Idaho Administrative Code
Title IDAPA 16 - Health and Welfare, Department of
Rule 16.06.01 - CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES
CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES
Section 16.06.01.554 - RESPONSE PRIORITIES
Current through August 31, 2023
The Department must use the following statewide standards for responding to allegations of abuse, neglect, or abandonment, using the determination of risk to the child as the primary criterion. Any variance from these response standards must be documented in the family's case file with a description of action taken, and must be reviewed and signed by the Child and Family Services Supervisor. (3-15-22)
01. Priority I. The Department must respond immediately if a child is in immediate danger involving a life-threatening or emergency situation. Emergency situations include sexual abuse when a child may have contact with the alleged perpetrator and circumstances indicate a need for immediate response. Law enforcement must be notified and requested to respond or to accompany a family services worker. Every attempt should be made to coordinate the Department's assessment with law enforcement's investigation. The child must be seen by a Department family services worker, law enforcement, and medical personnel if applicable, immediately unless written regional protocol agreements direct otherwise. All allegations of physical abuse of a child through the age of six (6) or with profound developmental disabilities should be considered under Priority I unless there is reason to believe that the child is not in immediate danger. (3-15-22)
02. Priority II. A child is not in immediate danger but allegations of abuse, including physical or sexual abuse, or serious physical or medical neglect are clearly defined in the referral. Law enforcement must be notified within twenty-four (24) hours. The child must be seen by the family services worker within forty-eight hours (48) of the Department's receipt of the referral. Law enforcement must be notified within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of all Priority II referrals that involve concerns of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. (3-15-22)
03. Priority III. A child may be in a vulnerable situation because of services needs which, if left unmet, may result in harm, or a child is without parental care for safety, health and well being. The child and parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will be interviewed for substantiation of the facts, and to assure that there is no abuse, neglect, or abandonment by parent(s) or legal guardian(s). A family services worker must respond within three (3) calendar days and the child must be seen by the worker within five (5) calendar days of the Department's receipt of the referral. (3-15-22)
04. Notification of the Person Who Made the Referral. The Department must notify the person who made the child protection referral of the receipt of the referral within five (5) days. (3-15-22)
05. Disclosure of Information to Professionals. The Department has the discretion to disclose, on a need-to-know basis, minimally necessary information to individuals who are professionally involved in the ongoing care of the child who is the subject of a report of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. This includes information that the professional will need to know in order to fulfill their role in maintaining the child's safety and well-being. This provision applies to: (3-15-22)
