One or both caregivers fear they will maltreat their child and/or are requesting placement. (5)The reasons for suspecting child abuse. PositionThe job classification of a school employe as defined and determined by existing law, State regulation or the school board or governing authority including administrative and supervisory staff, teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff or others. What CPS Can And Cannot Legally Do During Investigations No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. 3513. . (b)If the county agency has determined that a report is unfounded, the status of the report may not be changed subsequently to founded or indicated. 4547; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513. (b)The director or a person specifically designated in writing by the director or physician may take a child into protective custody if it is immediately necessary to protect the child from further serious physical injury, sexual abuse, or serious physical neglectas indicated by the following examples: (1)Medical indications of repeated abuse, the existence of previous indicated or founded reports of child abuse, the seriousness of the childs condition, evidence of recent acts of abuse as opposed to old injuries, or statements of the child, or statements or actions by the parents indicating they are likely to be abusive toward the child. (b)The person in charge of the child care service or facility shall implement a plan of supervision or alternative arrangements to ensure the safety of the child and other children who are in the care of the child care service or facility during the investigation. 3513. ExpungeTo strike out or obliterate entirely so that the stricken information may not be stored, identified or later recovered by any meansmechanical, electronic or otherwise. The provisions of this 3490.106 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. (3)The report of criminal history record information or the report of child abuse record information was obtained more than 1 year prior to the date of application to the agency for approval or 1 year prior to the date of commencement of the investigation under 23 Pa.C.S. State Child Care (2)Statutory sexual assualt as defined by section 3122.1 (relating to statutory sexual assault). S. T. v. Department of Public Welfare, 681 A.2d 853 (Pa. Cmwlth. Raleigh, NC 27606 Child Protective Services FAQ | Child Protective Services | OCFS (4)The reporter of the suspected child abuse, if known. A formal face-to-face contact occurs. Examine your home. (c)Notwithstanding subsection (a), nothing in this chapter prohibits an employe who is a required reporter from making a report directly to ChildLine. What Does CPS Look for in a Home Visit? [Checklist] Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (211723). 3513. (3)The circumstances under which the report will be expunged. (b)The Department will advise the person seeking verification in writing whether or not he is named as a perpetrator of an indicated or founded report of child abuse or a school employe responsible for student abuse named in the Statewide Central Register. The information that is released to the defendant and the district attorney may not contain the identity of the persons who made the report or cooperated in the investigation. 4547; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. (a)The county agency shall comply with the Juvenile Act, the CPSL and this chapter when taking a child into custody. (iii)LicensedPrivate academic schools that are licensed by the Department of Education (includes residential facilities that hire their own staff to teach residents of the facility). The provisions of this 3490.39 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. Mandated Reporting in Pennsylvania - PA Families Inc Officials under this paragraph are limited to the following: (i)The board of commissioners in counties other than counties of the first class. In addition to other reports they make, required reporters shall report suspected child abuse to ChildLine. (2)It cannot be determined from the report whether or not emergency protective custody is needed. (7)The results of any criminal prosecution. Among those who are mandated reporters: Medical and hospital personnel School officials Social service workers Prospective workfare program participants are exempt from payment of the fee. (a)Except as provided in subsection (b), ChildLine shall expunge founded and indicated reports when a subject child is 23 years of age or older. Written reports shall be made on forms developed by the Department. 6. Include "unregulated custody transfer" in the email subject line. Agent of the county agencyA person who provides a children and youth social service either directly or under contract or through agreement with a county agency. All rights reserved. A. Y. v. Department of Public Welfare, 641 A.2d 1148 (Pa. 1994). 4547; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. (H)A school employe of a facility or agency that is an agent of a county agency. (e)The county agency shall monitor the provision of services and evaluate the effectiveness of the services provided under the family service plan under 3130.63 (relating to review of family service plans). Contact a Lampasas Child Protective Services attorney to discuss your CPS investigation, ensure that your rights are protected, and prevent the agency from taking your children from you. (b)Within 72 hours of interviewing the subject, the county agency shall notify the subject in writing of: (1)The existence of the report and type of alleged abuse. This form will be securely sent to our attorneys. (c)The notification from the Secretary will be sent by first-class mail. 3513. Upon beginning its investigation, the county agency shall see the child within 24 hours of receipt of the report. At the conclusion of the investigation, DSS notifies the parents/caregivers in writing of the agencys case decision. (a)Section 3490.132 (relating to responsibilities of an administrator) does not apply to a person working in a school who meets the following conditions: (2)Is participating in a job development or job training program. Finally, the parents may reunite with the child who has been removed from their care. 4547; amended July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. Division determines that a family is in need of services. