1. (a) The DR Worker will:

   1. (1)

      1. (A) Engage the household in a comprehensive and collaborative family assessment of the family’s strengths and needs and gather other relevant, corresponding information within fourteen (14) days of receipt of referral from the Child Abuse Hotline.
      2. (B) The family assessment may include:

2. (i) Family’s financial status;

   1. (ii) Basic educational screening for the children;

      1. (iii) Physical health, mental health, and behavioral health screening for all family members;

         1. (iv) Names and addresses of those persons who provide a support system for the family; and
         2. (v) Names and addresses of any service providers that have been or are currently involved in providing services to the family;

   2. (2) Initiate services to meet any immediate needs of the family, including:

      1. (A) Food;
      2. (B) Shelter; and
      3. (C) Clothing;
   3. (3) Place a copy of the family assessment in the family record;

   4. (4)

      1. (A) Maintain a minimum of twice weekly contacts with the household, which must include contact with the children as appropriate in the household, unless the DR supervisor and the household determine that the contacts should occur more frequently.
      2. (B) While the initial home visit/contact must be conducted by the DR Worker and include face-to-face contact with at least the child or children named in the report and one (1) parent/caregiver, the DR Worker may ask the DR Program Assistant to make subsequent contacts with the family provided the majority of the face-to-face contacts are conducted by the DR Worker.

      3. (C) Children do not necessarily have to be seen at each subsequent face-to-face family contact:

         1. (i) If the primary purpose of a specific contact is to discuss issues and/or services relating directly to the parent or parents; and
         2. (ii) Provided the DR Worker has assessed, based on previous contacts and other information, that the children’s safety:
3. (a) (a) Is ensured for the time being; and

4. (b) (b) Will be reassessed at a subsequent face-to-face contact with the children not to exceed two (2) weeks from the date of the contact in which the children were not present;

   1. (5)

      1. (A) Develop a family plan with the household.
      2. (B) The family plan will be completed within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the referral to the hotline.
      3. (C) The family plan may be modified and revised as needed;
   2. (6) Identify and implement services to address the issues that resulted in the hotline report as well as any additional child maltreatment concern that may not have been identified in the original hotline report;
   3. (7) Assess the household’s reasonable progress in resolving the issue that brought them to the attention of the Division of Children and Family Services;
   4. (8) Maintain ongoing contact with the involved service providers as appropriate;
   5. (9) Create and maintain community partnerships that will benefit DR client outcomes;
   6. (10) Develop an aftercare plan with the household;

   7. (11) Submit the following documents to the DR Supervisor before formalizing case closure with the family:

      1. (A) Case closing summary;
      2. (B) Child and family service aftercare plan;
      3. (C) Case note documentation of interviews, contacts, and activities;
      4. (D) Provider treatment reports; and
      5. (E) Updated family assessment and safety assessment;
   8. (12) Participate in a closure staffing with the DR Supervisor to discuss the closure request; and

   9. (13)

      1. (A) Close the case in the division’s information management system upon receiving DR Supervisor approval for case closure.

      2. (B) The DR Program Assistant will:

         1. (i) Help ensure clients are meeting the family plan goals in a DR case;
         2. (ii) Assist with referrals to services identified in the family plan;
         3. (iii) Provide transportation for clients as needed;
         4. (iv)
5. (a) (a) Assist DR Worker in maintaining contact with the family provided the DR Worker conducts the initial face-to-face contact and the majority of subsequent family contacts.

6. (b) (b) Some PA contacts may be made by phone provided documentation supports that health and safety of children will still be ensured;

   1. (v) Conference with DR Worker on household progress;

      1. (vi) Create and maintain community partnerships that will benefit DR client outcomes; and

         1. (vii) Document all activities in the division’s information management system within two (2) business days of completion.

7. (b) The DR Supervisor will:

   1. (1) Conference with the DR Worker and DR Program Assistant as needed regarding the family’s differential response case and associated services;
   2. (2) Review and approve family assessments, family plans, and appropriateness of service referrals;

   3. (3) Review DR case closure request including:

      1. (A) Case closing summary;
      2. (B) Child and family services aftercare plan;
      3. (C) Case note documentation of interviews, contacts, and activities;
      4. (D) Provider treatment reports; and
      5. (E) Updated family assessment and safety assessment;
   4. (4) Hold a closure staffing with the DR Worker to discuss the closure request and determine if the request will be approved or denied; and
   5. (5) Approve or deny case closure request as appropriate.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "02/2025"