Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, March 15, 2024
PURPOSE: The department has made changes to this
regulation to more accurately reflect the work conducted by the Out-of-Home
investigation Unit. The amendments to section (1) incorporate definitions of
"Family or Family Member," "Family Assessment," and "Investigation," as well as
amending the definition of "Out-of-Home Investigation Unit" to include
assessments. Section (2) has been updated to reflect that the Out-of-Home
Investigation Unit conducts investigations and assessments on a broader scope
of cases than was previously outlined.
(1) Definitions. For the purpose of this
regulation, the following terms shall be defined as follows:
(A) Family or Family Member. A person related
to the alleged victim by blood, adoption, or affinity within the third degree,
a current or past foster parent of the alleged victim, or a resident of the
current or past foster parent's home;
(B) Family Assessment. An approach to be
developed by the children's division which will provide for a prompt assessment
of a child who has been reported to the division as a victim of abuse or
neglect by a person responsible for that child's care, custody, or control and
of that child's family, including risk of abuse and neglect and, if necessary,
the provision of community-based services to reduce the risk and support the
family;
(C) Investigation. The
collection of physical and verbal evidence to determine if a child has been
abused or neglected; and
(D)
Out-of-Home Investigation Unit. The unit of investigators responsible for
investigating or assessing child abuse and neglect when the relationship
between the child and the alleged perpetrator is established in an out-of-home
setting.
(2) The
Out-of-Home Investigation Unit will investigate or assess allegations of child
abuse or neglect in-
(A) Cases in which the
alleged victim resides in a foster home;
(B) Cases in which the alleged perpetrator is
an employee, contracted agent, or volunteer of an organization which provides
care or services to children. Such organizations shall include, but are not
limited to, residential treatment facilities, schools, child care facilities,
hospitals, youth camps, or youth groups; or
(C) Other cases as deemed necessary by the
Children's Division on a case-by-case basis.
