The County Department of Social Services may be ordered by the Court to retain custody of a child while he/she remains with the family. At the point the child enters DSS custody, a determination has been made by the Court that the child is at risk of foster care placement. The agency shall provide close supervision of the children and families in this situation. These cases require intensive services and frequent reviews to ensure the safety of the children in custody.
Services to families with children in DSS custody who remain in the home should be time limited. After time-limited services, the agency should recommend to the Court either that custody is returned to the parents or that the child is placed out of home.
