How to Locate a Child in Social Services Custody

Knowing that a child you love is in the care and custody of strangers is not easy. Often, there is either a mental health issue or a drug problem that causes the state to remove a child for his own safety. If you are someone who is dealing with this problem and wishes to locate a child you love, it is easier than you think. Ignore untrue gossip that Social Services are evil baby stealers. Family is always the first choice for the placement of a child. You have every right to know where your relative is.

Instructions

1. Find out as much information as you can about the parent of the child you are looking for, preferably the mother, but if you only have the father's information, that is fine. The more you know the better, the full name, location, date of birth and social security number, if possible.

2. Call the Child Abuse Hotline in your state and tell them your situation. Give the screener the name and all of the information you have on your relative. This may or may not work. If it does not, do not fret. You have more options.

3. Find the location of your relative and call the local office in that location. If you are unsure about the exact location, call every office in the area and ask to speak to the social worker handling [insert your adult relative's name]'s case. Reception should be able to give you this information. Speak to your relative's social worker and inform him that you are a relative of the child and wish to be considered as a "placement resource."

4. Ask to speak to the manager of the office if reception tells you that they cannot access that information. Watch how quickly they can then find the social worker you are looking for.

5. Stage a sit-in in the office if you cannot get anyone on the phone. Do not leave until you speak to a human being who can help you.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not give up. You will find the child if you keep calling. Call 35 offices if you have to. The child comes first.

• With a social workter's responsibilities for visiting clients, going to court, daily errands and emergencies that are inevitable, there is a good chance that you will reach voice mail first. Leave a detailed message, give the worker three days to get back to you, then call again.

• If you cannot reach the worker in one week, call the receptionist and ask to speak to the worker's supervisor.

• If the worker's supervisor is unavailable, ask to speak to the supervisor's supervisor.

• Go up the chain of command until you speak to a human being.

• The only possible danger of this process is to your heart. You may find the child you love has been hurt, or that your adult relative is in a very bad place.

References

• State of New Jersey: About the Division of Youth and Family Services