INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-3-7.1

Revised 12-15-11

1.   (a) Use of priority guidelines and response times.  Priority guidelines and response times used by Child Welfare (CW) staff determine how quickly an initial response is made to an accepted report of child abuse or neglect.  The priority guidelines are used in conjunction with good judgment based on all available information.

(b) Factors considered in conjunction with priority guidelines.  The factors considered with the priority guidelines to establish assessment or investigation response times include:

(1) the child's age and vulnerability;

(2) the child's physical and mental abilities;

(3) the perpetrator's access to and attitude toward the child; and

(4) allegations of bruising or injury to the child.

(c) Urgency.  Urgency means determining how quickly the initial response is made to the report.  A decision is made regarding urgency after all available information relative to risk is collected, recorded, and analyzed.

(d) Factors used to establish assignment type and response times.  The factors in (1) through (4) are considered with priority guidelines to establish assessment or investigation response times.

(1) Age.  A child, infant through age five, in any potentially dangerous situation, always indicates a shorter response time than an older child who is less vulnerable to serious injury or death.

(2) Physical and mental abilities.  A severely physically or mentally disabled child generally warrants a shorter response time than a child without such limitations.

(3) Perpetrator access and attitude toward the child.  A perpetrator with sole access to a child and a cruel or unrealistic attitude toward the child requires a higher assignment type and shorter response time due to the threat of serious injury to the child.

(4) Allegations of bruising or injury.  Allegations of bruising or injury are investigated within a time requirement that allows the Child Welfare (CW) specialist to:

(A) observe any bruises or injuries in the most severe state; and

(B) ensure protection for the child.

2.   (a) Priority and response guidelines in this Section:

(1) assist staff in determining urgency;

(2) are not inclusive or exclusive; and

(3) are not intended to replace good judgment.

(b) Based on an analysis of the reported circumstances, the CW supervisor:

(1) assigns a priority to each report accepted for assessment or investigation; and

(2) indicates the response time on Form 04KI001E, Referral Information Report.

(c) Reports that indicate a need for priority I assignment, but cannot be initiated on the same date may be assigned as a priority II:

(1) with a short response time; or

(2) with a short response time when there is clear evidence that an immediate response is not in the best interest of the child.  The determination is documented in the disposition screen of Form 04KI004E.

3.         Priority I allegations and response time.

(1) Priority I reports are responded to immediately within the same day of receipt of the report.  When there is reason to believe the child's physical safety may be at risk or the child may be adversely affected by an interview in the child's home, the CW OKDHS Abuse and Neglect Hotline (Hotline) supervisor may:

(A) extend the initial investigation response time frame to the next working business day to allow for an interview at school or another neutral setting; and

(B) assign the report as a Priority II with the appropriate number of days for response time indicated on KIDS Form 04KI004E;

(2) Examples of Priority I allegations include:

(A) a child dies because of suspected abuse or neglect.  The family situation and safety of other children are immediately assessed;

(B) an infant is shaken;

(C) a child of any age suffers serious physical injury due to suspected abuse or neglect, such as fractures, head injuries, extensive serious bruising, or internal injuries;

(D) a child, infant through age five, has any inflicted physical injury;

(E) a child is reported to have been intentionally burned.  The injury may or may not be severe;

(F) a child too young or disabled to ensure his or her own basic safety is left alone.  A child is considered disabled when the child:

(i) has a sight or hearing impairment;

(ii) is non-ambulatory;

(iii) is mentally limited; or

(iv) has other severe handicapping conditions;

(G) a child is deserted, abandoned, or lost;

(H) a child has any physical injury inflicted to the face, head, neck, stomach, or genitals;

(I) a child's condition as described may indicate non-organic failure-to-thrive and a need for immediate medical treatment;

(J) a child is sexually abused.  The alleged perpetrator has access to the child or is responsible for other children in the home;

(K) a child is deprived of basic physical necessities that result in conditions such as starving or freezing, or is in a life-threatening home environment;

(L) a child needs immediate medical attention.  The child's condition is serious and the child's parent cannot or will not obtain treatment;

