CHILD WELFARE MANUAL

Section 2 – Intake

Chapter 1 – Mandated Reporting Requirements

  • 1.1 – Individuals/Professionals Identified as Mandated Reporters
  • 1.2 – Legal Requirements of Mandated Reporters
    • 1.2.1 – Reasonable Cause to Suspect
    • 1.2.2 – No Internal Investigation
    • 1.2.3 – Mandated Reporters are Individually Required to Report and Employer       Requirements
    • 1.2.4 – Mandated Reporters in Medical Institutions
    • 1.2.5 – Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect to Law Enforcement or the Juvenile Office
    • 1.2.6 – When the Victim Resides Out of State or the Incident Occurred Out of State
  • 1.3 – Other Legal Aspects Related to Mandated Reporting
    • 1.3.1 – Mandated Reporters May Not Report Anonymously
    • 1.3.2 – Permissive Reporters
    • 1.3.3 – Child Fatalities
    • 1.3.4 – Good Faith/Immunity
    • 1.3.5 – Failure to Report
  • 1.4 – Resources

Chapter 2 – Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline Unit (CANHU)

  • 2.1 – Call Classification
    • 2.1.1 – General Information
      • 2.1.1.1 – Information Obtained from the Reporter
      • 2.1.1.2 – Pathways
    • 2.1.2 – Child Abuse and Neglect Reports
      • 2.1.2.1 – CA/N Conditions
      • 2.1.2.2 – Parameters of an Investigation Response
      • 2.1.2.3 – Parameters of a Family Assessment Response
      • 2.1.2.4 – Parameters of a Juvenile Assessment Response
      • 2.1.2.5 – Visual Application of Initial Track Assignment
    • 2.1.3 – Non-CA/N Referrals
      • 2.1.3.1 – Criteria for Screening Preventive Service Referrals (P Referrals)
      • 2.1.3.2 – Criteria for Screening Non-Caretaker Referrals  (N Referrals)
      • 2.1.3.3 – Criteria for Screening Non-CA/N Fatality Referrals  (F Referrals)
      • 2.1.3.4 – Criteria for Screening Newborn Crisis Assessments (A or NCAT Referrals)
    • 2.1.4 – Documented Calls
      • 2.1.4.1 – Three or More Documented Calls Within Seventy-Two (72) Hours
  • 2.2 – Response Priority
    • 2.2.1 – Response Priority Levels
      • 2.2.1.1 – Criteria for Level One Response Priority
  • 2.3 – Determining Most Appropriate County for Investigation
    • 2.3.1 – Out of State Reports
  • 2.4 – On-Call Procedures
    • 2.4.1 – On-Call Entry
    • 2.4.2 – CANHU Call-Out Procedure for After-Hours and Holidays
    • 2.4.3 – Administrative Referrals
  • 2.5 – Additional Information Received at CANHU

Chapter 3 – County Protocol:  Review and Assignment of Reports

  • 3.1- Child Abuse/Neglect Concerns Received at the County Office
    • 3.1.1 – Procedure for “Field Reports”
  • 3.2 – Assigning CA/N Reports and Non-CA/N Referrals
    • 3.2.1 – Review of CA/N Reports and Non-CA/N Referrals
    • 3.2.2 – Assigning CA/N Reports and Non-CA/N Referrals
    • 3.2.3 – CA/N Reports on Open Family-Centered Services (FCS) Cases
    • 3.2.4 – Entering Worker / Supervisor Assignment Information into System
    • 3.2.5 – Transferring CA/N Reports between Counties
      • 3.2.5.1 – Report is assigned to Non-Residence County
      • 3.2.5.2 – Family Moves to a New Residence County
      • 3.2.5.3 – Report is assigned to an Incorrect County
      • 3.2.5.4 – Out-of-Home Investigations (OHI)
      • 3.2.5.5 – Accepting Transfer
  • 3.3 – Duplicate CA/N Reports and Non-CA/N Referrals
    • 3.3.1 – ‘Already Investigated’ CA/N Conclusions
  • 3.4 – Response Priority Level Override
    • 3.4.1 – Entering Response Priority Change in System
  • 3.5 – Combining Reports
    • 3.5.1 – Hierarchy of Calls
    • 3.5.2 – Addressing Secondary Calls
  • 3.6 – Track Change
    • 3.6.1 – Determining Whether or Not to Change the Initial Response Track Assignment
    • 3.6.2 – Change to an Investigation Response
    • 3.6.3 – Change to a Family Assessment or Juvenile Assessment Response
    • 3.6.4 – Change to a Differential Response Assessment
    • 3.6.5 – Entering Track Change in FACES
    • 3.6.6 – Change from a CA/N Report to a Non-CA/N Referral
  • 3.7- Conflict of Interest
    • 3.7.1 – CD Employee/Family Member Involved in a CA/N Report

