Washington Order Authorizing Continued Shelter Care (ACS) is an order issued by the Washington State Superior Court which authorizes a child to remain in a shelter care facility while a court decides if the child should be placed in out-of-home care. ACS is used for children who are facing immediate safety risks in their homes, and is typically issued when the court believes that the child’s removal from their home is necessary to protect them from further abuse and neglect. ACS orders are generally issued for a period of up to 30 days. There are three different types of ACS orders: Emergency ACS, Short-term ACS, and Extended ACS. Emergency ACS is issued when a child is in immediate danger and needs to be removed from their home for their safety. Short-term ACS is issued when the court needs more time to investigate a situation and determine if the child needs to remain in out-of-home care. Extended ACS is issued when the court finds that the child cannot safely return to their home and needs to remain in out-of-home care for an extended period of time.