Pre-Commencement Activities
To gather important information in order to have a plan before making contact with a family.
The information gathered informs the plan for intial contact with the family for the specialist and supervisor.
What is Pre-commencement clinical discussion?
Having enough information to inform a Present Danger determination on any of the children in the home and to gather sufficent information inform the 6 domains
What is the purpose of intial contact?
The Department strengthens each other by connecting people with their communities so that all can thrive in a safe and supportive environment.
What is Family?
These are the people that require a DCS history check during pre-commencement.
Hint: There are four.
Who are the alleged child victim; the child’s parents;
other adults residing in the household of the alleged abuse or neglect; and alleged perpetrator(s)
This person not only should be contacted about the report, but also should be asked to fill in gaps regarding Adult Functioning, Child Functioning, maltreatment, Parenting/General Discipline.
Who is the source?
When interviewing anyone in an investigation this should be present.
What is a DCS identification card?
The best decisions are made together. We use our collective knowledge and consider everyone’s viewpoints to identify opportunities, solve problems, and provide the best possible outcomes, because child safety is a responsibility we all share.
What is Teaming?
Reviewing these things helps us understanding custody, safety, and likely location of the children.
What DPS and Public Websites?
Understanding the next steps, planning for the next discussion, overcoming barriers and a plans to engage a family.
What are outputs of the Pre-commencement clinical discussion?
In this circumstance an investigator only has approximately 20 minutes or less to interview a child.
What is a Joint Investigation?
Creating safe spaces for our staff and the children and families we serve throughout the community is always top of mind for us.
What is Safety?
True or False would the following situation need an immediate response?
Specialist recieves a report regarding a newborn and their mother whom is in Post-Partum psychosis. The report indicated that the Mother went to the doctor the day prior and disclosed that she has been using a pillow to suffocate the child when the child is crying. The report indicates that the doctor called crisis, but the mother refused to wait in the lobby. The reporting source believes that the mother is the primary caregiver of the baby.
What is True?
Reviewing electronic records for documentation of DCS history and services outcomes, DPS history, public records search and source contact to plan for intial contact with family.
What is Supervisor pre-work?
There are ten guides/documents that you should carry when making intial contact.
What is:
A Guide to the Department of Child Safety;
Notice of Duty to Inform;
Safe Sleep for Your Baby (for families with a child under one year of age);
Authorization to Disclose Health Information (to obtain a parent/guardian/custodian or adult's medical or behavioral health records).
Present Danger Plan and Present Danger Plan Signature Page (if a child is found to be in present danger);
Safety Plan and Safety Plan Signature Page (if there is an impending danger safety threat to a child);
Voluntary Placement Agreement (when parent, custodian, or guardian agrees to a voluntary placement);
Temporary Custody Notice (serve to a parent, guardian, and/or custodian when the Department has taken temporary custody of a child);
Notice of Removal (serve to a school, child care provide., or other location when the Department has taken temporary custody of a child or removed a court ward); and
Kinship Placement Agreement and Notification of Resources (for all kinship placements).
Listening and being responsive to earn the trust of all we encounter. we make discoveries together and build upon individual strengths. We involve families in decisions and help them find family-specific solutions.
What is engagement?
The following reasons are reasons not to contact who before intial response:
An immediate response is needed because a Priority 1 response time is required.
increase the risk of harm to the child or adult household member (e.g., reporter is a subject of the report or resides in the same home as the family and attempted contact may inadvertently alert the alleged perpetrator of the investigation, etc.).
Who is reporting source
Collecting these items could help verify/validate information or fill in gaps.
What is photographs, text messages, emails?
If during the course of an investigation, the Department determines that a criminal offense may have been committed or a new allegation of abuse or neglect not previously reported is present. This needs to be done immediately.
What is provide information to the appropriate law enforcement agency and the Child Abuse Hotline (Hotline).
We work with empathy and respect for all. We lead with kindness in understanding that families are influenced by their experiences. We treat every child, family and caregiver as if they were our own, and connect with people by seeking all points of view.
What is Compassion?