What is the primary purpose of the adjudication hearing in CPS cases?

In child protective services (CPS) cases, the primary purpose of the adjudication hearing is to evaluate whether the allegations of abuse or neglect against a child's parents or guardians are substantiated. During this hearing, evidence is presented, and findings are made regarding the child's safety and welfare.

This hearing is crucial because it serves as a legal determination of the child's situation. If the evidence indicates that a child is indeed at risk, the result may lead to emergency actions, such as the child's temporary removal from the home or other protective measures. The focus at this stage is on ensuring the child’s immediate safety, which aligns with the hearing's purpose of assessing the validity of the claims made in the CPS report.

While custody arrangements, reunification efforts, and family financial assessments might be parts of the broader process of working with families in the CPS system, they are not the central focus of the adjudication hearing itself. The adjudication hearing's primary intent is to address the immediate concerns about the child's safety in response to reported allegations.