This document outlines policies and procedures for promoting the welfare of children, including:
1) Guidelines for juvenile court involvement in child placement issues such as reasonable efforts, removal of a child from parents/guardians, and termination of parental rights.
2) Protocols for intake of child protective services reports, including response times, risk assessment, and record keeping.
3) Standards for investigation of reports of abuse/neglect, including safety planning, interviews, determination of findings, and documentation.
4) Requirements for case management if ongoing services are needed, such as regular contact, needs assessment, service referrals, and case closure procedures.
5) Special procedures for investigations involving state custody children
1. Department of Human Resources
Online Directives Information System
Index: MAN3030
Effective: 1/1/2003
Review: 1/1/2005
SUBJECT: Promotion and Protection of the Welfare of Children
Table of Contents
SECTION # TITLES
Section I Introduction
2101.1 Purpose of Child Protective Services
2101.2 Legal Basis
2101.3 Statement of Good Practice Principles
2101.4 Distinctive Characteristics
2101.5 Definitions
Section II Juvenile Court - Placement Issues
2102.1 Court Intervention to Protect Children
2102.2 Permanency for Children
2102.3 Reasonable Efforts
2102.4 Reasonable Efforts - Documentation
2102.4a Diligent Search
2102.5 Authority to Remove a Child from the Parent/Legal Guardian
2102.6 Indian Child Welfare Act
2102.7 Juvenile Court Procedures
2102.8 Appointment of a Guardian ad Litem
2102.9 Deprivation Resulting From Substance Abuse
2102.10 Emergency Removal
2102.11 Other Removal Options
2102.12 Verbal Orders
2102.13 Family Assessment and 30-Day Case Plan
2102.14 Developing the 30-Day Case Plan
2102.15 Responsibility for Children in the Department’s Custody
2102.16 Family Visitation for Children in the Department’s Custody
2102.17 Keeping the Court Informed
2102.18 Taking a Case Back to Court
2102.19 Return of Custody to Parent
2102.20 Grounds for Termination of Parental Rights
Section III Intake
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2. 2103.1 Introduction
2103.2 Twenty-Four Hour Report and Response Capacity
2103.3 Public Awareness
2103.4 Receiving Reports
2103.5 Mandated Reporters
2103.6 Mandated Reporters Not Reporting
2103.7 Components of a Report
2103.8 Reports of Parental Alcohol and Other Substance Abuse
2103.9 Reports of Juvenile Substance Abuse
2103.10 Report Received of a Newborn in a Family with previous CPS
History
2103.11 Reports of Cases of Suspected Statutory Rape
2103.12 Form 453 (Child Abuse/Neglect Intake Worksheet)
2103.13 CPS History
2103.14 Making an Intake Decision
2103.15 Response Time Calculation
2103.16 Immediate to 24-Hour Response Required
2103.17 Request for Immediate Short-Term Emergency Care
2103.18 Screened-Out Reports
2103.19 Report Received on An Active Case
2103.20 Referrals to Law Enforcement
2103.21 Child Protective Services Log
2103.22 CPS Across County Lines
2103.23 Form 590 (Internal Data System)
2103.24 Reporting Procedures Following Placement Activities
2103.25 Response to a Request to Evaluate a TANF Recipient
Prior to a Second Sanction
Appendix A Decision Trees
Appendix B Substance Abuse and Child Maltreatment
Section IV Investigation
2104.1 Introduction
2104.2 Time Frame
2104.3 Drug Exposed/Addicted Infants
2104.4 Lack of Supervision
2104.4a Child Taken into Custody by Physician
2104.4b “Safe Place for Newborns” Infant
2104.5 Requests for Immediate Short-Term Emergency Care
2104.6 Court-Ordered Supervision
2104.7 CPS Investigation of a TANF Recipient
2104.8 Special Investigations and Miscellaneous Requests
2104.9 Preparing for the Initial Interview
2104.10 Meeting Response Time
2104.10a Obtaining Offender and Conviction Data
2104.11 Contact With Children
2104.12 Initial Contact Made with Child Away From Home
2104.13 Initial Contact Made with Child in the Home
2104.14 Notifying Parent of Interview with Child Away from Home
2104.15 Confidentiality of Reporter Information
2104.16 Initial Interview with the Parent
2104.17 Safety Assessment (Form 455A)
2104.18 Safety Plan (Form 455B)
2104.19 Unsuccessful Attempted Contact
2104.20 Family Refuses to Cooperate
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3. 2104.21 Collateral Contacts - Gathering and Verifying
All Available Evidence
