6.1 The Children’s Division’s Role in Drug-Involved Cases

Division staff may become involved in drug-involved cases in one of the following ways:

• A child abuse/neglect report is received in which the referral contains the above criteria and alleges that abuse or neglect is present. Services will be offered to the family and case opened, regardless of the outcome of the investigation, as the Division is mandated by the legislation to provide services when those criteria are present and a physician has referred the case for services.
• Referrals made by physicians/health care providers to the CA/N Hotline which contain information regarding signs of drug involvement of the infant, but do not allege child abuse or neglect, are not accepted as child abuse and neglect reports.  CD staff can make the physician/health care provider aware the DHSS “Service Coordinator” will involve Children’s Service Workers in the planning and provision of services.
• A physician/health care provider requests CD to conduct a home assessment prior to releasing the child from the hospital, or at the time the child is released.  This home assessment is described in the section entitled “Newborn Crisis Assessment.”  The request may come through the Child Abuse/Neglect Unit or the county office.
• A physician makes a referral to DHSS for service coordination without first requesting a home assessment from CD.  The DHSS “Service Coordinator” will contact CD and DMH staff within 72 hours to involve them in providing services to the family.  CD staff will provide necessary preventive services to the family, with the DHSS “Service Coordinator” taking the lead role.

If there is a “preponderance of evidence” finding, the Children’s Service Worker will be the case manager for the case.  If a preventive services case is opened, the case “Service Coordinator” and the worker will make a joint decision on which agency will take the lead in coordinating services to the family.

NOTE: For Department of Health and Senior Services, Special Health Care Needs (SHCN) Service Coordination, contact the appropriate regional office.  (See Service Coordination Regional Map)