December 2013 Investigations Procedural Operations Manual (POM) D.C. Child and Family Services Agency . Entry Services Administration 200 I Street, SE . Washington, DC 20003 . 202-442-6100 www.cfsa.dc.gov . http://dc.mandatedreporter.org . www.adoptdckids.org Table of Contents 1: INTRODUCTION Agency Mission ............................................................................................................... 5 CPS Guiding Principles .................................................................................................... 6 2: OVERVIEW OF THE CPS ADMINISTRATION CPS Roles and Responsibilities ........................................................................................ 9 Types of Units ............................................................................................................... 10 Understanding Legal Support to CFSA and CPS ............................................................... 12 3: ASSIGNMENT PROCEDURES Types of Assignments ..................................................................................................... 14 Investigation Response Times ......................................................................................... 14 Assignment Procedures ................................................................................................... 16 4: FOUNDATIONAL CPS SKILLS The Professional Helping Relationship .......................................................................... 20 Understanding & Engaging the Family System ............................................................... 22 Engaging Challenging Clients ......................................................................................... 23 Teaming ........................................................................................................................ 24 Basic Interviewing .......................................................................................................... 24 5: GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CPS PRACTICE Philosophy of Comprehensive Investigations ................................................................ 30 Confidentiality .............................................................................................................. 30 Multidisciplinary Team Partners ..................................................................................... 33 Cultural and language Considerations ............................................................................ 34 Provisions of Reasonable Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities ........................ 37 Protocol for Determining a Child’s Biological or Legal Caregiver .................................... 38 Investigations Involving Other Jurisdictions.................................................................... 39 Inability to Identify or Locate a Child or Family ............................................................. 40 Failed Attempts for Initial Contact ................................................................................ 40 Client Refusal to Allow Access to a Child, Family, or Home ............................................ 41 6: CPS AND THE LAW Introduction ................................................................................................................. 43 The Establishment Act .................................................................................................... 43 Medical Records ............................................................................................................ 44 Ten Types of Neglect: D.C. Official Code §16-2301 (9)(A) (i-x) ..................................... 44 Papering a Case ............................................................................................................ 48 Pre-Petition Custody Order ........................................................................................... 52 Initial Hearing ................................................................................................................ 53 CFSA Custody of the Child ........................................................................................... 54 Special Considerations (visitation, exam orders, hearing schedule).................................. 55 Holds ........................................................................................................................... 55 Unaccompanied Refugee Minors ................................................................................. 56 Diplomatic Immunity .................................................................................................... 56 7: THE CPS INVESTIGATION Initial Family Background Research ................................................................................ 58 Pre-Investigation Consultations ...................................................................................... 60 CPS Interviews ................................................................................................................ 61 Guidelines for Interviewing Children .............................................................................. 63 Guidelines for Interviewing Caregivers Residing in the Home ......................................... 67 The Home Visit ............................................................................................................ 70 Guidelines for Interviewing other Household Members .................................................. 71 Guidelines for Interviewing Collateral Contacts ............................................................... 71 FINAL 12.24.13 1 Child Protective Services Administration District of Columbia’s Child and Family Services Agency Required Tasks for Interviewing Medical Professionals .................................................. 72 Required Tasks for Interviewing Educational Personnel .................................................. 73 Required Tasks for Interviewing Daycare Providers ........................................................ 75 Required Tasks for Interviewing Mental Health Providers .............................................. 75 Required Tasks for Interviewing Community Service Providers ...................................... 76 8: ALLEGATION SPECIFIC INVESTIGATION STEPS Neglect Involving Substance Abuse and/or Drug Activity ............................................... 78 Medical Neglect Investigations ....................................................................................... 83 Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence ......................................................... 84 Investigations of Child Physical Abuse ............................................................................ 89 Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Interview ........................................................................ 93 Unexplained or Inconsistent Injuries............................................................................... 94 Child Fatality Investigations ........................................................................................... 96 Overview of Sexual Abuse Investigations and Safety Evaluations ................................... 99 Investigations of Child Sexual Abuse ............................................................................. 102 Safety Evaluations of Intra-Familial Child Sexual Assault ................................................ 107 Safety Evaluations of Child Sexual Activity .................................................................... 110 Safety Evaluations When Circumstances are Suggestive of Sexual Abuse ......................... 112 Institutional Investigations ............................................................................................ 114 9: POPULATION SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT CONSIDERATIONS Assessing Children Ages Zero to Three .......................................................................... 118 How to “Interview” a Baby .......................................................................................... 119 The Dangers of Co-Sleeping .......................................................................................... 120 Assessing Children with Known/Potential Exceptional Needs ........................................ 121 Engaging Caregivers who have Developmental Delays .................................................. 122 Diplomatic Immunity Investigations .............................................................................. 123 Military Investigations................................................................................................... 124 Indian Child Welfare Act .............................................................................................. 125 Special Interest Investigations ........................................................................................ 126 10: DECISION MAKING AND PLANNING General Considerations for Assessing Safety & Risk ........................................................ 128 The Safety Assessment ................................................................................................... 128 Safety Decisions ............................................................................................................ 130 Safety Planning & Interventions .................................................................................... 131 The Disposition Decision ............................................................................................... 136 SDM Risk Assessment ...................................................................................................