2104.22 Investigative Conclusion (Form 454)
2104.23 Case Determination
2104.24 Closure of Case with Child Fatality
2104.25 Alcohol and Other Substance Abuse in
Substantiated Investigations
2104.26 Drug Screens
2104.27 Risk Assessment Scale (Form 457)
2104.28 Failure to Meet 30-Day Time Frame for Completing an
Investigation
2104.29 Client Notification
2104.30 Case Review Request
2104.31 Additional Reports
2104.32 Form 431
2104.33 Use of Relative, Neighbor or Other Individual as a Safety Resource
2104.34 Imminent Risk and Safety
2104.35 Response Overrides
2104.36 Contact for Cases Transferred for Ongoing Services
2104.37 Substantiated Cases and Community Resources
2104.38 Employment Services Responsibility at Investigation
2104.39 Investigation Documentation
2104.40 Family Moves During Investigation or Ongoing Services
2104.41 Family Moves to Unknown Location - Loss of Contact
Appendix A Drug Screens
Section V Case Management
2105.1 Introduction
2105.2 CPS Targeted Case Management Tearsheet
2105.3 Case Contact
2105.4 Face-to-Face Contacts
2105.5 Collaterals
2105.6 Strengths/Needs Assessment and Case Plan Preparation
2105.7 Strengths and Needs
2105.8 Form 458 (Strengths/Needs Assessment Scale)
2105.9 Case Plan - Initiation and Time Frame
2105.10 Form 387 (Social Services - Case Plan)
Form 388 (Case Plan: Goals / Steps)
Case Plan Development
2105.11 Joint CPS/TANF Cases
2105.12 Service Selection
2105.13 Service Provision
2105.14 Use of Drug Screens in Ongoing Case Management
2105.15 Relapse Issues in Substance Abuse Cases
2105.16 Purpose of Case Contacts
2105.17 Case Management Documentation
2105.18 Case Reassessment
2105.19 Collecting Information for Case Reassessment
2105.20 Case Closure Decision
2105.21 Case Closure Requirements
2105.22 Closure of Cases Active with TANF
Section VI Special Investigations
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4. 2106.1 Introduction
2106.2 Assignment of an Investigator for a Special Investigation
2106.3 Responsibilities of the Resident County and Out-of-County
Investigator in a Special Investigation
2106.4 Staff Notifications of Reports of Abuse and Neglect on a
Child in the Legal Custody of DFCS/DHR
2106.5 Response Time Calculations for Reports of Abuse or
Neglect on a Child in the Legal custody of DFCS/DHR
2106.6 Report of Abuse and Neglect in DFCS Homes - Introduction
2106.7 Intake Procedures for Reports of Abuse and Neglect in
DFCS Homes
2106.8 Investigative Standards for CPS Investigations in DFCS Homes
2106.9 Documentation of CPS Investigations in DFCS Homes
2106.10 Required Staffings in CPS Investigations of DFCS Homes
2106.11 Administrative Review of CPS Investigations in DFCS Homes
2106.12 Policy Waiver Requests for DFCS Homes
2106.13 Release of Information in CPS Investigations of DFCS Homes
2106.14 Reports of Abuse and Neglect of Children in the Legal
Custody of the DFCS Caregiver
2106.15 Reports of Abuse and Neglect in Private Agency Homes and
State Operated Homes - Introduction
2106.16 Intake Procedures for Reports of Abuse and Neglect in
Private Agency and State Operated Homes
2106.17 Investigative Standards for CPS Investigations in Private
Agency and State Operated Homes
2106.18 Documentation of CPS Investigations in Private Agency and
State Operated Homes
2106.19 Required Staffing in CPS Investigations in Private Agency
and State Operated Homes
2106.20 Administrative Review of CPS Investigations in Private
Agency and State Operated homes Approved for Children in the
Legal Custody of DFCS/DHR
2106.21 Requests for Children in the Legal Custody of DFCS/DHR to
Remain in a Private Agency/State
Operated Home
2106.22 Release of Information in CPS Investigations of Private
Agency and State Operated Homes
2106.23 Reports of Abuse and Neglect in Residential Facilities -
Introduction
2106.24 Developing Procedures for CPS Investigations in
Residential Facilities
2106.25 Intake Procedures for Reports of Abuse and Neglect in
Residential Facilities
2106.26 Investigative Standards for CPS Investigations in
Residential Facilities
2106.27 Documentation of CPS Investigations in Residential Facilities
2106.28 Release of Information in CPS Investigations of Residential
Facilities
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5. 2106.29 Reports of Abuse and Neglect in Public and Private Non-
Residential Schools - Introduction
2106.30 Intake Procedures for Reports of Abuse and Neglect in
