Child Protection
The purpose of child protection services is to help protect children from physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse, and to help families get the services they need to end abusive behavior and/or provide for their children's needs. The program is mandated by state and federal law (Minnesota Statute 626.556, the Reporting of Maltreatment of Minors Act)
Child Maltreatment Reports
Sherburne County Health and Human Services is available 24 hours a day to receive reports of child maltreatment - abuse or neglect. The general public should have information and build awareness regarding the types of child safety concerns that should be reported. For a comprehensive guide on Minnesota's response to child protection, please visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services website.
Report
To report child abuse or maltreatment, contact:
- During business hours:
Sherburne County Health and Human Services at 763-765-4000 - After business hours
Sherburne County Sheriff's Department at 763-765-3500 - If this is an immediate emergency-call 911.
How Child Protection Helps Families
The child protection system responds to situations where children are alleged to be maltreated, and it helps support families to safely care for their children. Their role is to assess for child safety, risk factors, and family strengths and needs.
Services
Sometimes the child protection agency determines that a family need services to help support them so they can safely care for their child. Services for families may include:
- Family counseling
- Parenting education
- Assistance in applying for financial benefits
- Helping a family access services such as early childhood or special education children
- Helping the family meet basic need such as housing and food.
Each family is unique, so child protection workers assess what services, if any, the family needs, and makes every effort to provide the identified services that will best help that individual family, and in turn assure child safety. Family Investigations Response is the process used when a child is in immediate or significant danger.