Servicios Voluntarios o Ordenados por el Tribunal en Casos de Abuso Infantil

Explicación Simple

Si un niño está en peligro, las autoridades pueden ofrecer ayuda a la familia. Si la familia no acepta la ayuda y el niño sigue en peligro, las autoridades pueden llevar el caso a un juez para que decida qué hacer.

Es como cuando un amigo tiene problemas y tú le ofreces ayuda, pero él no quiere aceptarla. Si la situación se vuelve grave, puedes pedirle a alguien más, como un adulto, que intervenga para asegurarte de que tu amigo esté a salvo.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que la familia de Ana no está cuidando bien de ella y un vecino lo nota. El departamento de protección infantil le ofrece a la familia recursos para mejorar, pero ellos se niegan. Entonces, el departamento decide llevar el caso a la corte para que un juez decida qué es lo mejor para Ana.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

23 Pa.C.S. 6370 - Voluntary Or Court-ordered Services; Findings Of Child Abuse (a) General rule.--Based on the investigation and evaluation conducted pursuant to this chapter, the county agency shall provide or contract with private or public agencies for the protection of the child at home whenever possible and those services necessary for adequate care of the child when placed in protective custody. Prior to offering these services to a family, the agency shall explain that it has no legal authority to compel the family to receive the services but may inform the family of the obligations and authority of the county agency to initiate appropriate court proceedings. (b) Initiation of court proceeding.-- (1) In those cases in which an appropriate offer of service is refused and the county agency determines that the best interests of the child require court action, the county agency shall initiate the appropriate court proceeding. The county agency shall assist the court during all stages of the court proceeding in accordance with the purposes of this chapter. (2) (i) If the county agency deems it appropriate in a dependency or delinquency proceeding, including an instance in which the alleged perpetrator has access or poses a threat to a child, the county agency may petition the court under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to juvenile matters) for a finding of child abuse. (ii) If the court makes a specific finding that child abuse as defined by this chapter has not occurred, the county agency shall consider the court's finding to be a determination that the report of suspected abuse was an unfounded report. The county agency shall immediately notify the department of the change in the status of the report from an indicated report to an unfounded report. Upon notice, the dep