Confidentiality
Neighbor wants to know if their report from last week was assigned. What can you tell them?
All family information is confidential. Only some reporters identified in law are able to get follow up information on reports.
Is a therapist who just did the intake but plans to continue to see the child as a client a mandatory reporter who has both an ongoing relationship and role in safety?
Yes
What type of abuse or neglect is it when there is no food in the home or the child says they are not being fed?
Deprivation of necessities.
Could be failure to thrive if the is a resulting medical condition but it would be caused by deprivation of necessities.
Parent reporting sexual assault on 7 yr old by an adult neighbor
3rd party is a screen out reason.
In this circumstance, the county department shall send the referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
A father says his child told him a social worker talked to him when he was at the mother's house. What can you tell him?
That we are required to notify all parents with legal rights when we are involved with their child. So if we are involved with his child, a caseworker should be contacting him within the 60 days we have to assess. You will also pass on his information to the caseworker and supervisor if there is something open on his child.
Does mom's ongoing therapist get notice?
no
yes mandatory, but does not have ongoing relationship, is not responsible for safety
True/False:
Domestic violence is only between intimate partners.
True.
“Domestic violence” means the commission or threatened commission of violence, including coercion, control, punishment, intimidation or revenge upon a person by a person with whom there is or was an intimate relationship.
Extra point: what would you call violence between other adults in the home?
Mom and kids were at a friend's party when a shooting took place.
3rd party, environment injurious. Environment injurious has to include the environment being within the control of the caregiver.
A detective calls asking for the name and number of the assigned caseworker assigned to a case he is investigating. He is not the RP and does not have the referral number, but you can see that an officer from his jurisdiction is our RP. What can you tell him?
Whatever he needs in order to investigate. You can provide him the worker's name, desk number and email as well as their sup. You can also get his email and number and connect him with the worker and sup that way.
You can ask for their case number so you can document the validity of the request.
Does the director of the daycare where the child goes daily for the last 7 months get notice?
Extra point for Principal at victim's elementary school.
Yes. They are not the teacher but they have an ongoing relationship in which they continue to see the child and can help be a protective party or support.
Also yes.
Substance Exposed Newborn
The child is born affected by alcohol or substance exposure, except when taken as prescribed or recommended and monitored by a licensed health care provider, and the newborn child’s health or welfare is threatened by substance use.
A concerned citizen reporting witnessing a pregnant woman smoking meth while her small child was next to her in a stroller.
Screen out reason. Lacks sufficient information to locate the alleged victim child
Labor and Delivery social worker at the hospital. Mom just gave birth and she mentioned her other kids are in foster care. What information can you provide?
None. You can take a report and explain if we are open with the family, the worker will be notified. Unless hospital staff need information to treat a child and ensure safety, we cannot provide them information. You can ask why she needs to know, if you are unsure.
Do you need to ask about ongoing relationship and role in safety if the RP is not a mandatory reporter?
No
What is a red flag report?
when the department alerts the hospital to a pregnant woman who uses substances so that a report can be made and the baby can be tested when she gives birth
Bonus point: do we still do this?
A mother calls to report she has no food and her SNAP benefits have stopped. She states she is unable to feed her children and is seeking help.
Inquiry. Refer to Prevention. You can provide her the info for prevention and email prevention yourself.
What do you tell a mandatory reporter who meets criteria for notice if they decline to give their email?
Explain that we provide legally required notice of disposition by email and if we do not have an email, they may not be notified of what happens.
What is Impending danger and how is it different from Present danger?
means a threat(s) to child safety not occurring at present but likely to occur in the near future and likely to result in moderate to severe harm to a child.
Present danger means an immediate, significant, and clearly observable threat to child safety that is actively occurring and will likely result in moderate to severe harm to a child.
Officer calling after recovering a runaway youth asking where to take her.
Depends. You need to check trails and ask more questions.
Are we open with her and if so, is there a client alert about the run and a recovery plan. If so, probably an inquiry.
If we are not open and this is new information, take the report. May be PA4, may be screened out, or there may be more to it.