Revised 6-1-08

1.   Factors used in establishing assignment time frames.  The factors in (1) through (4) are considered along with priority guidelines in establishing investigation or assessment time frames.

(1) Age.  A child, infant through age three, in any potentially dangerous situation, always indicates a higher priority 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 higher priority and a more prompt response 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 about the child requires a higher priority and more prompt response due to the risk of serious injury to the child.

(4) Any allegations of bruising or injury.  Any allegations of bruising or injury must be investigated in a time frame that allows the Child Welfare (CW) worker to:

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

(B) ensure protection for the child.

2.  (a) Priority guidelines in OAC 340:75-3-7.1:

(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 investigation or assessment; and

(2) ensures that investigations or assessments are conducted as soon as possible and in accordance with the investigation or assessment time frames.  The priority is indicated on Form 04KI001E, Referral Information Report.

3.  Response criteria.  Response criteria followed in assignment of all reports are specified in (1) and (2).

(1) Since all time frames begin at the time the report is received, the date the report is received is the first day of a Priority I or II investigation or assessment.

(2) When face-to-face contact with the alleged child victim fails on the assigned day of initiation, a second good faith attempt to locate the child is made the same day.  Continued good faith attempts occur each working day thereafter until contact is made or it is determined that the child cannot be located.  Each attempted contact with the child victim or other family members is documented in KIDS.

4.   Priority I allegations.

(1) The decision concerning a safety measure is discussed with and approved by the CW supervisor and documented on Form 04KI001E in the Comments section.

(2) Examples of Priority I allegations are:

(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 three, 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 who:

(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 need immediate medical treatment;

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

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

(ii) assign the report as Priority II with the appropriate number of days for response time indicated on KIDS;

(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(s) 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(s) 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 serious physical abuse;

(P) the PRFC's behavior is so bizarre or impaired that the child is at risk of harm, such as a PRFC who is psychotic, drunk, affected by drugs, 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) although a child is not in immediate danger, assessment or response by the CW worker is required the same day, such as when a child is placed in a shelter by law enforcement, a child's parent(s) 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 have been sexually abused or has alleged injuries and an employee of a child care center is the alleged perpetrator.  The parent(s) does not plan to return the child to the child care center; however, the employee still works 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, sinister threats, or physical injury requiring medical attention, or the child is at risk of grave physical danger or significant neglect;

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

(W) allegations are made regarding foster or trial adoptive parents;

(X) allegations are made regarding a PRFC with an open permanency planning or voluntary FCS case; or

(Y) allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or serious neglect are made regarding a child care home.

5.   Priority II allegations.

(1) The CW supervisor reviews the Priority II report and determines the appropriate time frame for the report to be initiated, from two to 15 calendar days from the date the report is received.

(2) Generally, the age of the youngest child is the most significant factor in determining these time frames.  For example, children, infants through three years of age, require no more than two to five days for response, while children four through ten years may have more than five days for response.

(3) Examples of Priority II allegations are:

(A) a child age four through 17 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 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 mental health attention for a condition that may place the child at risk of serious harm within a short time frame;

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

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

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

(I) a child is physically or sexually abused by a child care center or home employee.  The employee is no longer working at the child care center or home.  If information is obtained that the employee is working where he or she has contact with children, or the employee has young children in his or her own home, the worker responds immediately;

(J) a child is currently safe but will be returned to an environment where recent domestic violence occurred between adults that involved weapons, physical injury requiring medical attention, or sinister threats that placed the child at risk of grave 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 risk of physical harm is likely due to continuing poor supervision by the PRFC; and