(M) a person responsible for the child (PRFC) threatens to seriously injure the child and demonstrates or has a plan that indicates intent to carry out the threat;

(N) a child is threatening suicide, the parent is aware of the suicide threat and cannot or will not protect the child or there is a previous history of severe abuse or neglect;

(O) a physical injury is inflicted on a child by a PRFC and there is a previous history of confirmed or substantiated serious physical abuse;

(P) the PRFC's behavior is so bizarre or impaired that the child is at risk of serious harm, such as a PRFC who is psychotic, under the influence of and incapacitated by drugs or alcohol, or threatening suicide;

(Q) a child's safety is jeopardized because his or her movement is so restricted that the child is unable to protect himself or herself and the conditions are dangerous or hazardous, such as a child who is locked in a car or house, or chained or tied;

(R) a child who is not in immediate danger, but assessment or response by the CW specialist is required the same day, such as when a child is placed in a designated assessment center by law enforcement, a child's parent cannot be located, or a child is without shelter;

(S) a child recently set a fire or has a history of fire setting and there is information that the PRFC has not taken safety precautions to keep fire-causing materials away from the child;

(T) a child is alleged to be sexually abused or has alleged injuries and an employee of a child care center is the alleged perpetrator.  The parent does not plan to return the child to the child care center; however, the employee is still employed at the center and continues to care for other young children;

(U) a child is present when domestic violence occurs between adults that involves weapons, choking, extreme use of power and control, or physical injury requiring medical attention, or the child is at risk of serious physical danger or significant neglect;

(V) a child 12 months of age or younger is alleged to be neglected;

(W) abuse or neglect to a child by a foster or trial adoptive parent;

(X) abuse or neglect of a child by a PRFC with an open permanency planning, trial reunification, or voluntary family-centered services case; or

(Y) physical or sexual abuse, or serious neglect of a child in a child care home.

4.   Priority II allegations and response time.  Priority II assessments or investigations are initiated within two to 10 calendar days from the date the report is received.

(1) The Hotline supervisor reviews the Priority II report and assigns a response time of two to 10 calendar days from the date the report is received.

(2) Generally, the age of the youngest child is the most significant factor in determining the response time.  For example, a response in no more than two to five days is required when the child is an infant through five years of age; however, a response may be initiated in more than five days when the child is six through ten years of age.

(3) Examples of Priority II allegations include:

(A) a child six through 17 years of age is alleged to have a current physical injury inflicted on any area other than the face, head, neck, stomach, or genitals;

(B) a child of any age has a physical injury inflicted by a PRFC and there is previous history of confirmed or substantiated abuse or neglect;

(C) non-organic failure-to-thrive is suspected but the child's described condition does not appear to require immediate medical treatment;

(D) an elementary school-age child is left alone or is given responsibility for the care of preschool children for extended periods of time;

(E) a child needs medical or behavioral health care for a condition that may place the child at risk of serious harm within a short time period;

(F) non-age appropriate sexual behavior indicating the child is exposed to sexual activity, but no specific perpetrator is named;

(G) a child is sexually abused, but the alleged perpetrator does not have access to the child and there is no need for urgent medical treatment.  When the alleged perpetrator gains access to the child, the report is responded to immediately;

(H) an indication a child set a fire and circumstances of the fire indicate there was inadequate supervision by the PRFC;

(I) a child is physically or sexually abused by a child care center or child care home employee.  The employee is no longer employed at the child care center or child care home.  The CW specialist responds immediately when:

(i) information is obtained that the alleged perpetrator is employed where he or she has contact with children; or

(ii) the employee has young children in his or her own home;

(J) a child is currently safe but will return to an environment where recent domestic violence occurred between adults that involved weapons, choking, extreme use of power and control, or physical injury requiring medical attention that placed the child at threat of serious physical danger, significant neglect, or significant emotional consequence;

(K) a child is abandoned by the PRFC but is with a responsible adult who agrees to provide care for a limited period of time;

(L) a young child is in a home environment that significantly threatens the child's health and physical safety;

(M) a young child's threat of physical harm is likely due to continuing poor supervision by the PRFC; and

(N) severe mental injury is alleged but there is no imminent danger to the child.