1. (a) When a child involved in an open protective service case who has been missing is located, the FSW Caseworker will:

   1. (1) Encourage the parents to have the child examined by his or her primary care physician, if possible, within seventy-two (72) hours of locating the child or immediately in the case of a medical emergency;

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Notify immediately (but no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the child has been located) all parties and individuals previously notified of the child’s disappearance that the child has been located to include, but not limited to:

2. (i) FSW Supervisor;

   1. (ii) Area Director;

      1. (iii) Local Office of Chief Counsel attorney;

         1. (iv) Child’s attorney ad litem, if applicable;
         2. (v) Law enforcement; and
         3. (vi) NCMEC.
      2. (B) This notification may occur via email, phone, or text as appropriate;

   2. (3) If the case:

      1. (A) Was not closed during the child’s absence from the home:

         1. (i) Conduct a visit with the child and the child’s family within three (3) business days after the child has been located to determine what immediate needs the child and/or family may have and what immediate steps may need to be taken to better support the child and his or her family;
         2. (ii) Update CHRIS contacts to note the child has been located and when the FSW Caseworker met with the child and his or her family; and
         3. (iii) Determine the primary factors that contributed to the child’s running away or otherwise being absent from his or her home to include:
3. (a) (a) Updating the family’s FAST assessment within thirty (30) days of locating the child; and

4. (b)

   1. (1) (b)(1) Determining if the child is a sex trafficking victim or at risk of being a sex trafficking victim based on responses to the updated FAST and any other information gathered.

   2. (2) (2) If there is reason to believe the child is a victim of sex trafficking:

      1. (A) (A) Document accordingly in CHRIS and conference with the FSW supervisor to determine appropriate next steps for additional screening related to sex trafficking victims and/or referral to appropriate services;
      2. (B) (B) Report information on children or youth who have been identified as a sex trafficking victim to local law enforcement immediately, and in no case later than twenty-four (24) hours after receiving the information; and
      3. (C) (C) Document in CHRIS contacts when local law enforcement is notified of a child being identified as a sex trafficking victim; or

      4. (B) Was closed because the child was the only child involved in the case and absent from the home for more than sixty (60) days and the family did not require further services:

         1. (i) Reopen the case if the child is still under eighteen (18) years of age; and
         2. (ii) Determine the primary factors that contributed to the child’s running away or otherwise being absent from his or her home to include:
5. (a) (a) Updating the family’s FAST assessment within thirty (30) days of reopening the case; and

6. (b) (b) Determining if the child is a sex trafficking victim or at risk of being a sex trafficking victim based on responses to the updated FAST and any other information gathered; and

   1. (4) If there is reason to believe the child is a victim of sex trafficking:

      1. (A) Document accordingly in CHRIS and conference with the FSW supervisor to determine appropriate next steps for additional screening related to sex trafficking victims and/or referral to appropriate services;
      2. (B) Report information on children or youth who have been identified as a sex trafficking victim to local law enforcement immediately, and in no case later than twenty-four (24) hours after receiving the information; and
      3. (C) Document in CHRIS contacts when local law enforcement is notified of a child being identified as a sex trafficking victim.

7. (b) The FSW Supervisor or Supervisors will:

   1. (1) Conference with the FSW or FSWs as needed; and
   2. (2) Notify the Assistant Director of Field Operations or designee.

Codification Notes: “NCMEC” means National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "07/2017"