3.1 Reports Received at the County Office
The definitions of abuse and neglect have not changed. However, decisions must be made in regard to how Children’s Division (CD) will respond to a report of child abuse or neglect.
Reports of child abuse and neglect received by Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline (CANHU) staff will be screened and assigned to an initial response track, classifying them as either an Investigation or a Family Assessment, and assigned a response priority level according to structured decision making (SDM) protocol, based on information provided to them by the reporter. The report will then be forwarded to the respective county office following the normal process.
The county office may occasionally receive hotline reports directly by phone calls, letters or walk-ins. When this occurs, staff shall interview the reporter and collect enough information to determine if the allegations might be categorized as the following:
- A report of child abuse or neglect;
- Mandated reporter referral;
- A physician/health care provider requests a "Newborn Crisis Assessment”
- A non-caretaker referral; or
- A possible preventive services referral.
Staff should advise the reporter to contact CANHU to register the report.
NOTE: The ANME screen may be checked to determine if the call was received by CANHU. If a call was not made, the Children’s Service Worker (CSW) should contact CANHU as soon as possible the same day of the report to register the report. This will eliminate the potential for duplicate reports.
If reporter refuses to call CANHU, county staff should collect all information regarding the alleged abuse/neglect, then call the Hotline Unit as soon as possible the same day of the report to register the report.
3.1.1 Procedure for “Field Reports”
Field Reports are reports made to the CANHU by Children’s Division staff after initial contact with the family or the victim has already been made. Many situations arise which require Division staff to initiate contact with a family or victim prior to a call being made to CANHU. Examples may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Walk-in office visit from non-custodial/non-perp parent asking for help for their abused child;
- Law enforcement calls staff to the scene of an emergency prior to calling CANHU;
- Law enforcement or other multi-disciplinary team member forgets to call in the report in a timely manner because the division has responded;
- Worker observes an injury to the child at the office and must initiate protocol to assure safety.
When workers are required to make a call to CANHU regarding suspected child abuse/neglect and initial contact has been made and safety assured as per policy, the workers will:
- Contact CANHU and inform them of the need to make a “Field Report”;
- Inform CANHU of the report date/ time of the initial contact/notification;
- CANHU will adhere to CANHU protocol to screen and classify the information according to CAN report criteria, response priority and track assignment;
- Information given to CANHU will not be accepted automatically as a CA/N report/referral as with “From” reports prior to CA/N automation.
- CANHU will use report date/time of the initial contact/notification given by the field staff.
NOTE: The county office shall investigate the report received at the county office within the specified time frames. The County Office does not have to wait for CA/N Hotline Unit's contact back to the County Office before investigating the report.
NOTE: Mandated reporters are required by law to report all abuse or neglect to the CANHU regardless of whether the alleged perpetrator has care, custody or control. All reports alleging abuse of a child under 18 years of age where there is no care, custody or control are classified as N-Referrals.
Chapter Memoranda History: (prior to 1/31/07)
CS03-51, CD05-35, CD05-40, CD05-67, CD05-72, CD06-34