Handbook Revision, March 1, 2023

These revisions of the Child Protective Services Handbook were published on March 1, 2023.

On September 1, 2017, the investigations branch of CPS became a separate division named Child Protective Investigations (CPI). Until CPI develops its own policy handbook, investigation policies and procedures will remain in the CPS Handbook.

See:

Child Protective Services Revisions

Child Protective Investigations Revisions

Child Protective Services Revisions

Participating in Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) Conferences (PATS 13887)

This handbook revision adds policy requiring the agency to give the family options for participating in FGDM conferences rather than mandating that they occur in person.

See:

1121.4 The Attendance and Participation of Children and Youth Families in FGDM Conferences

Heightened Monitoring (PATS 13878)

This revision adds new policy about heightened monitoring.

See:

4600 Heightened Monitoring (HM)

4610 Criteria for Placing an Operation on HM

4620 HM Requirements

4621 Operation’s HM Assessment

4622 Initial Notifications

4623 Duration of HM and Monitoring after HM

4630 Role of the CPS HM Program

4631 Stages of Heightened Monitoring

4632 HM Coordination and Responsibilities

4633 Heightened Monitoring Visits by CPS

4634 Foster Home Placement Review and Child Placement Review

4635 HM Placement Hold

4640 HM Monitoring Evaluations

4650 Determination of HM Plan Completion

4660 HM Post-Plan Monitoring

PAL Life Skills (PATS 13808)

Policy sections 10220, 10221, and 10222 were updated to:

  • Incorporate requirements of HB 700 from this past legislative cycle.
  • Address barriers to participation in the PAL program for youth who have a disability, make accommodations for the youth to meaningfully participate, and document accommodations in the youth’s case file.
  • Correct for changes made to the Casey Life Skills Assessment tool by Casey Family Programs.

See:

10220 Required Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) Services

10221 Life Skills Assessment

10222 Life Skills Training

Child Protective Investigations Revisions

Submitting Investigations and Alternative Response Cases (PATS 13783)

This policy revision clarifies that CPI can administratively close an investigation or close it as Abbreviated Ruled Out if there are no previous substantiated allegations of abuse or neglect against any parent or caregiver in the current investigation.

This policy revision also aligns current protocols and practice for administrative closure (ADMIN) in alternative response (AR) cases.

See:

2291 Submitting an Investigation for Closure

2291.1 Abbreviated Ruled Out

2291.2 Administrative Closure

2291.2 2291.3 Unable to Complete, Family Moved/Cannot Locate

2291.3 2291.4 All Other Recommended Actions

2291.4 2291.5 Need for Ongoing Services

2291.5 2291.6 Extension Request

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2310 Criteria for Administrative Closure of an Investigation

2311 ADMIN – Reporter Is Anonymous Report

2312 ADMIN – Refute the Allegations Are Refuted

2313 ADMIN – CPI Lacks Authority to Investigate

2314 ADMIN – Allegations Were Already Investigated

2315 ADMIN – Investigation Is Open for More Longer Than 60 Days

2316 Types of Closure: Comparison Table

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2400 Referring a Case from Investigations to Voluntary or Court Ordered Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS)

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2654 Resulting Actions

2655 Submitting an Alternative Response Case for Administrative Closure

2655.1 Close – ADMIN – AR Administrative Closure: Reporter is Anonymous Report

2655.2 Close – ADMIN – AR Administrative Closure: Refuting the Allegations

2655.3 Close – ADMIN – AR Administrative Closure: Lacks Authority to Assess

2655.4 Close – ADMIN – AR Administrative Closure: Allegations Already Investigated