(A) A public children services agency (PCSA)
shall complete an intrastate referral to another PCSA if the PCSA receives a
report of alleged child abuse or neglect, and determines the child and his or
her custodial parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian reside or have moved
to another county before an assessment/investigation has been initiated.
(1) If an emergency exists, the PCSA shall
immediately telephone the appropriate PCSA and provide the referral
information.
(2) If no emergency
exists, the PCSA shall provide the referral information by telephone within
twenty-four hours.
(3) The referral
information provided to the PCSA shall include, but is not limited to, the
following:
(a) The case identification number
established within the statewide automated child welfare information system
(SACWIS).
(b) The case reference
person established within SACWIS.
(c) The intake identification number
established within SACWIS, as applicable.
(d) Location, including the address, of the
child and his or her custodial parent, legal guardian, or legal
custodian.
(B) A PCSA shall complete an intrastate
referral to another PCSA if the PCSA initiates an abuse or neglect report and
determines the alleged child victim and his or her custodial parent, legal
guardian, or legal custodian reside in another county.
(1)
If an emergency exists,
the PCSA shall immediately telephone the appropriate PCSA
to inform of the
report and the information obtained as a result of the initiation or other
contacts. If no emergency exists, the PCSA shall telephone the appropriate PCSA
within twenty-four hours.
(2) The
PCSA receiving the intrastate referral shall determine one of the following:
(a) A case transfer shall be accepted
regarding the current report. The receiving PCSA becomes the lead agency and is
responsible for the completion of the assessment/investigation activities
including arriving at a report disposition and case decision.
(b) A case transfer shall not be accepted.
The PCSA that initiated the report shall remain the lead agency and retain
responsibility for the completion of the assessment/investigation, including
completing requests for required non-lead interviews.
(C) A PCSA shall make an
intrastate referral to another PCSA if the PCSA determines that protective
services are needed but the child and his or her custodial parent, legal
guardian, or legal custodian moves to another county before or during the
provision of protective services and the child remains at risk of abuse or
neglect.
(D) A PCSA shall make an
interstate referral to a children's services agency (CSA) if the PCSA receives
a report of alleged child abuse or neglect, and determines the child and his or
her custodial parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian reside in or have
moved to another state. The PCSA shall comply with the following procedures if
making a referral to a CSA:
(1) If an
emergency exists, the PCSA shall immediately telephone the appropriate CSA with
the referral information. Within three working days of the date of the
telephone referral, the PCSA shall follow-up with a written referral to the
CSA.
(2) If no emergency exists,
the PCSA shall provide the referral information by telephone within twenty-four
hours. Within three working days of the date of the telephone referral, the
PCSA shall follow-up the telephone referral with a written referral to the
CSA.
(3) The referral shall
include, but is not limited to, the following:
(a) All available identifying information on
the child, his or her parent, guardian, or custodian and other involved people,
including names, dates of birth, ages, and social security numbers.
(b) The child, his or her parent, guardian,
or custodian and other involved persons' relationships to each other.
(c) Location, including address of the child
and his or her parent, guardian or custodian.
(d) Summary of the referring PCSA's
involvement with the child, his or her parent, guardian, or custodian and the
current case status.
(e) A copy of
the completed JFS 01401 "Comprehensive Assessment Planning Model - I..S.,
Safety Assessment" (rev. 2/2006) and the JFS 01400 "Comprehensive Assessment
Planning Model - I.S., Family Assessment" (rev. 7/2006), or JFS 01419
"Alternative Response Family Assessment" (rev. 7/2008) if applicable.
(f) The nature of the request for
the provision of protective services.
(g) The referring PCSA contact
person.
(h) The information the
referring PCSA needs in response to the referral.
(4) Confidential information regarding the
child, his or her parent, guardian, or custodian may be released to
the CSA pursuant to rule
5101:2-33-21
of the Administrative Code.
(5) The
PCSA shall cooperate with the CSA, and if necessary, lead the
assessment/investigative efforts if the child is located within Ohio and the
abuse or neglect is alleged to have occurred within Ohio.