Public and Private Non-Residential Schools
2106.31 Investigative Standards for CPS Investigations in Public and
Private Non-Residential Schools
2106.32 Documentation of CPS Investigations in Public and Private
Non-Residential Schools
2106.33 Release of Information in CPS Investigations in Public and
Private Non-Residential Schools
2106.34 Reports of Abuse and Neglect in Non-Residential Facilities -
Introduction
2106.35 Intake Procedures for Reports of Abuse or Neglect in Non-
Residential Facilities
2106.36 Investigative Standards for CPS Investigations in Non-
Residential Facilities
2106.37 Documentation of CPS Investigations in Non-Residential
Facilities
2106.38 Release of Information in CPS Investigations of Private
Agency and State Operated Homes
Appendix
Appendix A Taylor v. Ledbetter, U.S. District Consent Decree
Appendix B Special Investigations Cover Memorandum
Appendix C Special Investigations Summary Report of a Home
Approved for a Child in the Legal Custody of DFCS/DHR
Appendix D Special Investigations Summary Report of a Facility
Approved for a Child in the Legal Custody of DFCS/DHR
Appendix E Facility/Agency Case Determination Letter
Appendix F Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools
Section VII Family Preservation
2107 Family Preservation Programs
2107.1 Early Intervention/Preventive Services
2107.2 Role of Early Intervention/Preventive Services
2107.3 Eligibility for Early Intervention/Preventive Services
2107.4 Early Intervention/Preventive Services Application and Record
Maintenance
2107.5 Early Intervention Fees and Program Structure
2107.6 Services Reporting Requirements
2107.7 Contracting for Early Intervention Services
2107.8 Parent Aide Program
2107.9 Role of the Parent Aide
2107.10 Eligibility for Parent Aide Services
2107.11 Parent Aide Services Application and Record Maintenance
2107.12 Parent Aide Services: Fees and Program Structure
2107.13 Parent Aide Services Reporting Requirements
2107.14 Contracting for Parent Aide Services
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6. 2107.15 Prevention of Unnecessary Placement Program (PUP)
2107.16 Eligibility for PUP Services
2107.17 Financial Need/Family Contribution
2107.18 PUP Services Application and Record Maintenance
2107.19 Determining Funding Approval Amounts
2107.20 PUP Program: Approved Services
2107.21 Verification of PUP Expenditures
2107.22 PUP as Part of the Case Plan
2107.23 Documentation of Changing PUP Needs
2107.24 PUP Between Counties
2107.25 PUP Reporting Requirements
2107.26 Homestead Program
2107.27 Eligibility for Homestead Services
2107.28 Homestead Services Application and Record Maintenance
2107.29 Homestead Services: Fees and Program Structure
2107.30 Homestead Services Reporting Requirements
2107.31 Contracting for Homestead Services
2107.32 Homestead Provider Qualification Guidelines
Appendix A Determination of PUP Authorization Amount 75%
Per Diem Cost Chart
Appendix B Social Services MOU Annex B: Early Intervention/PUP/Parent
Aide/Homestead Monthly Report
Section VIII Administrative Case Review
2108.1 Introduction
2108.2 Reporting a Child Death or Serious Injury
2108.3 Investigations of Child Deaths and Serious Injuries of
Children in DFCS Legal Custody
2108.4 Case Record Management
2108.5 State Office Internal Review Process
2108.6 Supplemental Reports
2108.7 Administrative Review of CPS Investigations in Homes
Approved for Children in Legal Custody of DFCS
2108.8 Administrative Review of CPS Special Investigations by the
Social Services Section Director
2108.9 Child Fatality Review
Appendix A Concurrence Letter
Section IX Information Management
2109.1 Contact With the Media
2109.2 Confidentiality
2109.3 Information Subject to Open Records Act
2109.4 Requests to Inspect Records
2109.5 Release of Information to Parents
2109.6 Subpoenas for Depositions and Case Records
2109.7 Responsibility for Case Confidentiality in Court Testimony
2109.8 Request for Assistance from DFCS Legal Officer
2109.9 Report to the Missing Children Bulletin
2109.10 Contact with Board Members
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7. 2109.11 Contact with Legislators and County Officials
Appendix A Information Which May be Maintained in Case Records
Section X Forms
BACK TO POL 3030
BACK TO INDEX
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May 2002 Page vii