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Child Requiring Assistance Cases

Find out what will happen in court, who may be involved, and what your rights are as a parent, legal guardian, or custodian in a Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) case (formerly known as CHINS).

A CRA case is one where parents, guardians, or school officials ask the court to help supervise a child. Find out what will happen after you or a representative from your child's or ward's school has filed an Application for a Child Requiring Assistance for your child. If you have questions about the court proceedings that aren't answered here, you can ask your attorney if you're being represented by counsel or the clerks in the Clerk-Magistrate's office of the court where your child's case is being heard. For information on where to file a CRA, please contact your local Juvenile Court.

CRA application information and resources

Filing a CRA application

Find out who can file a CRA application, how to file one, and what forms you’ll need.

Who can file a CRA application?  File a CRA application  CRA forms 

Information for parents and guardians

Find information about the CRA process if a CRA application has been filed for your child.

Your rights in a CRA case 
Open PDF file, 61.17 KB, for Handbook for Parents, Legal Guardians, and Custodians in Child Requiring Assistance Cases (PDF 61.17 KB)
The CRA case process  What happens after the preliminary hearing in a CRA case 

Additional resources

Guide on the disclosure of confidential information  Glossary of court terms 

Contact Information

Online

Juvenile Court locations 

Locations

Courts where CRA cases are heard

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