1. (a) The Family Service Worker will:

   1. (1) Immediately ask the child, child’s parent or parents or legal guardian or guardians from whom custody was removed, and any available relatives or fictive kin to provide information on a noncustodial parent or parents to include, as available:

      1. (A) The names, addresses, last known address, last known place of employment, and phone numbers of the noncustodial parent or parents;
      2. (B) The names, addresses, phone numbers, and other identifying information of any relative or collateral who could assist in location of the noncustodial parent or parents; and
      3. (C) Information pertaining to stability of the noncustodial parent or parents such as:

2. (i) History of and any current substance misuse issues;

   1. (ii) History of and any current domestic violence issues;

      1. (iii) History of and any current mental or behavioral health issues; and

         1. (iv) Current and/or previous restraining orders and/or protection orders with child or immediate family members;

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Collaborate with the Resource Worker to assess appropriateness of the noncustodial parent.

      2. (B) For initial, immediate placement the following must be conducted and considered:

         1. (i) Verification that the individual is the noncustodial parent;
         2. (ii) An expedited Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check (via CFS-316: Request for Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check);
         3. (iii) An expedited State Police criminal record check (via CFS-342: State Police Criminal Record Check);
         4. (iv) A vehicle safety program check (i.e., driving points);
         5. (v) A Lexis Nexis search;
         6. (vi) A Court Connect search for applicable counties; and
         7. (vii) A visual inspection of the home guided by the noncustodial parent information questionnaire and also to include:
3. (a) (a) Follow up on immediate concerns identified by child or collaterals during the removal;

4. (b) (b) Review of information gathered during the visual inspection of the home;

   1. (c) (c) Assessment of how other children and/or adults in the home may affect the child being considered for placement; and

      1. (d) (d) Assessment of how the child being considered for placement may impact the household members.

      2. (C) The following must also be submitted within two (2) weeks of placement (results do not have to be received in order to place with the noncustodial parent if there are no other health or safety concerns):

         1. (i) Federal Bureau of Investigation (nonstate) criminal record check if the noncustodial parent has lived or worked (if different) in another state in the last five (5) years; and
         2. (ii) Request for Child Maltreatment Central Registry check from any state in which the noncustodial parent has lived or worked (if different) for the past five (5) years;
   2. (3) If placement with the noncustodial parent appears viable, interview the child, if age appropriate, to assess how the child may feel about placement with the noncustodial parent and make individualized placements on a case-by-case basis in the best interest of the child;

   3. (4) If placement is viable:

      1. (A) Contact the Office of Chief Counsel attorney immediately if child is being moved from one (1) out-of-home placement to another and provide notice of the placement change to all other parties to the case as required by law and outlined in 9 CAR § 40-827, changes in out-of-home placement and related procedures, if that placement was not considered to be a temporary placement (see 9 CAR § 40-102, definitions);
      2. (B) Provide the child’s parent or parents with PUB-11: What Happens When Your Child and Family Are Involved with DCFS?;
      3. (C) Provide the noncustodial parent with PUB-15: A Relative’s Guide to the Arkansas Child Welfare System; and

      4. (D) Place the child in the noncustodial parent’s home and:

         1. (i) Ensure the noncustodial parent acknowledges they will not allow the alleged perpetrator access to the child that is not supervised by the Division of Children and Family Services until the investigation is complete and will not allow any contact with the alleged offender that is not approved or authorized by the division or the court after the investigation is completed (if found true);
         2. (ii) Document placement selection on the case plan by keying the “Plan Goals” and the “Needs/Svc” screens in the “Treatment” portion of the “Case Plan” section of CHRIS; and
         3. (iii) Assist the noncustodial parent in applying for benefits if appropriate, such as benefits under the Temporary Employment Assistance (TEA) Program or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);
   4. (5) Keep the Resource Worker informed of any changes to the child’s need for a placement with the noncustodial parent and any other relevant information; and
   5. (6) Hold staffings, as needed, in accordance with 9 CAR § 40-506, case staffings, and update the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment and case plan.

5. (b) The Resource Worker will:

   1. (1) Process all necessary background checks by (see Procedure VII-C1: Background Check Processing for more information):

      1. (A) Conducting an expedited Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check (via CFS-316: Request for Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check);
      2. (B) Conducting an expedited State Police criminal record check (via CFS-342: State Police Criminal Record Check);
      3. (C) Submitting a vehicle safety program (DMV) check (driving record points will be computed in the division Central Office, and the results, including qualification or disqualification, will be forwarded to the Resource Worker for inclusion in the noncustodial parent’s file);
      4. (D) Submitting a nonstate criminal record check if the noncustodial parent has lived or worked (if different) in another state in the last five (5) years; and
      5. (E) Submitting requests for Child Maltreatment Central Registry check from any state in which the noncustodial parent has lived or worked (if different) for the past five (5) years;
   2. (2) Conduct a visual inspection of the noncustodial parent’s home as guided by the noncustodial parent information and questionnaire; and

   3. (3) Keep the child’s FSW informed of progress and/or any challenges associated with processing of the background checks.

      1. (c) The FSW and Resource Supervisors will:
   4. (1) Conference with and support the FSW and Resource Worker as necessary; and
   5. (2) Review and approve placement with noncustodial parent.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "01/2020"