ChildGuard - Hope Council on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse, Inc.

Alcohol & Drug Testing

ChildGuard Testing

When you are worried about what a child may have been exposed to, you need answers — not assumptions. ChildGuard® is a specialized hair test that can show whether a child has been around substances in their environment, even if they never ingested anything. Families, attorneys, and agencies use it in custody cases, supervised visitation, and anywhere a child’s surroundings raise concern. Collection is quick and painless, and our staff handle these appointments with care.

Call to Ask About Child Guard: 262-658-8166

Family Services

ChildGuard Lab Info

ChildGuard at a glance

It answers a specific question

Has this child been exposed? ChildGuard detects environmental exposure — smoke in the air, residue on surfaces, contact with a person who uses substances — not just direct use.

It looks back about three months

Hair holds a record. One small sample can show roughly the past three months of exposure history.

It works at any age

A small, painless hair sample — that’s the whole collection. It can be done at any age, including infants.

One call to schedule

Testing is by appointment only. Call 262-658-8166, and staff will walk you through scheduling, cost, and what to expect. A $25 fee applies to no-shows.

Why ChildGuard?

Most hair tests look for metabolites — compounds a body only produces when a person actually ingests a substance. That works for testing adults. It does not work for the question families and courts are actually asking about a child: has this child been around it?

ChildGuard reports a positive result if either the native substance or its metabolite is found. That means it can detect passive exposure — smoke a child breathed, residue a child touched, or contact with the sweat or oils of a person who uses substances in the child’s environment — over roughly the past three months.

When this testing helps

Nobody schedules this test on a good day. Whatever brought you here — a custody case, a visitation requirement, or a worry you can’t shake — the test exists to replace uncertainty with facts.

Custody and family court

Courts sometimes need documentation of a child’s exposure history before making custody and parenting-time decisions. ChildGuard provides it.

Supervised visitation

ChildGuard can support visitation-related requirements, alongside Hope Council’s Supervised Visitation / Parenting Time services.

Supervised Visitation / Parenting Time

A worry about a child’s environment

If you suspect substance activity in a home where a child lives or stays, testing can establish whether exposure is actually happening — so the next decision is based on facts, not fear.

Scheduling and payment

Testing is by appointment only at Hope Council, 6103 39th Ave., Kenosha, WI 53142. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Not sure whether ChildGuard fits your situation? Call 262-658-8166 and describe what you need — staff will give you a straight answer, including the cost and what to bring. All testing is self-pay; payment is made in full before testing is completed. There is a $25 fee for testing appointment no-shows, and refund requests are subject to a $25 processing fee.

What results can and cannot tell you

We believe in being straight with you about this. A ChildGuard result shows whether a child was exposed to the tested substances within the detection window — that’s it. It cannot tell you who caused the exposure, exactly when it happened, or what it should mean for your case or your family’s situation.

Hope Council conducts the testing and reports the results. We do not provide medical or legal interpretation, and a test result does not replace safety, legal, or medical guidance. If your result will be used by a court or agency, review it with the qualified professionals involved — and if your family needs support beyond a test result, that is something Hope Council actually can help with.

Family Services

Common Questions

Who can request ChildGuard testing?dooley2026-07-28T14:30:51-05:00

Who can request ChildGuard testing?

Call 262-658-8166 and describe your situation. Staff will confirm what is needed to schedule — including any documentation or consent requirements that apply when testing a minor — without judgment about why you are asking.

Will the test hurt or scare my child?dooley2026-07-08T16:53:56-05:00

Will the test hurt or scare my child?

No. The collection is a small hair sample — quick, painless, and done at any age. Staff handle these appointments with care, for you and for your child.

What does it cost?dooley2026-07-08T16:54:12-05:00

What does it cost?

Cost and payment details are confirmed when you schedule. All testing is self-pay, with payment in full before testing is completed. No surprises — staff will tell you the full cost up front.

Who receives the results?dooley2026-07-28T14:31:54-05:00

Who receives the results?

Alcohol and drug services at Hope Council are protected by federal and state confidentiality laws. Results go only to the authorized parties established when the test is scheduled — such as a court, attorney, or agency — through proper releases. You will know exactly who receives them before testing happens.

View All FAQs