James CPS Investigation Report
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CHILDREN’S PROTECTIVE SERVICES INVESTIGATION REPORT Department of Human Services of Michigan Preponderance: Yes Risk Level: Intensive PS Case #: X0000000P Log Number: 0000000 Case Name: Sheryl James Complaint Date: 10/01/XXXX 2815 Risdale Address: Category: I Lansing, MI 48909 Phone Number: ( 517) 555-1908 Load Number: XXXXXXXXXX Household Case Members: Name(First, Middle, Last) Relation Date of Birth Age Sex Race Role Amer.Indian Heritage Sheryl James Self 03/11/XXXX 31 F 1 Perpetrator No Steven Miller Living 05/10/XXXX 33 M 2 Perpetrator No Together Partner Amanda James Biological 07/28/XXXX 14 F 1 Victim No Child Melissa James Biological 03/25/XXXX 8 F 1 & 2 Victim No Child William James Biological 04/17/XXXX 4 M 1 & 2 Victim No Child Non-Household Case Members: Name (First, Middle, Last) Relation Date of Birth Age Sex Race Role Amer. Indian Heritage Mark Anderson Non- 04/12/XXXX 32 M 1 Other No Relative Address: Cooper St. Correctional Facility (JCS), 3100 Cooper St., Jackson, MI Phone Number: (517) 780-6175 49201 1. ALLEGATIONS Maltreatment(s): Physical Abuse Training Confirmed Maltreatment(s): Physical Abuse, Failure to Protect, Threatened Harm Comments: Complainant advised the children are disclosing violence in the home. William says he was hit with a bat for not cleaning his room. William is reported to have broken ribs. Melissa reports she was hit with an extension cord. Children report mom threatened to kill them and she does not want them. 2. CHILD WELFARE HISTORY of FAMILY TRENDS On 02/25/XXXX, (5 years prior) a complaint was received alleging improper supervision and physical abuse and was assigned for field investigation. During the investigation it was determined that the children, Amanda & Melissa, were left home alone for hours at a time on a daily basis. It was also determined that Amanda was being hit with a yard stick by her mother, Sheryl James, on a weekly basis. Amanda was observed by CPS to have injuries consistent with physical abuse. The children reported that they were afraid of being left home alone. Amanda disclosed being injured when she was struck with the stick by her mother. Welt marks were observed on Amanda by CPS and medical professionals. The facts and evidence of the investigation supported a preponderance of evidence for improper DHS-154 (SWSS 10/2007) 1 Department of Human Services Foster Care James Scenario Office of Workforce Development and Training 0614 supervision and physical abuse. The case was opened as a Category II with a risk level of High. A referral was made to Families First of Michigan to work with the family regarding utilizing alternative methods of behavior management coupled with appropriate supervision. There was no previous court involvement during this case. The family successfully completed the services and appeared to benefit from them as they were able to demonstrate skills learned and no new complaints were received by CPS. The risk level was reduced and the case was subsequently closed. There is a direct correlation between the previous complaint and the current complaint as there are allegations that Sheryl James is using inappropriate discipline with the children and may have problems associated with her use of alcohol. 3. SOCIAL WORK CONTACTS CASE INVESTIGATION Date of Contact Person Contacted Type of Contact Contact Method 10/01/xxxx Det/Sgt. Smith (Lansing PD) LEN Case Contact Telephone Contact 10/01//xxxx Becky Smith, RN (Sparrow Hospital) Collateral Face to Face 10/01//xxxx Dr. John Adams (Sparrow Hospital) Collateral Face to Face 10/01//xxxx Melissa James Case Member Face to Face 10/01//xxxx William James Case Member Face to Face 10/01//xxxx Sheryl James Case Member Face to Face 10/01//xxxx Amanda James Case Member Face to Face 10/01//xxxx Steven Miller Case Member Face to Face 10/01//xxxx Mark Anderson Collateral Phone 10/01//xxxx Ingham County FOC Collateral Phone 10/01//xxxx Honorable Judge Buck Collateral Phone 10/01//xxxx Honorable Judge Buck Collateral Documentation 10/02/xxxx Sheryl James/Steven Miller Case Contact Face to Face 10/02/xxxx Arlene James Case Contact Face to Face 10/02/xxxx Angela & Samuel Miller Case Contact Face to Face 10/02/xxxx Court (Preliminary Hearing) Case Contact Face to Face 10/02/xxxx Family Team Meeting Case Contact Face to Face INTERVIEWED YES NO IF NOT, WHY NOT ALL CARETAKERS ALLEGED VICTIM ALL SIBLINGS ALLEGED PERPETRATOR Training 4. VERIFICATION OF CHILD WELL-BEING THIS WORKER CONFIRMED THE WELL-BEING OF: Child’s Name How? Date? Location? Whereabouts if not with caretaker? William James Face to Face 10/01/XXXX Hospital Melissa James Face to Face 10/01/XXXX Hospital Amanda James Face to Face 10/01/XXXX School 5. REQUIRED ASSESSMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION: Policy Requirement Will Pre-Fill from SWSS-CPS. Reason: Criminal History Results: No criminal history was found for Sheryl James. Steven Miller has a criminal conviction for controlled substance possession from 07/05/xxxx in Ingham County. This information was verified by OTIS (Offender Tracking Information System) and the 30th Circuit Court. DHS-154 (SWSS 10/2007) 2 Department of Human Services Foster Care James Scenario Office of Workforce Development and Training 0614 Mark Anderson has a criminal conviction for Attempted Murder from 09/07/xxxx in Ingham County and is currently lodged with the MDOC. This information was verified by OTIS (Offender Tracking Information System) and the 30th Circuit Court. 