1. (a) The FSW Investigator will:

   1. (1)

      1. (A) Use CFS-317: Off-Site Worker’s Safety Log during the child maltreatment investigation for all off-site visits away from his or her primary work site.
      2. (B) If worker will return to the primary work site more than one (1) hour after the initial “Planned Return Date/Time,” he or she will contact his or her immediate supervisor or designee with a revised anticipated return date/time;
   2. (2) Give the family and alleged offender (if alleged offender resides outside of the home) PUB-52: Child Protective Services — A Caretaker’s Guide during the first contact and explain, as appropriate, to help the family/alleged offender understand its contents;

   3. (3)

      1. (A) Conduct a home visit to assess the safety, risk, and protective factors of the environment where the child resides and determine the names and conditions of other children in the home.
      2. (B) The home visit may or may not be conducted during the course of interviews with the alleged victim.
      3. (C) However, anytime there is an open investigation involving a child in the hospital (e.g., Garrett’s Law report, child admitted to hospital for injuries, or other health issues associated with child abuse or neglect), a home visit will be conducted prior to the child being discharged from the hospital;
   4. (4) Contact the Department of Human Services attorney to petition the court for an ex parte order of investigation to allow access if the parents, caretakers, or others deny access to any place where the child may be;

   5. (5)

      1. (A) Exercise due diligence in locating the noncustodial parent of the victim child.
      2. (B) Examples of due diligence include, but are not limited to, seeking information from relatives or using information from the alleged victim child’s birth certificate to identify and locate the noncustodial parent;
   6. (6) Document all efforts at reasonable diligence, if unable to locate the noncustodial parent to ensure completion of the investigation within thirty (30) calendar days;
   7. (7) Make notifications of child maltreatment allegations to the appropriate parties according to 9 CAR § 40-1502;
   8. (8) Obtain X-rays, photographs, radiology procedures, drug test results, medical records, other pertinent records (e.g., school records or videos from mandated reporters);

   9. (9) If at any time it is determined that the alleged offender is not a caretaker of the alleged victim child, excluding investigations of sexual abuse:

      1. (A) Refer the matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency via CFS-321: Referral for Investigation;
      2. (B) Close the investigation;
      3. (C) Forward a copy of the findings to the appropriate law enforcement agency for the agency’s use in any criminal investigation; and
      4. (D) Reopen and continue the investigation if the appropriate law enforcement agency subsequently determines that the alleged offender is a caretaker and notifies the Division of Children and Family Services of its determination;
   10. (10) If the family moves to another county before the investigation is complete, notify other county supervisor and request a transfer to that county inbox;
   11. (11) If the family moves to another state, notify that state’s child protective services division and follow instructions from that state;
   12. (12) Ensure that all the information gathered during the investigation is contained within the Division of Children and Family Services file whether or not the information supports the investigative determination;
   13. (13) Key all screens in the “Investigation” section of CHRIS including screens listed under the “Interview” and “Client” sections within thirty (30) days of receipt of the hotline report; and
   14. (14) Complete and print CFS-6003: Report to Prosecuting Attorney within thirty (30) days of the initial report of severe maltreatment (Priority I reports) and send to Prosecuting Attorney and law enforcement unless the Prosecuting Attorney and/or law enforcement has provided written notice to the Division of Children and Family Services that the Division of Children and Family Services does not need to provide notice of the investigative determination.

2. (b) The FSW Supervisor will:

   1. (1) If the family moves to another county before the investigation is complete, transfer investigation to the new county inbox upon receiving notification from the FSW/Crimes Against Children Division investigator of the move;
   2. (2) Conduct a supervisory conference with the investigator fourteen (14) days following receipt of report (or the next business day) to assess progress of the investigation up to that point;
   3. (3) In addition to a fourteen-day supervisory conference, discuss investigation with the investigator as appropriate/needed throughout the investigation;
   4. (4) Complete CFS-299: Investigation Checklist for Supervisors throughout the course of the investigation; and
   5. (5) Make entries on the “Inv. Notes” as the investigation is conducted (e.g., documentation of supervisory conferences with investigator).

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "08/2013"