When a Children Services Board brings an abuse, neglect, or dependency action before a court, there are certain times when the condition or environment in which the child is in at that time is such that the agency feels that it is necessary to remove the child from his or her home for safety reasons. This is called "shelter care."
In this article, we will look at the standard for putting a child in shelter care, as well as where a child may be placed, and the rights that parents retain during the course of the proceedings in court.
First, we’ll explore the basics of shelter care.