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A. PHYSICAL ABUSE RESPONSE PRIORITY DECISION TREE DEFINITIONS
B. SEXUAL ABUSE RESPONSE PRIORITY DECISION TREE DEFINITIONS
C. NEGLECT RESPONSE PRIORITY DECISION TREE DEFINITIONS
D. DEPENDENCY RESPONSE PRIORITY DECISION TREE DEFINITIONS
E. MORAL TURPITUDE RESPONSE PRIORITY DECISION TREE DEFINITIONS
F. EMOTIONAL ABUSE RESPONSE PRIORITY DECISION TREE DEFINITIONS
The purpose of the response priority decision trees is to determine how quickly the CPS assessment must be initiated. The decision trees structure this analysis to determine a priority level response.
Which Cases: |
The response priority decision trees are to be consulted on every new CPS report that is assigned for assessment. This includes telephone and all other means of referral, and includes information on new families and families already known to the agency; whether or not a case is currently open to CPS Assessments, CPS In-Home Services, or Child Placement Services. |
Who: |
Every staff member who has the responsibility of CPS intake. |
Decision: |
Response priority decision trees determine how quickly a CPS assessment must be initiated. |
When: |
The Intake social worker consults the appropriate Maltreatment Screening Tool(s) and determines that the allegations indicate a CPS assessment is required. The Intake social worker consults the corresponding Priority Response Decision Tree in order to determine how quickly contact needs to be made to begin the CPS assessment. |
Appropriate Consultation: |
Please refer to the complete definitions. Consult the corresponding Priority Response Decision Tree for each type of maltreatment that was previously determined to require a CPS assessment. For each tree, begin at the first question box, and proceed by answering the questions yes or no; when the answer to any question is yes, this is the termination point. The termination point indicates whether structured decision making recommends an immediate, 24 hour or 72 hour response. If an immediate response has been indicated on one tree, it is not necessary to complete additional maltreatment trees. Begin the decision making process by consulting the decision tree that corresponds to the maltreatment allegation that is the most egregious. |
Response Times: |
Immediately |
Within 24 hours | |
Within 72 hours |
If a decision is made to initiate the report later than immediately, document the rational for delaying the response. The intent of an immediate response time is that the response occurs at once, which is by initiating the CPS assessment after completing the Intake report. The response should never exceed 24 hours in a physical or sexual abuse report or 72 hours in a neglect report. The responsibility to ensure safety begins at Intake. If it is believed that delaying the response in fact serves to better protect the child, document the reason clearly. An example would be:
• The agency receives a report of sexual abuse with Dad as the alleged perpetrator that states dad is abusive when Mom is not home and it is 2:00 a.m. and Mom, Dad and the child are at home, sleeping.
Based on the priority response tree, this situation would require an immediate response because the alleged perpetrator lives in the home and has access to the child. If the decision to delay response is made, an example of documentation could be:
• Interview/contact postponed until 8:30 a.m., as reporter stated Dad leaves for work at 8:00 a.m.
Is the child preschool or limited by a disability?
Physical abuse of a young child or a disabled child is considered high risk and requires an immediate response.
Is the child being tormented or tortured?
This is considered to be aggravated circumstances and requires an immediate response, for example: child is being physically restrained to the point of injury, objects or chemicals are placed in the mouth, eyes.
Is the child in a life-threatening situation?
Physical abuse can present as a life threatening situation depending upon severity, age and developmental stage of child, for example: possible internal injuries, burns requiring medical treatment, a child less than a year who has been shaken or subjected to spanking, hitting or other form of corporal punishment.
Is this a self-reporting child under 12 or is this child afraid to go home?
Based on credible threats made by parent, child’s behavioral indicators of fear, a history of abusive behavior that is similar to the current allegation may suggest a higher chance or reoccurrence.
Does the child live in a home in which another child died as a result of maltreatment?
Based on the potential risk, this requires an immediate response.
Does the perpetrator have access to a child currently being sexually abused?
Does the alleged perpetrator live in the home or have immediate access to the child? In situations where the abuse occurred in the past and the alleged perpetrator does not have access to the child, a response within 24 hours is acceptable.
Is the child in a life-threatening situation?
Based on the child’s age and developmental status, the sexual abuse presents a threat to the child’s life.
Is this a self-reporting child under 12 or is this child afraid to go home?
The fear expressed is based on credible threats made by the parent; child (ren) evidences behavioral indicators of fear.
Is the child immediately at risk of harm resulting from neglect?
Based on the child(ren)’s age and developmental status, they are at immediate risk of harm. For example: leaking gas from stove or heating unit, no food in home and information that child has not been fed, substances or objects accessible to child (ren) that may endanger their health/safety, excessive garbage, human and/or animal waste which threatens health, serious illness or significant injury has occurred due to living conditions and these conditions still exist (lead poisoning, rat bites), firearms easily accessible to children.
Is a child under age 6 or limited by a disability unsupervised?
The child(ren) is not supervised by the parent and there is no appropriate alternative plan for supervision.
Is the child in a life threatening situation or has the child been abandoned?
Based on the child(ren)’s age and developmental status, the neglect presents a threat to life. Child abandonment is considered an aggravated circumstance and requires an immediate response.
Is this a self-reporting child under 12 or is the child afraid to go home?
The fear expressed is based on credible threats made by the parent; child(ren) evidences behavioral indicators of fear.
Is the child in a home where another child has been abused or where a child has died as a result of abuse or neglect?
Based on the potential for risk, this situation requires an immediate response. It is relevant to the screening of neglect reports to determine if the child is living in a home where another child has died as a result of abuse or neglect, regardless of whether the abuse or neglect was known and substantiated.
Is the child in immediate need of medical care?
Based on the child needing immediate, but not lifesaving medical care, for example: child is underweight, not being fed, refusal of parent to meet child’s medical/mental health needs or treat a serious injury/condition.
Is the child at risk of serious injury?
Based on the parent’s ability to provide appropriate supervision and care.
Has the child received discipline resulting in injury?
Discipline that results in injury requires a 24-hour response; all other inappropriate discipline reports require response within 72 hours. If the bruises reported are not currently visible, the response time is 72 hours.
Is the child in a life-threatening situation?
Based on the child’s age and developmental status, the dependency presents a threat to the child’s life.
Is this a self-reporting child under 12 or is this child afraid to go home?
Based on child’s self-report, this indicates an immediate response.
Is this a child without a parent/caretaker to provide care and supervision?
Based upon the absence or unwillingness of the parent/caretaker.
Is this a child with a parent/caretaker who is unable to provide care and supervision?
Based upon the parent/caretaker’s lack of capacity to provide care and supervision.
Is the child in a life threatening situation?
Based on the child’s age and developmental status, the moral turpitude presents a threat to the child’s life.
Is the child in a life threatening situation?
Based on the child’s age and developmental status, the emotional abuse presents a threat to life. The emotional abuse has prompted the child to exhibit suicidal behavior.
Is this a self-reporting child under 12 or is this child afraid to go home?
The fear expressed is based on credible threats made by the parent; child(ren) evidences behavioral indicators of fear.
Is the child being tormented?
The child is currently being exposed to extreme terrorizing tactics and evidences behavioral indicators of fear.
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For questions or clarification on any of the policy contained in these manuals, please contact your local county office.
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