Investigation Response
Section 2 Overview
Section 2 focuses on intake, or the point of entry for a family. The information in this section will assist staff in understanding the procedures throughout the entire intake process, from initial contact with the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline Unit (CANHU), through the process of an investigation or family assessment. Completing a thorough family assessment or investigation will help staff identify the service needs of the family.
Chapter 4 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.
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
- 4.1.4 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
- 4.1.7 Referral to Juvenile Court
- 4.1.8 Reaching a Conclusion
- 4.1.8.1 Determining Child Abuse or Neglect by a Preponderance of Evidence (POE)
- 4.1.8.1.1 The Laws on Child Abuse/Neglect
- 4.1.8.1.2 The Legal Elements of Child Abuse or Neglect
- 4.1.8.1.3 The Law on the Preponderance of Evidence Standard
- 4.1.8.1.4 Application of the Preponderance of Evidence Standard
- 4.1.8.1.5 Determining Sex Trafficking by a Preponderance of Evidence
- 4.1.8.1.6 Determining Labor Trafficking by a Preponderance of Evidence
- 4.1.8.1.7 Determining Educational Neglect by a Preponderance of Evidence
- 4.1.8.1.8 Determining Child Abuse or Neglect by a Preponderance of Evidence on an Unknown Perpetrator
- 4.1.8.1.9 Determining Child Abuse or Neglect by a Preponderance of Evidence on Juvenile Perpetrators
- 4.1.8.2 Unsubstantiated-Preventive Services Indicated
- 4.1.8.3 Unsubstantiated
- 4.1.8.4 Home Schooling
- 4.1.8.5 Unable to Locate
- 4.1.8.6 Located out of State
- 4.1.8.7 Court Adjudicated
- 4.1.8.8 Child Abuse/Neglect Present, Perpetrator Unidentified (Unknown Perpetrators)
- 4.1.8.1 Determining Child Abuse or Neglect by a Preponderance of Evidence (POE)
- 4.1.9 Minimum Contact Standards after a CA/N Report has been Concluded
- 4.1.10 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
- 4.1.14 Notifications for Investigation Dispositions
- 4.1.15 Notifying the Non-Custodial Parent
- 4.1.1 Preparing for the Investigation
- 4.2 Involving Law Enforcement and the State Technical Assistance Team (STAT)
- 4.2.1 State Technical Assistance Team (STAT)
- 4.2.1.1 Definition
- 4.2.1.2 Types of Situations Investigated by STAT
- 4.2.1.3 Making a Referral to STAT
- 4.2.1.4 The Role of STAT and CD Co-Investigating
- 4.2.1.5 Resources Available to STAT
- 4.2.1.6 Delayed Conclusions Involving STAT
- 4.2.1 State Technical Assistance Team (STAT)
- 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 CA/N or Non-CA/N
- 4.3.8.1 CA/N and Non-CA/N Fatality Review
- 4.3.8.2 Child Fatalities During a Pending Investigation
- 4.3.8.3 Fatality/Critical Event Reporting and Review Protocol
- 4.3.8.3.1 Critical Event Categories
- 4.3.8.4 Critical Event Report (CS-23) Procedure
- 4.3.8.5 Critical Event Response
- 4.3.8.6 Critical Event Tool Kit
- 4.3.9 Baby Doe Cases
- 4.3.10 Reports Made out of Harassment or Retaliation
- 4.3.10.1 Harassment Indicators
- 4.3.11 Childcare Referral to Department of Health and Human Services
- 4.4 Change to Family Assessment
- 4.5 Alleged Perpetrator Appeal Process Overview
- 4.5.1 Administrative Review Process
- 4.5.1.1 Cases that are Ineligible for an Administrative Review
- 4.5.1.2 Notification to Alleged Perpetrators who are Ineligible for Administrative Review
- 4.5.1.3 Local Child Abuse/Neglect Administrative Review
- 4.5.1.4 Possible Scenarios of the Administrative Review Process
- 4.5.1.5 Release of Records When There are Pending Criminal Charges
- 4.5.2 The Child Abuse/Neglect Review Board (CANRB)
- 4.5.2.1 CANRB Liaison
- 4.5.2.2 CANRB Participants
- 4.5.2.3 CANRB Process
- 4.5.2.4 Tips for Presenting a Case to CANRB
- 4.5.2.5 CANRB Reverses POE
- 4.5.2.6 CANRB Upholds POE
- 4.5.3 De Novo Judicial Review
- 4.5.4 Case Re-Opening
- 4.5.4.1 Case Re-Opening Procedure
- 4.5.5 Office of the Child Advocate
- 4.5.1 Administrative Review Process
Attachments:
- 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 Rescinded by Memo CD14-54
- 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 Abuse
- 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 Abuse
- Attachment X:
- Deleted per CD05-34 dated 5-23-05 - See Section 2 Chapter 4 Attachment L Preponderance of Evidence
Chapter Memoranda History: (prior to 1/31/07)
- 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,
Memoranda History:
- CD07-25,
- CD07-51,
- CD08-22,
- CD08-51,
- CD08-71,
- CD10-58,
- CD10-69,
- CD10-97,
- CD11-75,
- CD12-102,
- CD13-38,
- CD13-80,
- CD15-50,
- CD16-63,
- CD16-64