What is the difference between 'substantiated,' 'unsubstantiated,' and 'pending' determinations?

What is the difference between 'substantiated,' 'unsubstantiated,' and 'pending' determinations?

• A. Substantiated means maltreatment proven; unsubstantiated means not proven; pending means investigation ongoing.
• B. Pending means maltreatment is proven.
• C. Unsubstantiated means maltreatment proven.
• D. Substantiated means not proven.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how child protective services classify the outcome after an investigation. Substantiated means there is enough evidence to conclude maltreatment occurred, and protective actions or services are typically put in place. Unsubstantiate means there wasn’t enough evidence to prove maltreatment under the agency’s standards, so the finding is not proven; this doesn’t necessarily mean nothing happened, but that the investigation didn’t meet the threshold for proof. Pending means the investigation is still ongoing and a final determination hasn’t been made yet. This framing matches the statement that substantiated = proven, unsubstantiated = not proven, and pending = investigation ongoing.

The main idea is how child protective services classify the outcome after an investigation. Substantiated means there is enough evidence to conclude maltreatment occurred, and protective actions or services are typically put in place. Unsubstantiate means there wasn’t enough evidence to prove maltreatment under the agency’s standards, so the finding is not proven; this doesn’t necessarily mean nothing happened, but that the investigation didn’t meet the threshold for proof. Pending means the investigation is still ongoing and a final determination hasn’t been made yet. This framing matches the statement that substantiated = proven, unsubstantiated = not proven, and pending = investigation ongoing.