Child Protective Specialist NYC Civil Service Exam
Abuse Any recent act or failure to act by a parent or caretaker that results in harm or creates a
substantial risk of serious harm to a child.
Adjudication The legal process by which a court determines whether a child has been abused or
neglected
Administration for Children's Services The governemnt agency at the heart of NYC for child welfare
Adoption the legal process by which parents take another person's child into their family to be raised
as their own. This creates a permanent legal parent-child relationship
Adoption and Safe Families Act This federal law emphasizes the importance of permanency for children in foster care. It
requires states to make reasonable efforts to reunify families, but also prioritizes finding
permanent homes for children who cannot safely return to their parents.
Assessment a systematic process of information gathering, information analysis, drawing conclusions,
and decision-making to ensure a child's safety and well-being in response to a report of
suspected abuse or neglect.
Beneficence the ethical obligation to do good
Best Interests of the Child the principle upon which courts and child welfare make decisions that consider the child's
safety, well-being, and developmental needs
Case Management a coordinated process of assessing a child's and family's needs and connecting them to
resources to ensure the child's safety and well-being. It is a holistic approach that focuses
on the family's strengths and weaknesses and addresses multiple issues beyond the single
reason for a child protective services report.
Charles Loring Brace founded NY Children's Aid Society where he established and pioneered the practice of
placing orphaned and abandoned children in foster homes
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act This federal law provides funding to states for child abuse and neglect prevention and
treatment programs.
Child Protective Services Government Agencies responsible for investigating reports of child abuse and neglect and
providing services to children and families.
Child Protective Services Law Also known as the social services law, this is the cornerstone of child welfare law in NYS.
It defines child abuse and neglect, outlines the responsibilities of mandated reporters, and
establishes the proceduresfor investigating reports of suspected maltreatment.
The Children's Aid Society A child-saving organization begun by Charles Loring Brace; it took children from the
streets in large cities and placed them with farm families on the prairie. Still provides
foster care, adoption, and preventive services in NYC
Child welfare information gateway Provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen
families
Confidentiality An ethical obligation to protect all sensitive information
Cultural Competency the ability to understand, respect, and interact with persons from cultures different from
our own
Cultural Sensitivity understanding how a family's cultural background, including beliefs, values, and practices,
influences their behavior and perspectives during an investigation.
Due Process The legal requirement that individuals be given fair notice and an opportunity to be heard
before their rights are affected.
Abuse Any recent act or failure to act by a parent or caretaker that results in harm or creates a
substantial risk of serious harm to a child.
Adjudication The legal process by which a court determines whether a child has been abused or
neglected
Administration for Children's Services The governemnt agency at the heart of NYC for child welfare
Adoption the legal process by which parents take another person's child into their family to be raised
as their own. This creates a permanent legal parent-child relationship
Adoption and Safe Families Act This federal law emphasizes the importance of permanency for children in foster care. It
requires states to make reasonable efforts to reunify families, but also prioritizes finding
permanent homes for children who cannot safely return to their parents.
Assessment a systematic process of information gathering, information analysis, drawing conclusions,
and decision-making to ensure a child's safety and well-being in response to a report of
suspected abuse or neglect.
Beneficence the ethical obligation to do good
Best Interests of the Child the principle upon which courts and child welfare make decisions that consider the child's
safety, well-being, and developmental needs
Case Management a coordinated process of assessing a child's and family's needs and connecting them to
resources to ensure the child's safety and well-being. It is a holistic approach that focuses
on the family's strengths and weaknesses and addresses multiple issues beyond the single
reason for a child protective services report.
Charles Loring Brace founded NY Children's Aid Society where he established and pioneered the practice of
placing orphaned and abandoned children in foster homes
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act This federal law provides funding to states for child abuse and neglect prevention and
treatment programs.
Child Protective Services Government Agencies responsible for investigating reports of child abuse and neglect and
providing services to children and families.
Child Protective Services Law Also known as the social services law, this is the cornerstone of child welfare law in NYS.
It defines child abuse and neglect, outlines the responsibilities of mandated reporters, and
establishes the proceduresfor investigating reports of suspected maltreatment.
The Children's Aid Society A child-saving organization begun by Charles Loring Brace; it took children from the
streets in large cities and placed them with farm families on the prairie. Still provides
foster care, adoption, and preventive services in NYC
Child welfare information gateway Provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen
families
Confidentiality An ethical obligation to protect all sensitive information
Cultural Competency the ability to understand, respect, and interact with persons from cultures different from
our own
Cultural Sensitivity understanding how a family's cultural background, including beliefs, values, and practices,
influences their behavior and perspectives during an investigation.
Due Process The legal requirement that individuals be given fair notice and an opportunity to be heard
before their rights are affected.
