1.   (a) The preliminary inquiry protocol consists of:

(1) obtaining the report information and documenting it on Form 04Kl001E, Referral Information Report;

(2) determining whether the third party perpetrator lives with children who could be at risk;

(3) verbally notifying law enforcement of the report of abuse or neglect by someone other than the PRFC;

(4) documenting the report as a screened out report that is not assigned;

(5) forwarding Forms 04Kl001E and 04CP002E, Notification to Law Enforcement Agency of Child Abuse or Neglect Report, to law enforcement; and

(6) completing Form 04Kl001E related to the third party perpetrator if he or she lives with children.

(b) Examples of the need for a preliminary inquiry are a:

(1) parent calls to report abuse of his or her child by a stranger.  The information contained in the report indicates that the parent is taking appropriate steps to protect the child;

(2) grandmother, who is the child's legal guardian, calls to report abuse of her grandchild by a teacher.  The grandmother provides information that indicates she is taking appropriate action to protect the child; or

(3) child is reportedly abused by a neighbor and there is no indication that the PRFC failed to protect the child.

2.   (a) A third party investigation or assessment protocol consists of:

(1) obtaining the report information and documenting it on Form 04Kl001E;

(2) determining whether the third party perpetrator has children who are at risk;

(3) completing Form 04Kl001E relating to the alleged perpetrator and his or her own children, if appropriate;

(4) verbally notifying law enforcement of the report of abuse or neglect by someone other than the PRFC;

(5) forwarding Forms 04Kl001E and 04CP002E to law enforcement;

(6) assigning the report;

(7) interviewing the child victim;

(8) interviewing the siblings of the child victim.  If the minor sibling is an alleged perpetrator and there is the potential for criminal charges, the interview is coordinated with law enforcement.  The interview with the minor sibling perpetrator is conducted only to determine the family dynamics and whether the PRFC protected the child victim and will continue to protect the child victim from the sibling perpetrator;

(9) interviewing the PRFC as the alleged perpetrator of neglect;

(10) interviewing any collaterals necessary to determine a finding.  The interview with the third party perpetrator is the role of law enforcement; and

(11) documenting the findings of the neglect or failure to protect investigation or assessment, per OAC 340:75-3-10.3.

(b) Examples of the need for third party investigation or assessments are a:

(1) child is allegedly abused by a temporary baby-sitter who is a close friend of the child's mother.  While the baby-sitter is an alleged third party perpetrator, the close friendship between the mother and the alleged perpetrator friend indicates the need to conduct an investigation or assessment to rule out failure to protect on the part of the PRFC and to determine whether there will be ongoing protection for the child; or

(2) child's grandparent who does not live in the home of the child allegedly sexually abused the child.  While the grandparent is a third party perpetrator, the close relative relationship indicates the need to conduct an investigation or assessment to rule out failure to protect on the part of the PRFC and to determine whether there will be ongoing protection for the child.

3.   If the PRFC refuses to secure needed medical attention for a child, the worker evaluates the level of risk to the child and determines whether a request will be made to law enforcement regarding protective custody for the purposes of securing an exam or a request made to the district attorney for an application for a court order to secure needed medical treatment.