6. REQUIRED ASSESSMENT OF MEDICAL INFORMATION: Policy Requirement Will Pre-Fill from SWSS-CPS Reason: Medical Exam Results: A medical report dated 10/01/XXXX, was obtained from Dr. Adams at Sparrow Hospital. The report showed William had sustained broken bones to his left rib cage. The report also showed previously fractured bones to William’s right rib cage which showed that they had healed. The medical report did not note scrapes and/or scratches on William as his mother, Sheryl James, reporting that the broken ribs were a result of William having fallen off his bike. Dr. John Adams advised that the injuries are consistent with being struck with a blunt object with significant force and appear consistent with physical abuse and are non-accidental injuries. A copy of the medical report was placed in the case record. 7. SAFETY ASSESSMENT NARRATIVES: Caretaker(s) caused serious physical harm to the child and/or made a plausible threat to cause serious physical harm in the current investigation, indicated by. Sheryl James, mother, struck William with a bat causing him to sustain broken ribs to his left rib cage. During the investigation it was learned that Melissa and Amanda have been physically harmed by their mother. Melissa reported that her mother has given her a black eye and knocked out one of her teeth. Amanda reported that her mother hits her as well. Caretaker(s) has previously maltreated a child in their care and the severity of the maltreatment or the caretaker(s)’ response to the previous incident and current circumstances suggest that child safety may be an immediate concern. There must be both current immediate threats to child safety and related previous maltreatment that was severe and/or represents an unresolved pattern of maltreatment. Check all that apply: Prior confirmed CPS case. Training Safety On 02/25/XXXX a complaint was investigated alleging improper supervision and physical abuse. During Factor(s): the investigation it was learned the children, Amanda and Melissa, were left home alone for hours at a time on a regular basis, approximately 1-2 times per week. It was also learned Amanda was being hit with a yard stick by mother, Sheryl, on a weekly basis. The children reported being afraid of being left alone in the home. Amanda reported of being hurt when hit with the stick. Welt marks were observed on Amanda. A preponderance of evidence was found for improper supervision and physical abuse. The case was opened as a Category II with Families First Services. This is the second compliant received where allegations are pertaining to physical abuse. There is a trend of physical abuse for this family based on the escalation of injuries as we now have severe physical abuse. Caretaker(s) fails to protect child from serious physical harm or threatened harm. Steven Miller, father of Melissa and William, was aware of the extreme physical discipline techniques that the mother, Sheryl James, utilized with the children. Steven Miller did not prevent the children from being physically harmed by Sheryl James. Steven Miller failed to take action to remove his children from the home in order to protect them from further harm by Sheryl James. Caretaker(s) explanation for the injury is unconvincing and the nature of the injury suggests that DHS-154 (SWSS 10/2007) 3 Department of Human Services Foster Care James Scenario Office of Workforce Development and Training 0614 the child’s safety may be of immediate concern. Sheryl James continues to report that William’s injury was caused by William falling off his bike. However, Dr. Adam’s reported that the injury was not consistent with a fall. Dr. Adam’s reported that the injury appears consistent with having been hit forcefully with a blunt object and the injuries appear consistent with physical abuse and are non-accidental in nature. Child is fearful of caretaker(s), other family members, or other people living in or having access to the home. William advised that he was afraid to go home with his mom because she would be mad. William advised that his mother would be mad because they had to go to the hospital as well as because he has been talking about what happens when she gets mad at him and his sisters.