Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
POLICY V-E: CHILD INVOLVED IN PROTECTIVE
SERVICES CASE WHO IS MISSING
07/2017
Occasionally there are instances when a child or youth involved
in an open protective services case may runaway or otherwise go missing. In all
instances of missing children who are part of an open protective services case,
the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will collaborate with the
child's family, law enforcement, and the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children (NCMEC) in an effort to locate the child.
Child Who May Have Been Taken Without Authorization or
the Family has Absconded with the Child(ren)
If the family and/or Division has reason to believe the child
was taken from his/her parents/caretakers without authorization by another
individual, then upon notification, the family's FSW caseworker and FSW
caseworker's supervisor will ensure the following individuals are notified of
the child's disappearance:
B. Assistant Director of
Community Services or designee
The Assistant Director of Community Services or designee will
then notify the DCFS Director.
The FSW caseworker will also issue a Protective Services Alert
if:
A. The family has left the county
of origin and moved with their child(ren) to another county or state;
and,
B. The new address is unknown;
and,
C. The child's health or
physical well-being is deemed to be in immediate danger because the family is
involved in an open protective services case involving an identified Arkansas
Health and Safety Factor.
Child Who May Have Run Away
If the family and/or Division has reason to believe the child
independently left his/her home of his/her own accord (i.e., run away), then
upon notification, the family's FSW caseworker and FSW caseworker's supervisor
will ensure the Area Director is also notified of the child's disappearance.
The FSW caseworker will then follow the steps outlined below.
Procedure V-E1: When a Child is Reported Missing from a
Family with an Open Protective Services Case
07/2017
The following applies to situations in which the child
has been taken from his/her parents/caretakers without authorization and to
situations in which the child has run away independently from the
home.
After receiving notification of the child's disappearance from
the child's family or by other means, the FSW caseworker will:
A. Notify the child's attorney ad litem (if
applicable) within two hours.
1) This
notification may occur via email, phone, or text.
B. Determine within two hours whether the
child's parents/caretakers have filed a missing person report with the local
police department or sheriff's office.
1) If
the parents/caretakers have filed a missing person report, obtain the missing
report number from the parents/caretakers.
2) If the parents/caretakers have not yet
field a missing person report, encourage the parents to file the report with
the local police department or sheriff's department as soon as possible and
obtain the missing person report number from the parents/caretakers as soon as
possible.
3) If the
parents/caretakers refuse to file a missing person report within one business
day, contact the local police department or sheriff's department immediately to
file a missing person report and provide the following information:
a) Child's name;
b) A physical description of the
child;
c) A picture of the child
may be released to assist with identification provided that the child is not
identified as being involved in an open protective services case.
d) Child's date of birth;
e) Circumstances of the missing child's
disappearance, including the date the child went missing or was last seen and
if the child indicated a destination (and, if so, what the destination
is);
f) Any other factual,
biographical, or historical information that may assist with locating the
missing child;
g) A request for law
enforcement to enter the information into the National Crime Information Center
(NCIC) database of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
i. If the local police department or
sheriff's department will not allow DCFS to file a missing person report on
behalf of the family, document the attempt to file the missing person report in
CHRIS contacts.
C. Once a police report has been filed,
contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
at 1-800-THE-LOST ( 1-800-843 -5678) no later than 24 hours
after receiving information on missing or abducted children or youth to provide
the following information to NCMEC per the Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between DCFS and NCMEC:
1) Child's name;
2) Photo of the child, if
available;
3) Child's date of
birth;
4) Name and contact
information of the FSW caseworker and FSW supervisor;
5) Investigating Law Enforcement Agency Name,
Contact Information, and Case Number (i.e., Missing Person Report
number);
6) Circumstances of the
missing child's disappearance, including the date the child went missing or was
last seen;
7) Any other factual,
biographical, or historical information that may assist with locating the
missing Child.
E. Upon
NCMEC's request, release to NCMEC any additional requested information and/or
records in its possession that are relevant to locating the missing
child.