Chapter 4 – Non-Child Abuse/Neglect Referrals

  • 4.1- Preventive Service “P” Referrals
    • 4.1.1 – Safe Place for Newborns Act
  • 4.2 – Non-Caretaker “N” Referrals
  • 4.3 – Non-CA/N Child Fatality “F” Referrals
  • 4.4 – Newborn Crisis Assessments “NCAT”
    • 4.4.1 – The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA)
    • 4.4.2 – Steps to Completing a Newborn Crisis Assessment  
    • 4.4.3 – Safe Sleeping Environments for Young Children
  • 4.5 – Referrals from Court Pursuant to Ex Parte Orders of Protection

Chapter 5 – Child Abuse and Neglect Reports

  • 5.1 – Legal Definitions of Abuse and Neglect
    • 5.1.1 – Care, Custody, and Control
    • 5.1.2 – Abuse
      • 5.1.2.1 – Physical Abuse
        • 5.1.2.1.1 – Reasonable Discipline
      • 5.1.2.2 – Sexual Abuse
        • 5.1.2.2.1 – Child Sex Trafficking
      • 5.1.2.3 – Emotional Abuse
    • 5.1.3 – Neglect
      • 5.1.3.1 – Proper or Necessary Support
  • 5.2 – General Procedures for Completing a CA/N Report
    • 5.2.1 – Review the Initial CA/N-1
    • 5.2.2 – Reviewing Prior History
      • 5.2.2.1 – Documenting Prior History
    • 5.2.3 Reporter Contact
      • 5.2.3.1 – Documenting Reporter Contact
      • 5.2.3.2 – Notifying the Reporter of their Right to the Disposition of the CA/N Report
      • 5.2.3.3 – Sharing Information with Reporters
      • 5.2.3.4 – Other Reporters (Permissive)
      • 5.2.3.5 – Reporter Confidentiality
    • 5.2.4 – Parental and Alleged Perpetrator Notification
      • 5.2.4.1 – Meeting with the Child(ren)
      • 5.2.4.2 – Initial Notification of the Alleged Perpetrator
      • 5.2.4.3 – Paperwork to be Provided
    • 5.2.5 – Initial Safety Assurance of Victim
      • 5.2.5.1 – Use of Multi-Disciplinary Team Member for Initial Safety Assurance of Victim
      • 5.2.5.2 – Interviewing the Child
        • 5.2.5.2.1 – Interview with Students at School Setting When Parents/Guardians Named as Alleged Perpetrator
      • 5.2.5.3 – Injuries to the Child
        • 5.2.5.3.1 – Cursory Physical Examinations by Children’s Division Staff
        • 5.2.5.3.2 – Medical Examinations
    • 5.2.6 – Contact with Non-Victim Children and Other Household Members
    • 5.2.7 – Involving the Non-Custodial, Non-Resident, and/or Non-Offending Parent
    • 5.2.8 – Safety Assessment, Safety Planning, and Safety Re-Assessment
    • 5.2.9 – Alleged Perpetrator Interviews
      • 5.2.9.1 – Right to Counsel
      • 5.2.9.2 – Miranda Rights
    • 5.2.10 – Home Visit
    • 5.2.11 – Courtesy Assists
      • 5.2.11.1 – Requesting Courtesies
      • 5.2.11.2 – Monitoring Circuit Courtesy/Service Request Email Boxes
      • 5.2.11.3 – Documentation
    • 5.2.12 – Safety Network, Witness, and Collateral Contacts
    • 5.2.13 – Chief Investigator Duties
    • 5.2.14 – Collection of Evidence
    • 5.2.15 – Assessing Need for Services
    • 5.2.16 – Unable to Locate
    • 5.2.17 – Inappropriate Report Conclusion
    • 5.2.18 – Out of State Reports
    • 5.2.19 – Missing Children Not in Care
  • 5.3 – Investigations
    • 5.3.1 – Co-Investigation with Law Enforcement
    • 5.3.2 – Multi-Disciplinary Teams
    • 5.3.3 – Child Advocacy Centers
      • 5.3.3.1 – Cursory Interviews
    • 5.3.4 – SAFE-CARE Program
    • 5.3.5 – Investigations Involving Children Under the Age of Four
    • 5.3.6 – School Liaison and Information Sharing
    • 5.3.7 – Conclusion Timeframes
      • 5.3.7.1 – Steps to Ensure Timely Conclusion
      • 5.3.7.2 – Delayed Conclusions                       
        • 5.3.7.2.1 – Safety Re-Assurance in Delayed Investigations
        • 5.3.7.2.2 – Significantly Delayed Preponderance of Evidence (POE) Investigations
    • 5.3.8 – Investigation Conclusions
      • 5.3.8.1 – Unsubstantiated Conclusions
      • 5.3.8.2 – Unsubstantiated, Preventive Services Indicated (PSI) Conclusions
      • 5.3.8.3 – Preponderance of the Evidence
        • 5.3.8.3.1 – The Legal Elements of Child Abuse/Neglect
        • 5.3.8.3.2 – Reporter Description/Worker Finding Code Mapping
