This publication outlines the laws of North Carolina requiring persons to report cases of suspected child abuse or neglect and cases of disabled adults who need protective services.

This primer illustrates the flow of child abuse, neglect, and dependency cases in North Carolina. A case starts with a mandated report of suspected abuse, neglect, or dependency and ends with the termination of the district court's jurisdiction over an abuse, neglect, or dependency proceeding. There are many different stages and outcomes; some involve court action, and some do not. Originally produced as a handout for courses, this reference guide addresses every stage and the possible outcomes of each stage and includes a color coded flow chart of the process from the obligation to report to the final disposition of the case. Intended to be a quick, easy-to-use resource for professionals who work in the field of child welfare, this publication is not a comprehensive analysis of North Carolina law.

In 1992, over 990,000 children were victims of maltreatment including: neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, medical neglect, & emotional or psychological abuse. Child protective services agencies received & referred for investigation nearly 1.9 million reports alleging that nearly 2.9 million children were being maltreated. Professionals accounted for nearly 52% of reports: friends & family members accounted for 27%. The remaining reports were made by other persons in the community. The rate of maltreated children has increased form 14 per 1,000 children to 16 per 1,000 children.Charts & tables.