North Carolina General Statue § 7B-300 requires that "The director of the department of social services in each county of the State shall establish protective services for juveniles alleged to be abused, neglected, or dependent. Protective services shall include the screening of reports, the performance of an assessment using either a family assessment response or an investigative assessment response, casework, or other counseling services to parents, guardians, or other caretakers as provided by the director to help the parents, guardians, or other caretakers and the court to prevent abuse or neglect, to improve the quality of child care, to be more adequate parents, guardians, or caretakers, and to preserve and stabilize family life."
The NC statutes specifically address that everyone has the duty to report suspected maltreatment of a child by that child's parent, guardian, custodian and/or caretaker to the Department of Social Services in the county where the juvenile resides or is found. DSS accepts reports made orally (in person), by telephone, or in writing.
The Department of Social Services has jurisdiction over cases of child abuse, neglect, and dependency involving a child under the age of 18 who is being maltreated by their parent, legal guardian, court ordered custodian or caretaker. A caretaker is defined as "any person other than a parent, guardian, or custodian who has responsibility for the health and welfare of a juvenile in a residential setting. A person responsible for a juvenile's health and welfare means a stepparent, foster parent, an adult member of the juvenile's household, an adult relative entrusted with the juvenile's care, a potential adoptive parent..."
To report Child Abuse & Neglect dial (336)703-(ABUSE) 2287 (24 hrs 7 days a week)
