CHILD WELFARE MANUAL

POLICY [REVISED] The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) will refer a child’s case to the local prosecuting attorney’s office for the filing of a paternity action, if the following conditions apply: 1. The child is born out of wedlock and is alleged to be a Child in Need of Services (CHINS); 2. The child is under the supervision of DCS; 3. The identity of the alleged father is known; 4. The alleged father has presented at court hearings as the alleged father and named in the CHINS petition; and 5. The DCS local office reasonably believes that establishing the paternity of the child would be beneficial to the child. See Related Information for further details. DCS will offer services to an alleged father while he is awaiting the results of paternity testing. DCS may recommend placement of a child with an alleged father or the family member of an alleged father until paternity has been established. Note: Paternity may be affirmed through a paternity affidavit or DNA testing