        • 5.3.8.3.3 – Conclusion Summaries
        • 5.3.8.3.4 – Juvenile Perpetrators
        • 5.3.8.3.5 – Concluding Fatality Reports
        • 5.3.8.3.6 – Central Registry
      • 5.3.8.4 – Child Abuse/Neglect Present, Perpetrator Unidentified
      • 5.3.8.5 – Court Adjudicated
    • 5.3.9 – Reports Made out of Harassment
    • 5.3.10 – First Steps Referral on POE Determinations for Children Less Than Three
    • 5.3.11 – Notifications for Investigation Dispositions
      • 5.3.11.1 – Notification Disputes
      • 5.3.11.2 – Reporter Disposition Notification Letter (CS-21b)
    •  5.3.12 – Alleged Perpetrator Appeal Process
      • 5.3.12.1 – Local Administrative Review
      • 5.3.12.2 – Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board (CANRB)
      • 5.3.12.3 – De Novo Judicial Review
    • 5.3.13 – Deceased Perpetrators
    • 5.3.14 – Re-Opening Requests
    • 5.3.15 – Fatality, Near-Fatality, or Other Critical Event
    • 5.3.16 – State Technical Assistance Team (STAT)
    • 5.3.17 – Child Fatality Review Panels
  • 5.4 – Family Assessments
    • 5.4.1 – Involving Law Enforcement in a Family Assessment
    • 5.4.2 – Making a Conclusion
      • 5.4.2.1 – Notifications for Family Assessment Dispositions
    • 5.4.3 – Educational Neglect
      • 5.4.3.1 – Definition of Educational Neglect
      • 5.4.3.2 – Educational Neglect vs. Truancy
      • 5.4.3.3 – Assessing Underlying Causes of Educational Neglect
      • 5.4.3.4 – Home Schooling
      • 5.4.3.5 – When a Family Assessment Needs to be an Investigations
    • 5.4.4    – Differential Response Assessments
      • 5.4.4.1 – Initial Timeframes
      • 5.4.4.2 – Caseload Size
      • 5.4.4.3 – Requirements to Identify Family Assessments as Differential Response Assessments
      • 5.4.4.4 – Staff Expectations
      • 5.4.4.5 – Differential Response Assessment Conclusion Summary
  • 5.5 – Juvenile Assessments
    • 5.5.1 – Definition of Juvenile with Problem Sexual Behavior
      • 5.5.1.1 – Sexual Behavior
    • 5.5.2 – Juvenile Office Referrals
    • 5.5.3 – Family Assessment and Services Approach
      • 5.5.3.1 – Conducting the Assessment
        • 5.5.3.1.1 – Reviewing Prior History
        • 5.5.3.1.2 – Reporter Contact
        • 5.5.3.1.3 – Parental Notification
        • 5.5.3.1.4 – Face to Face Safety Assurance
        • 5.5.3.1.5 – Child Interviews
        • 5.5.3.1.6 – Home Visit
        • 5.5.3.1.7 – Parent/Caregiver Interviews
        • 5.5.3.1.8 – Safety Planning
        • 5.5.3.1.9 – Collateral Contacts
        • 5.5.3.1.10 – Chief Investigator 72 Hour Review/Supervisory Consultation
    • 5.5.4 – Children in Out-of-Home Care
    • 5.5.5 – Out of Home Investigations (OHI)
    • 5.5.6 – Non-Caretaker Referrals
    • 5.5.7 – Timeframes for Completion
  • 5.6 – Out-of-Home Investigations (OHI)
    • 5.6.1 – Types of Out-of-Home Care Providers
    • 5.6.2 – Characteristics of the Abusive Out-of-Home Care Provider
    • 5.6.3 – Child Abuse and Neglect in Out-of-Home Care Facilities
    • 5.6.4 – Factors That Lead to Child Abuse and Neglect in Out-of-Home Care Settings
      • 5.6.4.1 – Common Situations Which May Lead to Out-of-Home Care Abuse
      • 5.6.4.2 – Common Situations Which May Lead to Out-of-Home Care Sexual Maltreatment
      • 5.6.4.3 – Common Situations Which May Lead to Out-of-Home Care Neglect
      • 5.6.4.4 – Written Policies and Practices of the Institution
      • 5.6.4.5 – Physical Structure
    • 5.6.5 – OHI Investigation Procedures
    • 5.6.6 – Death of a Child
    • 5.6.7 – Child Caring Facilities – Licensing Violations

Chapter 6 – Referrals to the Juvenile Court

  • 6.1 – Referral to Juvenile Court
    • 6.1.1 – When the Family is Uncooperative
    • 6.1.2 – Children Under the Age of Four Diagnosed as a Victim of Physical Abuse
    • 6.1.3 – Reasonable Efforts
  • 6.2 – Juvenile Court Jurisdiction
  • 6.3 – Protective Custody
    • 6.3.1 – Emergency Protective Custody
  • 6.4 – Masters of Social Work Consultation