is mandated to conduct assessments of reports of suspected child
maltreatment as defined in Chapter 7B of the North Carolina
General Statutes. During an assessment, a social worker has two
primary responsibilities: Gather information to determine if a
child or children have been abused, neglected or dependent; and,
Provide services necessary to assure child safety. As part of
gathering information, the social worker will seek to interview
all children and all adults in the household as well as other
persons identified as having information to contribute. The
social worker may need to review medical or other records and
may request medical assessments be completed as part of the
assessment. When conducting a CPS assessment, social workers
will complete a safety assessment and give a copy to the
parents. If services are needed to assure child safety, the
social worker will involve parents in decision making and work
to help the child stay safely at home whenever possible. CPS has
a choice of two tracks for comp