North Carolina Administrative Code
Title 10A - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Chapter 70 - CHILDREN'S SERVICES
Subchapter I - MINIMUM LICENSING STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL CHILD-CARE
Section .0600 - SERVICE DELIVERY
Section 70I .0614 - CRITICAL INCIDENTS AND CRITICAL INCIDENT REPORTS

(a) A residential child-care facility shall have written policies and procedures for handling and reporting critical incidents.

(b) Critical incident reports shall be submitted to the licensing authority by the executive director or designee on a form developed by the licensing authority within 72 hours of the critical incident. A copy of the critical incident form ("Critical Incident Reporting Form" DSS-5281) can be obtained from the Division or found on the Division's website at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/dss.Critical incidents involving a child who is a resident of a residential child-care facility include the following:

(c) Documentation of critical incidents shall include:

(d) If there is a death of a child who is a resident of a residential child-care facility, the executive director or his or her designee shall notify the parents, guardian, or legal custodian and the licensing authority within 72 hours.

(e) The residential child-care facility shall have and follow policies and procedures for handling any suspected incidents of abuse or neglect of children involving staff, subcontractors, volunteers or interns. The policies and procedures shall include:

(f) Critical incident reports shall be maintained in a manner consistent with the agency's risk management policies and shall be made available to the licensing authority upon request.

(g) When staff determines that a foster child under the age of 18 is missing, they shall notify the appropriate law enforcement authority within 24 hours.