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Child Protective Services (CPS) Checks

About Child Protective Services checks

The Background Check Unit (BCU) can do child protective services (CPS) checks on certain individuals who provide care or services to minors.

  • These checks can only be requested by government agencies or other agencies as noted below.
  • If your request is for investigative purposes, contact the local Child Welfare office in the county where the individual lives.
Who can make a requestWho can be checkedHow to make a request

Questions? Email adam-walsh.oregon@odhsoha.oregon.gov

Who can request CPS checks

  • These checks can only be requested by government agencies or other agencies as noted below.
  • We can't provide the results of CPS checks directly to an individual. 
  • We can't provide information to people who are currently under investigation.

Who can be checked

Foster parents or adoptive parents

Under the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, Section 152, we can do CPS checks for government agencies or private foster care or adoption agencies. Under this act, CPS checks can only be done on the following individuals:

  • Foster parents who have lived in Oregon during the past five years (from the date of the request)
  • Adoptive parents who have lived in Oregon during the past five years (from the date of the request)
  • Adult household members who have lived in Oregon during the past five years (from the date of the request)

Childcare providers

Under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, federal regulations require comprehensive background checks on childcare providers. We can do CPS checks for government childcare licensing agencies or private childcare agencies and providers.  Under this act, CPS checks can only be done on the following individuals:

  • People who provide licensed or registered day care in their home (home childcare)
  • Adult household members in a home childcare
  • Employees in a childcare agency

If the person you want to check isn't in one of these categories, but you believe Block Grant requirements still apply, explain in your request why the person is subject to the Block Grant.

Juvenile justice

Under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), we can do CPS checks on the following individuals:

  • Juvenile justice employees, volunteers and contractors in Oregon only.
  • We can't provide CPS information for PREA employees or volunteers in other states.

CASA and CAIC

  • We can do CPS checks on Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Child Abuse Intervention Center (CAIC) organizations in Oregon only.
  • We can't provide CPS information for CASA volunteers in other states.

How to request a CPS background check

Fill out a request form using one of the links below. Don't use any previous versions of this form.

Request Form - PDFRequest Form - Word

Instructions

NOTE: Carefully review all dates entered on the form. Your software may affect the date formatting.
  • Fill out one form for each person whose background is being checked. 
  • Give the form to the person being checked to fill out their section of the form.
  • The form must be typed (not hand written) and signed. The PDF version allows electronic signatures.
  • Email the completed form to adam-walsh.oregon@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
  • BCU will respond by secure email. Make sure the email address you provide can receive secure email.