F. Keep NCMEC informed with
up-to-date information regarding the missing child.
G. Update CHRIS contacts regarding the
missing child and efforts to locate the missing child.
H. If the child:
1) Is not found and there are other children
in the home:
a) Continue to provide services
to the family and other children as appropriate; and,
b) Continue to call previously contacted
parties and inquire for information and furnish further information that
becomes available through case closure.
c) If appropriate, extend the search to other
counties and states.
2)
Is not found within 60 calendar days and is the only child in the home:
a) Update the FAST to determine if additional
services (e.g., counseling may be appropriate for the
parents/caretakers);
b) Close the
case if the family does not need further services.
After notification of the child's disappearance by the family
or by other means, the FSW supervisor will:
A. Notify the Area Director and
Assistant Director of Community Services or designee of the child's
disappearance.
B. Conference with
the FSW as needed.
Procedure V-E2: When a Child Involved in a Protective
Services Case Who has been Missing is Located
07/2017
When a child involved in an open protective service case who
has been missing is located, the FSW caseworker will:
A. Encourage the parents to have the child
examined by his/her primary care physician, if possible, within 72 hours of
locating the child or immediately in the case of a medical emergency.
B. Notify immediately (but no later than 24
hours after the child has been located) all parties and individuals previously
notified of the child's disappearance that the child has been located to
include, but not limited to:
1) FSW
Supervisor
2) Area
Director
3) Local OCC
attorney
4) Child's attorney ad
litem, if applicable
5) Law
enforcement
6) NCMEC
a) This notification may occur via email,
phone, or text as appropriate.
C. If the case:
1) Was not closed during the child's absence
from the home:
a) Conduct a visit with the
child and the child's family within three business days after the child has
been located to determine what immediate needs the child and/or family may have
and what immediate steps may need to be taken to better support the child and
his/her family.
b) Update CHRIS
contacts to note the child has been located and when the FSW caseworker met
with the child and his/her family.
c) Determine the primary factors that
contributed to the child's running away or otherwise being absent from his/her
home to include:
i. Updating the family's FAST
assessment within 30 days of locating the child; and,
ii. Determining if the child is a sex
trafficking victim or at risk of being a sex trafficking victim based on
responses to the updated FAST and any other information gathered.
If there is reason to believe the child is a victim of sex
trafficking:
(a) Document accordingly
in CHRIS and conference with the FSW supervisor to determine appropriate next
steps for additional screening related to sex trafficking victims and/or
referral to appropriate services.
(b) Report information on children or youth
who have been identified as a sex trafficking victim to local law enforcement
immediately, and in no case later than 24 hours after receiving the
information.
(c) Document in CHRIS
contacts when local law enforcement is notified of a child being identified as
a sex trafficking victim.
2) Was closed because the child was the only
child involved in the case and absent from the home for more than 60 days and
the family did not require further services:
a) Reopen the case if the child is still
under 18 years of age.
b) Determine
the primary factors that contributed to the child's running away or otherwise
being absent from his/her home to include:
i.
Updating the family's FAST assessment within 30 days of reopening the case;
and,
ii. Determining if the child
is a sex trafficking victim or at risk of being a sex trafficking victim based
on responses to the updated FAST and any other information gathered.
1) If there is reason to believe the child is
a victim of sex trafficking:
(a) Document
accordingly in CHRIS and conference with the FSW supervisor to determine
appropriate next steps for additional screening related to sex trafficking
victims and/or referral to appropriate services.
(b) Report information on children or youth
who have been identified as a sex trafficking victim to local law enforcement
immediately, and in no case later than 24 hours after receiving the
information.
(c) Document in CHRIS
contacts when local law enforcement is notified of a child being identified as
sex trafficking victim.
The FSW supervisor(s) will:
A.
Conference with the FSW(s) as needed.
B. Notify the Assistant Director of Community
Services or designee.
