3.1 Emergency Placement Activities
3.1.1 Initial Child Contact
The intake Children’s Service Worker makes initial contact with the child outside the home (i.e., school, child care, hospital, etc.) or within the family home with the parent present. Upon initial contact the worker conducts the SDM safety assessment included in the CPS-1, Child Abuse/Neglect Investigation/Family Assessment Summary and the CPS-1A, Safety Assessment (Part B). The purpose of the safety assessment is to help determine whether any children are in immediate danger of serious physical harm which may require a protective intervention and to determine what interventions should be maintained or initiated to provide appropriate protection. Safety of the child(ren) in the home shall be an on-going concern during the investigation and family assessment.
- The intake Children’s Service Worker explains to the child, in an age appropriate manner, that concern exists for the safety and well-being of the child and family and that other persons need to become involved to help the family. The intake worker explains to the child:
- Reason protective custody may be necessary;
- That other persons will be contacted to help make a decision regarding the child's safety in the parent's home;
- That they will remain in the current setting (i.e., hospital, family home) or accompany the intake worker to a safe setting which may include the Children’s Division (CD) office, juvenile office, law enforcement office, or an emergency placement site while the intake worker talks with the parents and the person(s) who is alleged to have abused the child, if different from the parent(s);
- That it may be necessary for him/her to live somewhere else for a while; and
- Ask the child his reaction to the situation and what he would like to see happen.
- The intake worker shall then determine if it is necessary to request protective custody for the child's safety.