(Revision. 9/1/13)
The child protection statutes (AS 47.10) set the criteria by which the State may legally intervene on behalf of children. These statutes provide the legal authority for protecting children from harm that is the result of parental conduct. The statutes that govern the Child in Need of Aid (CINA) process are located in AS 47.06.010, AS 47.10, AS 47.14 and AS 47.17 and in the Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. §§ 1901 – 1963). The requirements of the Adoptions and Safe Families Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 671 – 675) are incorporated in various state statutes. The court rules that govern CINA cases are called the Child in Need of Aid Rules. Both state and federal requirements have been incorporated in those rules. The regulations promulgated by OCS are found at 7 AAC 50 to 7 AAC 57.
The Child Protection Section of the Attorney General’s Office represents the Office of Children’s Services (OCS) in court. Each abuse or neglect case that enters the legal system is assigned to an assistant attorney general. The Attorney General’s Office has several child protection offices throughout the state to work with cases regionally, where possible.
A CINA case has many steps and can be complicated. The Attorney General’s Office and OCS partner together to move each case through the legal system as effectively and efficiently as possible with the goal of achieving the best outcome possible for children and families.