Attachment A:  Locating the Non-Custodial Parent

When a child(ren) enters out-of-home care, the whereabouts of one or both of the biological parents or relatives may be unknown.  In order to achieve early permanency for the child(ren), a diligent search must be made to locate and maintain contact with both parents of the child(ren) or to locate relatives as a possible placement resource.  A complete and diligent search must be thoroughly documented in the case narrative and on the CS-1 to verify that all reasonable efforts have been made to find the parent(s) or to locate relatives.

If the parent is unable to be located or is unable to have the child(ren) placed in their home, the worker should make reasonable efforts to first place the child(ren) with a relative.  The worker should ask the parent, child, or caretaker for the names of relatives to begin a diligent search and complete a background check if placement becomes an option. 

RSMo 210.127 defines “diligent search” as “the efforts of the division or an entity under contract with the division to locate a biological parent whose identity or location is unknown, initiated as soon as the division is made aware of the existence of such parent, with the search progress reported at each court hearing until the parent is either identified and located or the court excuses further search.”  This criterion also applies when searching for a relative.

Related Subject: Section 5, Chapter 2 Searching for a Biological Parent and Section 7, Chapter 28, Glossary/Reference.

The following activities are to be completed by the CSW within two working days (48 hours) of taking protective custody of the child(ren):

• If the caregiver is not the custodial parent, talk with the current caregiver about the whereabouts of the child’s parent(s) or relatives who may know their whereabouts.
• If the non-custodial parent or relative’s whereabouts are unknown, ask the custodial parent where the other parent or relatives may be found,
• Make a personal visit to the parent’s last known address if there is reason to believe they may be there.  If multiple parents are identified, make contact with all missing parents including visits to each last known address unless it can be verified that the parent no longer lives there.  Document what is known about the parent and what attempts have been made to locate the parent(s).
• If a relative has been identified, contact the relative to see if they are willing to be considered as a placement for the child(ren). 
• If the absent parent or relative lives a considerable distance from the worker’s county office, these guidelines shall be followed:
• Workers need not travel outside their own county/circuit, if they do not have reliable information regarding the parents or relatives.  If the address is in another county/circuit/region and the information is reliable, the worker may request that a worker in the other county/circuit/region contact the parent/relative.
• If the absent parent or relative lives in another state and the information is reliable, the worker may contact the other state for assistance in locating that parent/relative.  The worker may request a worker from the state in which the parent/relative is residing to contact the parent/relative by phone/and or visit them and ask the parent/relative to return a certified letter sent to their address.

A complete and diligent search also requires the following:

1. Using all known variations of the parent/relative’s name, search readily available resources, such as:
• Production system including:  Food Stamps, Temporary Assistant, Child Support, IMES, CA/N, PS, AC, Medicaid, IBTH, IDTH, etc.

NOTE:  Bureau of Vital Records information is for inquiry only and should not be printed, faxed or copied.  Certified copies of Missouri records of birth, death and fetal death reports can be obtained by submitting a written request to:

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Records
P.O. Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102
 
For more information regarding Missouri birth and death records go to the Web site: http://www.dhss.mo.gov and click on “Birth, Death, Marriage & Divorce Information”.  Then click “How do I request a vital record.”

• Missouri Department of Corrections Offender Web Search at http://www.doc.mo.gov
• Telephone Directory;
• Directory Assistance; and
• City Directory.
2. Child's birth certificate.
3. When searching for parent(s) of abandoned newborns:
• Call local hospitals to see if any new mothers came into the emergency room for treatment soon after the birth date of the child; and
• Check hospital records for leads, if baby was abandoned in a hospital.
4. Search agency records and make a master list of:
   • Previous phone numbers and addresses used by the parent/relative and the dates;
   • Names with current and previous addresses and phone numbers of people and agencies who have known the client, such as relatives, friends, employers, neighbors, probation officers, doctors, schools, hospitals, or others; and
   • Parent's birth date (may be obtained from the child's birth certificate), social security number and other identifying information.
5. Pursue leads developed in all efforts:
• Make in-person and/or telephone contacts with family, friends, and neighbors at the parent/relative's previous addresses; document results of each contact individually and specifically.  Establishing good contact with these people is important in order to gain trust.  Although they may not be willing to provide the parent/relative's location, they may encourage the parent/relative to come forward or provide other useful information in locating the parent/relative.
• Send "certified, return receipt requested" letters to the previous addresses of individuals not contacted in person.
• Send blind copies of letters to addresses from which certified letters were returned (optional).
• Send letters of inquiry to professionals or to agencies within the community that may have had contact with the family.
• Address a letter to the parent/relative and place in an unsealed envelope and send to the Social Security Administration, Bureau of Data Processing, Baltimore, Maryland  21232, with a request that it be forwarded to the parent/relative.  Include the Social Security number if available.
• Should identity and location of an absent parent or putative father be sought, the worker will use the Federal Parent Locator Service which is available upon request through Family Support Division (FSD) or court.  FSD will access this service upon receipt of the CS-IV-E/FFP forms and the CSE-201AC from the CD worker or Eligibility Specialist.

NOTE:  Family Support Division uses all parent locator systems, i.e. Department of Revenue, Department of Corrections, etc.  Eligibility Specialists at the Children’s Division have the same access to this service through Family Support.  Provision of 42 U.S.C663 allows Division of Child Support Enforcement staff to provide location services to “authorized persons” to determine the whereabouts of any parent or child when the information is to be used to locate the parent or child for the purpose of:

1. Enforcing any state or federal law with respect to the unlawful taking or restraint of a child or,
2. Making or enforcing a child custody or visitation determination.
           
6. Contact other agencies in Missouri and out of state that may have knowledge of the parent/relative, including, but not limited to:
   • Department of Revenue/Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)--Designated CD staff in each Region has authorization to complete a diligent search using DMV screens.  Workers should complete the CD-88, Request for Location Services form, and submit it to their designated staff.  Designated staff should complete their search within 7-10 business days and return the updated form to the CSW. 

   The CSW will then complete their search for the parent or relative based on the information provided by the designated staff.  The worker should contact the individual by means of a certified, registered letter.  Due to the confidential nature of a child’s case, no identifying information should be provided in the letter.  The letter may state that the individual’s name was provided to our agency as a parent or relative to a child in our custody as a possible placement resource.  If the individual responds to the letter, the worker should verify their identity (by age/social security number/date of birth, or other identifying information as documented on the CD-88.  Once the individual’s identity has been verified, the child’s identity can be released.  If the individual desires to be considered as a placement resource, staff should proceed by completing a background check on the individual:

   Related Subject: Section 5, Chapter 2 Searching for a Biological Parent

   • Law enforcement agencies including, city, county and state;
   • Department of Corrections ;
   • Utility companies;
   • Local hospitals ;
   • Department of Mental Health;
   • Schools, including trade schools, community colleges and universities;
   • Labor unions;
   • Other social service agencies ;
   • Ethnic organizations;
   • Immigration and naturalization service; and
   • County tax collector.
7. Attach written responses and the envelope to copies of the original requests and file in the case record:
• File return receipts in the case record; and
• Open returned letters and attach envelopes and file in the case record.
8. Thoroughly document all face-to-face and telephone contacts including:

• Date;
• Time;
• Name of person contacted;
• Relationship of person contacted to parent;
• Responses, leads given;
• Location or phone number where initial contact occurred and how person can be contacted again;
• State information requested and verification that person was given written instructions on how to contact Children’s Service Worker; and
• Any other pertinent information.

Chapter Memoranda History: (prior to 1/31/07)

Memoranda History:

CD07-74