CHINS-Child in Need of Services
Please report all suspected child abuse and/or neglect by calling 1-800-800-5556
Indiana has mandatory reporting (IC 31-33-5-1) which states that any individual who has reason reports
are accepted and failure to make a report can be a Class B misdemeanor. Any person who reports child
abuse/neglect is immune from criminal or civil liability, unless the person acted maliciously or in bad faith.
**Reports may be made anonymously. Individuals are NOT required to give their information.
Indiana Child Protective Services (CPS)
Child In Need of Services (CHINS)-Youth, 0 through 17 years, involved in a situation that is unlikely to be
remedied without the coercive intervention of the court and meets one of the following criteria:
Indiana Code
IC 31-33-8-1, designates time limits for the initiation of investigations of various types of reports, as
follows:
Some examples of the situations that CPS must consider for immediate investigation are: severe or
extensive injuries to a child; a young child(ren) left alone; any reported abuse of an infant; reports that
necessary medical attention has not been provided; reports involving repeated abuse or neglect; any
report of infant or child alleged to be failure to thrive.
The CPS FCM (Family Case Manager) may request the juvenile court to order the immediate removal of the
child so that the child may be protected from further abuse or neglect. (IC 31-33-8-8) Appropriate family
members must be given consideration in any emergency placement of a child. (IC 31-34-4-2) A law
enforcement officer may initiate a protective order to remove the alleged perpetrator in accordance with IC
31-34-2-2 or may take a child into protective custody (IC 31-34-2-3). IC 31-34-2-3 and IC 31-34-2-6
require written documentation whenever a child is taken into protective custody without a written or verbal
court order.
Information from Indiana Legal Services:
Indiana Child Welfare Police Manual.
Indiana DCS Waiver Demonstration Grant.
Administrative Letter (eff July 2010): Any child under the age of three (3) at the time that DCS makes a
finding of substantiated will automatically be referred to First Steps.
Defined Legal Arrangements
Miscellaneous info:
Additional websites:
Additional information may be found in Abuse Crisis/Suicide
Indiana has mandatory reporting (IC 31-33-5-1) which states that any individual who has reason reports
are accepted and failure to make a report can be a Class B misdemeanor. Any person who reports child
abuse/neglect is immune from criminal or civil liability, unless the person acted maliciously or in bad faith.
**Reports may be made anonymously. Individuals are NOT required to give their information.
Indiana Child Protective Services (CPS)
Child In Need of Services (CHINS)-Youth, 0 through 17 years, involved in a situation that is unlikely to be
remedied without the coercive intervention of the court and meets one of the following criteria:
- CHINS 1: Neglect-The child's physical or mental condition is seriously impaired or seriously
endangered as a result of the parent/guardian/custodian being unable, refusing, or neglecting to
supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, or supervision - CHINS 2: Abuse-The child's physical or mental condition is seriously impaired or seriously endangered
due to an injury as a result of the parent/guardian/custodians act or omission, or there is evidence
that Illegal manufacture of a drug or controlled substance is occurring on property where a child
resides - CHINS 3: Sexual Abuse-The child is a victim of certain sex offenses or is living in a household with a
victim of certain sex offenses. - CHINS 4: The child's parent/guardian/custodian allows the child to participate in an obscene
performance - CHINS 5: The child's parent/guardian/custodian allows the child to commit a prohibited sex offense
- CHINS 6: The child substantially endangers his/her own health or the health of another individual
- CHINS 7: The child's parent/guardian/custodian fails to participate in a school disciplinary proceeding
- CHINS 8: The child is a missing child.
- CHINS 10: The child is born with fetal alcohol syndrome or with any amount of controlled substance
or legend drug in the childs body. - CHINS 11: The child experiences risks or injuries from the mothers use of alcohol, controlled
substance or legend drug during pregnancy
Indiana Code
IC 31-33-8-1, designates time limits for the initiation of investigations of various types of reports, as
follows:
- immediate investigation if the report alleges that the safety or well-being of the child appears to be
endangered or the death of a child has occurred; - immediate investigation, within one (1) hour, if the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm;
- immediate investigation, within 24 hours, if the report alleges that the child may be a victim of child
abuse (other than above); or - within a reasonably prompt time, but not later than five (5) calendar days, if the report concerns
neglect (other than indicated above).
Some examples of the situations that CPS must consider for immediate investigation are: severe or
extensive injuries to a child; a young child(ren) left alone; any reported abuse of an infant; reports that
necessary medical attention has not been provided; reports involving repeated abuse or neglect; any
report of infant or child alleged to be failure to thrive.
The CPS FCM (Family Case Manager) may request the juvenile court to order the immediate removal of the
child so that the child may be protected from further abuse or neglect. (IC 31-33-8-8) Appropriate family
members must be given consideration in any emergency placement of a child. (IC 31-34-4-2) A law
enforcement officer may initiate a protective order to remove the alleged perpetrator in accordance with IC
31-34-2-2 or may take a child into protective custody (IC 31-34-2-3). IC 31-34-2-3 and IC 31-34-2-6
require written documentation whenever a child is taken into protective custody without a written or verbal
court order.
Information from Indiana Legal Services:
- An Informal Adjustment is a written agreement between the county Office of Family and Children, an
abused or neglected child, and the child's parents. The agreement states what things the parents
must do to keep their child safe. It may include family counseling, parenting classes, substance abuse
treatment, etc. - Termination of parental rights is when a court issues an order that permanently ends all legal, social,
and financial responsibility between the child and her parents. The parents have no rights to custody
or visitation of the child. The county Office of Family and Children can file a petition to terminate
parental rights. This is usually done only after the Office of Family and Children has made efforts to
reunite the child and the parents in a CHINS case.
Indiana Child Welfare Police Manual.
Indiana DCS Waiver Demonstration Grant.
Administrative Letter (eff July 2010): Any child under the age of three (3) at the time that DCS makes a
finding of substantiated will automatically be referred to First Steps.
Defined Legal Arrangements
- Guardianship: Parental rights not terminated, and the (Foster/Relative) is not financially responsible
for the youth; allows (Foster/Relative) to enroll child in school and receive medical care. - Legal Custody: (Foster/Relative) petitions for custody if he/she can demonstrate parent is "unfit" and
(Foster/Relative) retains physical possession of the youth. - Relative Foster Care: Child is in the custody of the state, but the youth resides in the a relatives
home. - Non-relative Foster Care: Child is in the custody of the state, but the youth resides with foster family
(not related to the child.) - Adoption: Parental rights are severed; adopted parent (Foster/Relative?) assumes all legal and
financial responsibilities for the child. - Subsidized Guardianships: Financial support is provided for children in state custody; caregiver
becomes the legal guardian, replacing the state.
Miscellaneous info:
- Children's Law Center of Indiana: Compulsory School Attendance (Educational Neglect)
- Children's Law Center of Indiana: CHINS Primer
- Children's Law Center of Indiana: Indiana Law Regarding Abused/Neglected Children.
Additional websites:
- None at this time
Additional information may be found in Abuse Crisis/Suicide
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