1. (a) When a child missing from an out-of-home placement is located, the primary Family Service Worker will:

   1. (1) Ensure the child has a physical exam 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) 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:

      1. (A) Secondary FSW, if applicable;
      2. (B) TYS coordinator, if applicable;
      3. (C) FSW supervisor;
      4. (D) Area director;
      5. (E) Placement provider;
      6. (F) Local Office of Chief Counsel attorney;
      7. (G) Child’s attorney ad litem;
      8. (H) Custodial and noncustodial parents;
      9. (I) Law enforcement; and
      10. (J)

2. (i) NCMEC.

   1. (ii) This notification may occur via email, phone, or text as appropriate;

   2. (3)

      1. (A) Conduct a visit with the child and placement provider by the next business day after the child has been located, to determine what immediate needs the child and placement provider may have and what immediate steps may need to be taken to better support both the child and the placement provider.
      2. (B) This visit may be conducted by the secondary FSW Caseworker as appropriate;
   3. (4) Update the child’s placement in the Division of Children and Family Services’ information management system within two (2) business days of locating the child;

   4. (5) Determine the primary factors that contributed to the child’s running away or otherwise being absent from foster care to include:

      1. (A) Updating the child’s assessment in the division’s information management system within thirty (30) days of locating the child; and

      2. (B)

         1. (i) Determining if the child is a possible sex trafficking victim based on responses to the updated assessment and any other information gathered.
         2. (ii) If there is reason to believe the child is, or is at risk of being, a victim of sex trafficking:
3. (a) (a) Document accordingly in the division’s information management system and conference with the FSW supervisor to determine appropriate next steps for additional screening related to sex trafficking victims and referral to appropriate services, or both;

4. (b) (b) Report information on children or youth who have been identified as being a sex trafficking victim to local law enforcement immediately, and in no case later than twenty-four (24) hours after receiving the information; and

   1. (c) (c) Document in the division’s information management system when local law enforcement is notified of a child being identified as a sex trafficking victim; and
   2. (6) Communicate regularly with the child’s secondary FSW Caseworker and/or TYS Coordinator, if applicable.

5. (b) When a child missing from an out-of-home placement is located, the secondary FSW Caseworker will collaborate with the primary FSW as needed to ensure:

   1. (1) The child has a physical exam by his or her primary care physician, if possible, within seventy-two (72) hours of locating the child; and

   2. (2) All appropriate parties are notified that the child has been located.

      1. (c) The Family Service Worker Supervisor or Supervisors will:
   3. (1) Conference with the FSW or FSWs as needed; and
   4. (2) Notify the Area Director or designee.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "07/2024"