What is child abuse and neglect?

Child neglect or abuse is an immediate threat to a child’s life or health, which is so great that severe or incurable injury would likely result.  Except in an emergency, a child can be removed from the home only by a court order, and only after the court finds that reasonable efforts have been made to prevent the child’s removal but nothing else will protect the child.  Within five business days of a child’s removal from the home, a preliminary removal hearing must be held.  Both parents must get court papers telling them the date, time and place of the hearing, and must be given a chance to say their side of the story to a Judge.