 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
In 1985 the North Carolina General Assembly authorized the establishment of the Child Abuse and Neglect Unit within the Child Care Section, Division of Facility Services. The purpose of this special unit was to investigate reports of abuse and neglect in child care facilities. In 1993 the Child Care Section became the Division of Child Development. An Investigative Assessment conducted by the Child Abuse and Neglect Unit focuses on the functioning of the child care facility. An Investigative Assessment conducted by the DSS focuses on the victim child. Investigative Assessments conducted by the two agencies are concurrent and cooperative. It is not appropriate to request the DCD staff
to delay their legally mandated visit because the DSS or law enforcement Investigative Assessments are incomplete.
The Investigative Assessment conducted by the DCD will determine:
• If abuse, neglect, or dependency occurred in the child care facility;
• Whether the administrator caused, had knowledge of, or after exercising reasonable care and diligence, should have had knowledge of the abuse, neglect, or dependency;
• The identity of the perpetrator(s) involved in the abuse, neglect, or dependency incident;
• The extent of violations of child care regulations and whether these violations contributed to the abuse, neglect, or dependency; and
• The type of administrative action needed and corrective action plan in the child care facility.
The law mandates that the DCD conduct an unannounced site visit to investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, or dependency in a child care facility within seven (7) calendar days after the Division receives the report. When circumstances warrant additional unannounced visits, the second visit must be conducted within one month of the first visit. (N.C.G.S. § 110-105) Certain types of administrative action taken against child care administrators require additional unannounced monitoring visits after the Investigative Assessment is completed.
The DCD is solely responsible for investigating reports of abuse and neglect in homes that meet the definition of non-licensed child care facilities. They will submit a report of their findings to the county DSS. The DSS will maintain these findings in a report file maintained by the agency's child care coordinator.
|
For questions or clarification on any of the policy contained in these manuals, please contact your local county office.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|