75-03-19-06. Assessment procedures.

Assessments of reports of suspected child abuse or neglect must be conducted by the department or its authorized agents in substantial conformity with the policies of the department. Assessments of reports of suspected child abuse or neglect must reflect:

1. An assessment process designed to collect sufficient information to make a decision whether child abuse or neglect is confirmed, confirmed with an unknown subject, unconfirmed, or unable to determine to provide for the protection and treatment of an abused or neglected child;

2. Assessment techniques that include interviewing and observing the subject and the child victim, interviewing other interested or affected persons, and documenting those interviews and observations;

3. Conclusions and a summary based on information gathered by assessment techniques described in subsection 2; and

4. If the child abuse or neglect decision is confirmed or confirmed within an unknown subject and the child remains at substantial risk of continued abuse or neglect due to a supported state of impending danger, development of service plans for the provision of protective services based on goals and objectives established by the department or its authorized agent for the subject and for the family of the child victim.

History: Effective September 1, 1990; amended effective November 1, 1994; January 1, 1996; July 1, 2006; July 1, 2020; April 1, 2022.

General Authority: NDCC 50-25.1-05, 50-25.1-05.4

Law Implemented: NDCC 50-25.1-05, 50-25.1-05.4