Government » General Government Departments » Health & Human Services » Children & Youth

Child Welfare Services (CWS)

Yolo County Child Welfare Services strengthens the safety, permanency, and well-being of children involved in the child welfare system. Child Welfare Services intervenes on behalf of children who need protection from abuse and neglect. With the ultimate goal of  safety and permanency, CWS providing assistance with adoption, foster home licensing. independent living, placement assessment and family reunification.

If you require Medical Attention, Law Enforcement or there is a Threat of Suicide, call 911 immediately.

Child Welfare Reporting Abuse Hotline
530-669-2345


  • How do I make a report?

    All reports of suspected child abuse or neglect are completed by calling Child Welfare Services Abuse Reporting Hotline at 530-669-2345.

    If you are a Mandated Reported, you are also required to complete and submit a Suspected Child Abuse Report form. We ask that you complete the form before you call the hotline. This will expedite the process as all the information on this form will need to be collected by the Social Worker when you call. After you have completed your verbal report, please note the Social Worker's name who took your call on your completed Suspected Child Abuse Report form and submit it using one of the following methods:

    FAX: 530-661-6012 
    EMAIL: ChildAbuseReport@yolocounty.org  

    During the evening, at night, weekends and on holidays, Dispatch will contact the on-call social worker to respond to phone calls or investigate emergency situations of abuse and neglect. Supervisors are also on duty for case consultations and supervision. Reports should be as detailed as possible, but please do not investigate. Provide information on the child and family’s support network. Also, consider if the parent is taking any steps at ensuring the child’s safety or if the parent and child have any strengths that CWS can rely upon to help in safety planning with the family.    

     


  • Are you a Mandated Reporter?


    Please call and utilize the expertise of our intake social workers to consult on when/if a mandated report is necessary and what community resources may be available.   Finally, on behalf of children everywhere, thank you for caring!  

  • If I report suspected child abuse or neglect, will you tell the parents who reported it?

    The Department makes every effort to keep confidential the mandated reporters name, however it may be disclosed as follows;  between child protective agencies, to legal counsel representing a child in a court case, to the district attorney in a criminal prosecution, and by court order. However, the parents may guess, based on the information provided, who reported the abuse. It is common for parents to state that they know who reported, however this knowledge is really only their suspicion.  

  • What is the purpose of the law?

    To protect children and to provide help for the parents.  The report of abuse may be a catalyst for bringing about change in the home, which in turn may help to lower the risk of further abuse in the home.

  • Do I have to make a report if I think a child is being abused?

    Any person who suspects child abuse or neglect should report it. However, certain individuals such as day care providers, school personnel, medical personnel, law enforcement, social workers, therapist, eligibility workers, and commercial film and photographic print processors are required by law to file such reports. They are called mandated reporters. Mandated reporters are required to give their names when making a report.   

  • What is Child Abuse?

    Child abuse includes: physical abuse, severe neglect, general neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional maltreatment. Any act that endangers or impairs a child's physical or emotional health should be suspected as child abuse, regardless of degree of severity.

Child Welfare Services Listening Sessions

The Child, Youth, and Family Branch of Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency will be conducting the second series of Community Listening Sessions regarding Child Welfare Services.  The goal is to establish an ongoing dialogue between the Agency and the community to inform system change efforts that seek to improve outcomes and address systemic challenges.  The previous listening sessions provided individuals with lived experience an opportunity to provide critical feedback to the Agency in an open forum.  The next two sessions will be structured for the specific purpose of discussing systems issues specific to Yolo County CWS and to provide input on the Comprehensive Prevention Plan that the County is developing in relation to the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA).  Although the listening sessions are open to the community to observe, individuals with lived experience are being specifically invited to provide feedback.  The listening sessions will be held virtually using the Zoom platform.  

Listening Session Information:

  • Yolo County CWS Listening Session (Systems Issues Discussion)
    • None scheduled at this time.
  • Topic: Yolo County Listening Session (Comprehensive Prevention Plan Discussion)
    • None scheduled at this time.

Child Welfare Services Monthly Data Snapshot

Yolo County Child Welfare Services (CWS) provides a variety of care services for youth in need. Open cases in CWS mean that a youth can be receiving services in one or more of the following programs: emergency response, family maintenance, and foster care (also known as out of home placement). Data is provided below showing the total number of youth with an open case in CWS in Yolo County at a specific point in time and the program in which they are served. Additional data, including statewide information, is available from the UC Berkeley, CA Child Welfare Project (https://ccwip.berkeley.edu/childwelfare/index/r). Due to the daily fluctuation in cases and slight alterations in methodologies, it is important to note that small variations in the data may exist between sources 

 2024
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