{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-4-1303.01a","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 4-1303.01a","heading":"Establishment and purposes of Child and Family Services Agency.","body":"(a)\nThere is established as a separate Cabinet-level agency, subordinate to the Mayor, the Child and Family Services Agency.\n\n(b)\nThe Agency shall have as its functions and purposes:\n(1)\nProviding services that prevent family dissolution or breakdown, to avoid the need for protective services or out-of-home placements;\n(2)\nEncouraging the reporting of child abuse and neglect;\n(3)\nReceiving and responding to reports of child abuse and neglect;\n(3A)\nAssessing child and family strengths and needs in response to reports of abuse and neglect;\n(4)\nRemoving children from their homes or other places, when necessary;\n(5)\nConducting a social service investigation of child abuse and neglect cases, immediately notifying the Metropolitan Police Department when the commission of a crime is suspected or when any person has been physically injured or placed at risk for physical injury, and cooperating with the criminal investigation;\n(6)\nSafeguarding the rights and protecting the welfare of children whose parents, guardians, or custodians are unable to do so;\n(7)\nOffering appropriate, adequate, and, when needed, highly specialized, diagnostic and treatment services and resources to children and families when there has been a supported finding of abuse or neglect;\n(8)\nEnsuring the protection of children who have been abused or neglected from further experiences and conditions detrimental to their healthy growth and development;\n(9)\nProviding parenting classes or family counseling and other services on behalf of the child designed to help parents recognize and remedy the conditions harmful to the child and to fulfill their parental roles more adequately;\n(10)\nObtaining substitute care for a child whose parents are unable, even with available help, to meet the child’s minimum needs and, where appropriate, providing services to the family of such a child that are aimed at safely reuniting the family as quickly as possible; and\n(11)\nEnsuring the timely permanent placement of the child consistent with the concurrent or alternative plan where reunification is not possible.\n\n(c)\nRepealed.","path":["Title 4. Public Care Systems.","Chapter 13. Child Abuse and Neglect.","Subchapter I. Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.","Part C. Child and Family Services Agency."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/4-1303.01a","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"9d8ae0855a153309841f382e6645a07ffc3e878eed3d8df6bdcec9b9250db041","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-4-1303.01","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-4-1303.02"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}