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340:75-3-7. Screening of reports

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Revised 6-1-07

(a) Reports. All reports are screened to determine whether allegations meet the definition of child abuse or neglect and are within the scope of a Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation or assessment, per Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes and OAC 340:75. If the allegations are not appropriate for CPS, the reporter may be given an explanation why an investigation or assessment will not be conducted and, if appropriate, where a referral may be made to assist the family. • 1

(b) Collateral contacts during the screening process. If the reporter does not provide critical information that assists in making an informed decision about the disposition of a report, contact may be made with any person who has critical information about the report. • 2

(c) Time limitations on accepting CPS reports for assessment or investigation. Intervention is limited to current situations as the CPS focus is on identifying and protecting children who are presently at risk or will be at risk if safety measures are not put in place.

(1) When a report is received that alleges abuse or neglect that is not recent, information is obtained to determine if there is reason to believe that the child or other children may be presently at risk.
(2) When information does not indicate a child is presently at risk, CPS intervention may not be warranted.

(d) Disposition of the screened out report. When a report is received that is not appropriate for CPS and services are needed, the Child Welfare (CW) worker may make a referral within Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS), to outside resources, or both, for emergency food, shelter, medical services, or counseling. In situations that indicate the child and family are in need of services, referrals to community agencies or OKDHS contract providers may be offered to the family. • 3

(e) Clarifying information regarding the report for investigation or assessment. When the screening process results in a report requiring further clarification, contact may be made with the reporter or another collateral contact. Time frames for gathering clarifying information are set forth in OAC 340:75-3-6.

(f) Reports that are duplicative of a previous report. When a report is received in which the information is duplicative of a prior report that has been assigned for investigation or assessment, but has not been initiated, the report may be screened out and associated with the assigned investigation or assessment. • 4

(g) Response to reporter concerning a screened out report. The reporter may be informed of the decision to screen out the referral and the reason for this decision. The reporter is advised that the information he or she provides is kept on file electronically and that any future reported allegations of child abuse or neglect that meet the criteria will be assigned for investigation or assessment.

(h) Screened reports and information and referral (I&R) files. All CPS reports not assigned for investigation or assessment are documented in the KIDS system. All other reports not assigned for investigation or assessment, such as a preliminary inquiry that is referred to law enforcement, are also documented in KIDS. • 5

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-3-7

Revised 6-1-07

1.   (a) Criteria for screening reports.

(1) Great care is taken in making screening decisions. The Child Welfare (CW) supervisor considers the potential risk factors described by the reporter and the age and vulnerability of the child.

(A) Even when the report does not have clear-cut allegations of abuse or neglect these factors are considered in making screening decisions.

(B) Reports regarding children three years of age and younger are screened with extreme caution due to the vulnerability of this age group to serious and life-threatening consequences resulting from abuse or neglect.

(2) Reports that are appropriate for screening out and are not accepted for investigation or assessment are reports:

(A) that clearly fall outside definitions of abuse and neglect per OAC 340:75-3-2, including minor injury to a child older than ten years of age who has no significant child abuse and neglect history or neglect that would be harmful to a young child but poses less risk to a child older than ten years of age;

(B) concerning a victim age 18 or older, unless the victim is in voluntary placement with Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS);

(C) in which the alleged perpetrator is not a person responsible for the child (PRFC), unless there is indication that the PRFC failed to protect the child. For preliminary inquiry protocol refer to OAC 340:75‑3‑7.2;

(D) in which there is insufficient information to locate the family and child; and

(E) in which there is no information indicating that abuse or neglect has occurred, rather, the family needs assistance from a social service agency.

(3) Reports that meet the definition of abuse or neglect and have sufficient information to conduct an investigation or assessment are assigned, including:

(A) anonymous reports;

(B) custody disputes in which abuse or neglect is alleged even if there are numerous reports; or

(C) reports concerning a family with a history of previous reports. There may be a legitimate explanation why previous investigations or assessments did not reveal enough information to confirm the report.

(4) Once a CW worker responds to a report by interviewing or observing the alleged child victim, the report cannot be screened out and the Child Protective Services (CPS) investigative or assessment protocol must be followed per OAC 340:75-3-8 or 340:75-3-8.5 and 340:75-3-8.6.

(b) Reports concerning serious individual and family problems that do not indicate abuse or neglect of a child may be appropriate for screening out, such as:

(1) an adolescent with behavioral problems, such as delinquency or truancy, not caused by abuse or neglect and the PRFC attempted intervention and exhibits concern about the behavior;

(2) parent-child conflicts in which no abuse or neglect is alleged;

(3) a child who has special needs, such as special education or a child who exhibits emotionally disturbed behavior, and the PRFC made appropriate attempts to address the child's needs;

(4) a child age six or older spanked on the buttocks by foster or trial adoptive parents, no unreasonable force used, and no injuries observed, per OAC 340:75-3-8.1; and

(5) overreaction to poor parenting practices. Examples of poor parenting practices that are generally not indicative of serious neglect are:

(A) inattention to clothing resulting in the child wearing torn clothing or not having a raincoat or gloves;

(B) providing unbalanced meals or too much junk food;

(C) inattention to hygiene resulting in such things as dirty face or hair, as long as the child is not malodorous and the situation is periodic;

(D) housekeeping standards, such as poorly washed dishes, general disarray, and mildly unsanitary conditions;

(E) inattention to minor health issues, such as insect bites, lice, scabies, and minor colds;

(F) substance abuse by the PRFC that does not prevent the PRFC from providing minimal basic care for the child; and

(G) domestic violence between adults in the home that does not involve weapons, physical injury requiring medical attention, or sinister threats that place the child at risk of grave physical danger, significant neglect, or significant emotional consequence.

2.   Collateral contact.

(1) During the screening process collateral contact may be necessary. For example, when:

(A) CW receives a report concerning a child who was raped, perpetrator unknown, the CW worker or supervisor may contact law enforcement to determine whether the perpetrator is a PRFC or third party;

(B) a reporter only has secondhand information but supplies the name of someone who has more direct information, CW staff may contact that person to get better information; and

(C) the CW worker believes the collateral will notify the family about the report and the plan is to screen out the report, the CW worker contacts the family by phone or in writing to let them know that a report was received but it did not meet the definitions of abuse or neglect, per Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes and OAC 340:75-3-2.

(2) The issues with obtaining clarifying information before a report is accepted for investigation or assessment are:

(A) care must be taken not to provide any of the details of the report; and

(B) good judgment must be used in deciding who can supply clarifying information without contacting the family named in the report.

3.   Documentation of screen out. The CW supervisor documents the reason for the screen out decision on Form 04Kl001E, Referral Information Report.

4.   Duplication of allegations. Duplication of allegations is when identical information is received from either the same or a different reporter.

5.   Information and referral (I&R). I&R is entered when the reported information is clearly not child abuse or neglect but there is:

(1) indication for a referral to other services, such as:

(A) food stamps;

(B) immunization at the local health department; or

(C) a local food closet;

(2) no open investigation; and

(3) no existing KK case.

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