§2 ch3: County Protocol: Review and Assignment of Reports
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3.2 Review of Report
County staff will review all reports immediately upon receipt from the Child Abuse Neglect Hotline Unit (CANHU).
While the initial screening is determined by CANHU, each county office will be responsible for reviewing reports received from the Hotline and assessing whether the appropriate track and/or Response Priority Level have been assigned or whether additional information received warrants a change. County staff may change tracks or may override Response Priority Level as appropriate; however, a change of Response Priority Level requires any such decision to be made within the timeframe of the initial Response Priority Level established by the Hotline.
The CPS Screening Classification Form (CS-27) and protocol are to be utilized when reviewing reports and recording any track change made by county staff.
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3.2.1 Checking Prior Reports, Other Systems, Reporters, and Collaterals
The CA/N-1 form transmitted by CANHU will contain information regarding prior CA/N reports, as well as information from other systems, i.e., Income Maintenance, Food Stamps, Child Support Enforcement, etc. The data from CANHU may be based on limited information; therefore, county staff may do a more extensive search for information on any prior reports, including a review of the paper record as needed. County staff may determine it is necessary to contact the reporter, law enforcement, or other collateral to obtain additional information. Review of prior involvement between CD and the family can be useful in assessing chronic problems as well as strengths within the family. The Children’s Service Worker should consider the family’s prior involvement with CD throughout the screening review, assessment/investigation process, conclusion determination and treatment planning process.
Preliminary review of prior involvement shall be documented on the CS-27, in section III, “Additional Factors”, in the “Explanation” box. During the assessment or investigation phase, more detailed information regarding the family’s prior involvement with CD should be obtained by reviewing prior written reports and other information in the family’s files.
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