Code of Colorado Regulations
2500 - Department of Human Services
2518 - Adult Protective Services
12 CCR 2518-1 - ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Section 12 CCR 2518-1-30.430 - RESPONSE PRIORITY AND ASSIGNMENT

Universal Citation: 12 CO Code Regs 2518-1, ยง 30.430

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 5, March 10, 2024

A. The county department shall determine a time frame response to the case based upon the reported level of risk.

B. When factors present indicate the client is in clear and immediate danger or urgent and significant risk of harm due to the severity of the mistreatment or self-neglect, or due to the vulnerability or physical frailty of the client, the county department shall:

1. Determine the case to be an emergency;

2. Call 911, if appropriate based on the circumstances of the report; and,

3. For counties participating in the Alternative Response pilot, allegations of mistreatment meeting this emergency criteria shall be assigned to the traditional response track.

4. Make an initial response as soon as possible, but no later than twenty-four (24) hours including non-business days, after the receipt of the report. An initial response shall be:
a. An in-person visit with the client; or,

b. An attempted in-person visit with the client; or,

c. An outreach to another professional who is not alleged to be the perpetrator, who can evaluate the client's immediate safety when conducting an in-person visit would be detrimental to the client and/or unsafe to the client and/or the county department.

5. If the initial response was not an in-person contact with the client and the county department was unable to ascertain the client's safety, the county department shall attempt an in-person client contact each day following the initial attempt at contact, including non-business days.
a. A law enforcement welfare check may be substituted for attempts at contact during non-business days. The county department shall follow up on the next working day.

b. If the county department has confirmed the client to be unavailable or safe, such as in the intensive care unit (ICU), the reason for delayed response shall be documented.

c. Initial and subsequent attempts at contact shall begin immediately when the client becomes or is expected to become available.

d. Following the third day of unsuccessful attempts at contact, the county department may choose to call, email, text, or send a letter requesting an appointment with the client.

e. If attempts at contact remain unsuccessful, the county department shall close the case no later than thirty-five (35) calendar days after the last attempt at contact.

f. The county department shall document all attempts to contact the client.

6. If the initial response was not an in-person contact with the client but the county department was able to ascertain safety, it shall make an in-person client contact on the first working day following the report.
a. If the county department has confirmed the client to be unavailable, such as in the intensive care unit (ICU), the reason shall be documented.

b. Initial and subsequent attempts at contact shall begin immediately when the client becomes or is expected to become available.

c. Following the third day of unsuccessful attempts at contact, the county department may choose to call, email, text, or send a letter requesting an appointment with the client.

d. If attempts at contact remain unsuccessful, the county department shall close the case no later thirty-five (35) calendar days after the last attempt at contact.

e. The county department shall document all attempts to contact the client.

C. When the report and subsequent supervisory review and/or RED Team process indicate the client is not in immediate danger or urgent risk of harm the county department shall:

1. Determine the case to be a non-emergency.

2. For counties participating in the alternative response pilot, determine a track assignment for each allegation according to the requirements set forth in Section 30.440.

3. Make an initial response no later than three (3) working days beginning the day after the county department's receipt of the report. An initial response shall be:
a. An in-person visit with the client; or i. For allegations assigned to the traditional response track, initial in-person visits shall be unannounced and in private whenever possible.
ii. For allegations assigned to the alternative response track, initial visits may be scheduled at the discretion of the county.

iii. If the initial report has multiple allegations and one or more allegations can be tracked to the alternative response track and one or more allegations must be tracked to the traditional response track, the initial response shall be conducted pursuant to Subsection (i) above

b. An attempted in-person visit with the client;

c. An outreach to another professional who can evaluate the client's immediate safety when conducting an in-person visit would be detrimental to the client and/or unsafe to the client and/or the county department. For allegations assigned to the traditional response track, the county shall ensure the outreach is made to a professional who is not alleged to be the perpetrator.

4. When the initial response was not an in-person contact with the client or the county department was unable to ascertain the client's safety, the county department shall attempt an in-person client contact every other working day for a minimum of three attempts.
a. A law enforcement welfare check may be substituted for one attempt at contact and qualifies as one of the three required attempts at contact.

b. If the county department has confirmed the client to be unavailable or safe, the reason for delayed response shall be documented.

c. Initial and subsequent attempts at contact shall begin immediately when the client becomes or is expected to become available.

d. For traditional response track investigations, the county department may attempt to schedule an appointment with the client following the third unsuccessful attempt at contact.

e. If attempts at contact remain unsuccessful, the county department shall close the case no later than thirty-five (35) calendar days after the last attempted contact.

f. The county department shall document all attempts to contact the client.

5. If the county department was able to ascertain safety,
a. The county department shall attempt an in-person client contact within the response time frame or beginning on the first working day after ascertaining safety if safety were ascertained on the last day of the response time frame. Attempts at contact shall continue every other working day for a minimum of three attempts.

b. If the county department has confirmed the client to be unavailable, the reason shall be documented.

c. Initial and subsequent attempts at contact shall begin immediately when the client becomes or is expected to become available.

d. Following the third unsuccessful attempt at contact, the county department may choose to call, email, text, or send a letter requesting an appointment with the client.

e. If attempts at contact remain unsuccessful, the county department shall close the case no later than thirty-five (35) calendar days after the last attempt at contact.

f. The county department shall document all attempts to contact the client.

D. Prior to the initial in-person client contact visit, the county department shall determine whether:

1. The visit and investigation should be made in conjunction with law enforcement and/or personnel from other agencies in accordance with the county department's cooperative agreements;

2. The client is in CAPS and/or is otherwise known to the county department;

3. Safety concerns exist, based on historical data and information provided in the report, requiring the caseworker to be accompanied by:
a. Law enforcement;

b. The supervisor;

c. Another case worker; or,

d. Emergency, medical, and/or mental health personnel, if known or suspected medical or psychiatric conditions exist.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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