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Chapter Overview

This chapter contains information pertaining to Child Abuse/Neglect (CA/N) reports that are screened as investigations and the process county staff members should follow in response to the report.

If a CA/N report is classified as an investigation, it will be assigned to a Children’s Service Worker (CSW), who will conduct a thorough investigation.  

NOTE: Investigation response procedures outlined in this chapter pertain to an alleged perpetrator who is an immediate or extended family member, friend, baby sitter not caring for more than four unrelated children, exempt child care center, exempt residential care facility or any others not listed as a specialized group in Section 2, Chapter 4.3 Special Investigations.  

Table of Contents

4.1 Investigation Response

4.1.1 Preparing for the Investigation
4.1.1.1 Informing Law Enforcement
4.1.1.2 Reviewing Prior History
4.1.1.3 Involving the Non-Custodial Parent
4.1.2 Initiating the Investigation
4.1.2.1 Contacting the Reporter
4.1.2.2 Contacting the School Liaison
4.1.2.3 Additional Initial Contacts
4.1.3 Face to Face Safety Assurance of Victim   4.1.3.1 Investigations Involving Reported Physical Injuries and Sexual Maltreatment
4.1.4 Interviewing 4.1.4.1 Interviewing the Child(ren) Alone
4.1.4.2 The Non-Perpetrating Parent(s)
4.1.4.3 Contact with Household Children
4.1.4.4 Collaterals
4.1.4.5 The Alleged Perpetrator(s) 4.1.5 Safety Assessment 4.1.5.1 Chief Investigator
4.1.6 The Home Visit 4.1.6.1 Assessing the Need for Services
4.1.6.2 Interface with Family-Centered Services (FCS)
4.1.6.3 When the Family is Uncooperative
4.1.7 Referral to Juvenile Court
4.1.7.1 Protective Custody
4.1.8 Reaching a Conclusion
4.1.8.1 Court Adjudicated
4.1.8.2 Substantiated by Preponderance of Evidence (POE)
4.1.8.2.1 Substantiated Findings for Educational Neglect
4.1.8.2.2 Substantiated Findings on an Unknown Perpetrators
4.1.8.2.3 Updating FACES Conclusion Screen
4.1.8.3 Unsubstantiated-Preventive Services Indicated
4.1.8.4 Unsubstantiated
4.1.8.5 Home Schooling
4.1.8.6 Unable to Locate
4.1.9 Minimum Contact Standards After a CA/N Report has been Concluded
4.1.9.1 What Minimum Contacts Should Address
4.1.10 Delayed Conclusions
4.1.10.1 Minimum Contact Standards for Delayed Conclusions
4.1.11 Inappropriate Report Conclusion Code (G)
4.1.12 Determining the Level of Intervention
4.1.12.1 Ex-Parte Issues
4.1.12.2 Community Involvement
4.1.12.3 Referral to Early Childhood Intervention
4.1.13 Compiling the Investigative Record
4.1.13.1 Updating the FACES Conclusion Screens
4.1.14 Notifications for Investigation Dispositions
4.1.15 Notifying the Non-Custodial Parent

4.2 Involving Law Enforcement

4.3 Special Investigations

4.3.1 Juvenile Court Employee
4.3.2 DYS/DMH Employee
4.3.3 Adoptive Family
4.3.4 Law Enforcement Official
4.3.5 CD Employee/Family Member Involved in a CA/N Report
4.3.6 Educational Neglect/Home Schooling
4.3.7 Out-of-Home Care Providers
4.3.8 Fatality, Near-Fatality Abuse/Neglect or Other Critical Event
4.3.8.1 Fatality/Critical Events Reporting and Review Protocol
4.3.8.2 Child Fatalities During a Pending Investigation
4.3.9 Baby Doe Cases
4.3.10 Reports Made out of Harassment or Retaliation
4.3.10.1 Harassment Indicators

4.4 Change to Family Assessment

4.5 Alleged Perpetrator Appeal Process

4.5.1 CANRB Guidelines
4.5.2 Tips for Presenting a Case to CANRB
4.5.3 Judicial Review

Memoranda History:

CS03-46, CS03-51, CD04-69, CD04-79, CD04-89, CD05-35, CD05-40, CD05-50, CD05-51, CD05-68,CD05-72, CD06-09, CD06-15, CD06-34, CD06-67, CD06-78, CD07-25, CD07-51, CD08-22, CD08-51

Attachments:

Attachment List

Attachment A: SAFE-CARE (Sexual Assault Forensic Examination- Child Abuse Resource and Education ) Network

Attachment B:  Videotaping of CA/N Victims

Attachment C:  Courtesy Requests

Attachment D:  Reporter Contact

Attachment E:  Decision Making - Investigative Conclusion Guidelines

Attachment F:  Safety Analysis and Risk Assessments - was Deleted per CD05-72 dated 12-9-05 - See Section 2 Chapter 9 Safety Analysis and Risk Assessment.

Attachment G:  Collection of Evidence

Attachment H:  Guidelines For Letter to Suspected Perpetrator Regarding Delayed Notification of CA/N Status Determination

Attachment I:  Indicators of Physical Violence in the Home

Attachment J:  Meth Lab Emergency Response Protocol

Attachment K:  Moved to Section 2 Chapter 8.3.1 per CD05-31 dated 5-31-05 (Guidelines for Letter to School Districts on Reports Concluded as Home Schooling).

Attachment L:  Preponderance of Evidence

Attachment M:  Intensive In-Home Services (IIS)

Attachment N:  Child Fatality Review Panels

Attachment O:  Deleted per CD05-34 dated 5-23-05 - See Section 7 Chapter 4.3.9 Baby Doe Cases

Attachment P:  Deleted per CD05-34 dated 5-23-05 - See Section 2 Chapter 4.5.1 CANRB Guidelines

Attachment Q:  Deleted per CD05-34 dated 5-23-05 - See Section 2 Chapter 4.1.11 Inappropriate Report Conclusion Code (G)

Attachment R:  Deleted per CD05-34 dated 5-23-05 - See Section 7 Chapter 28 Physical Abuse

Attachment S:  Deleted per CD05-34 dated 5-23-05 - See Section 7 Chapter 29 Sexual Maltreatment

Attachment T:  Deleted per CD05-34 dated 5-23-05 - See Section 7 Chapter 30 Neglect

Attachment U:  Deleted per CD05-34 dated 5-23-05 - See Section 7 Chapter 31 Medical Neglect

Attachment V:  Deleted per CD05-34 dated 5-23-05 - See Section 7 Chapter 32 Educational Neglect

Attachment W:  Deleted per CD05-34 dated 5-23-05 - See Section 7 Chapter 33 Emotional Maltreatment

Attachment X:  Deleted per CD05-34 dated 5-23-05 - See Section 2 Chapter 4 Attachment L Preponderance of Evidence

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