100

Tulare

160 N. L St.

Tulare, CA 93274

(559) 685-4732

Visalia

3500 W. Mineral King St.

Ste. B

Visalia, CA  93277

(559) 733-6180