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (211748) to (211749). caseworker. Release of information to a subject of a report. (2)Provided copies of these completed request forms for clearances to the administrator to retain as a condition of provisional employment. (2)The county in which the suspected abuse occurred. (8)That the agency has, will or may make a report to law enforcement officials. When CYS receives a report of potential child abuse or neglect, action is immediately taken. 2002). The name of the person who made the report or cooperated in the investigation may be released to county agencies in this Commonwealth and out-of-State agencies providing protective services provided they have a legitimate need to know this information to protect the child and the person requesting the information can assure the confidentiality of the identity of the persons who made the report or cooperated in the investigation. Mothers conduct on one occasion where she left a 10 1/2 month old child alone on an upper bunk bed for 15 minutes, during which time the child died from asphyxiation, determined by medical examiner as an accident, does not constitute serious physical neglect as defined in 3490.4. Depending on the safety risks, DSS may petition the court to remove the children or request that safety plans be put in place to ensure that the child is not exposed to any further maltreatment. What Happens if You Do Not Pay Child Support in Texas? (d)Unfounded reports shall be expunged at ChildLine within 120-calendar days after the date of the initial report to ChildLine. 4547; amended April 27, 1990, effective April 28, 1990 and apply retroactively to January 5, 1988, 20 Pa.B. 5943 (relating to confidential communications to clergymen), the privileged communication between any professional person required to report and the patient or client of that person does not apply to situations involving child abuse and does not constitute grounds for failure to report as required by this subchapter. Contact referrers to verify the information in the intake is clear and complete and to learn additional needed information such as the families schedule and childs likely whereabouts. LD CPS employees, within 45 days from the date the allegations were reported. Clearance statementAn official clearance statement from the Department on whether an applicants name is on file in the Statewide Central Register as a perpetrator in an indicated or founded report of child abuse or an indicated or founded report of student abuse, or both. If a childs injury is nonaccidental, then it is considered child abuse. 3513. (ii)The term includes an individual who transfers from one position as a school employe to another position as a school employe. In re Interest of Garthwaite, 619 A.2d 356 (Pa. Super. 3513. At Pittsburgh Divorce & Family Law, LLC, we do both. Except with respect to confidential communications made to an ordained member of the clergy which are protected under 42 Pa.C.S. You have the right to legal representation of your own choosing at all stages of contact with CPS. (2)The subjects rights under sections 6337 and 6338 of the Juvenile Act (relating to right to counsel; and other basic rights) when a case goes to Juvenile Court. (2)Lay off or place the provisional employe on leave with or without pay until the clearance statement is received. The provisions of this 3490.16 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. 3513. Services available through the county agency. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (211738). Notifications regarding indicated reports. 3513. 3513. 3513. 3513. Uncorroborated hearsay cannot satisfy the agencys burden unless the following requirements are met: the statement was accurately recorded by audio or video equipment; the audio-visual record discloses the identity and at all times included the images and/or voices of all individuals present during the interview of the minor; and the statement was not made in response to questioning calculated to lead the minor to make a particular statement and was not the product of improper suggestion. Assure the safety of children, youth, or employees. If any of the following 11 threats are present, it will be interpreted to mean a child is in a state of danger: 1. (iv)Authorized officials or agents of the Department who are conducting a performance audit as authorized under section 6343 of the CPSL (relating to investigating performance of county agency) and this chapter. 3513. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (211735). The adoption agency and the county agency having custody of the child shall determine the scope and detail of information which shall be provided so that the prospective parent may make an informed decision to adopt. If children or youth are out-of-state and believed to be unsafe, make a CPS report to the state where it is believed the children or youth are located. Case information may only be shared with mandated reporters as long as the information is pertinent to the CPS case. The provisions of this 3490.103 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. 8372 (December 31, 2022). The provisions of this 3490.43 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. (iii)If, upon investigation, the county agency determines that a child has not been provided needed medical or surgical care because of seriously held religious beliefs of the childs parents, guardian or person responsible for the childs welfare, which beliefs are consistent with those of a bona fide religion, the child will not be deemed to be physically or mentally abused. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (211732). Child is perceived in extremely negative terms by one or both caregivers. This can lead to CYS: Opening a Protective Services' case (7)Indecent exposure as defined by section 3127 (relating to indecent exposure). Child Protective Services (CPS) - Virginia Children's Protective Services (CPS) in Michigan: Federal Law Social Security Act, Title IV, Part A, Sec. BPW Welcomes Elisabeth Jones to Our Legal Team, NC Court of Appeals Limits Application of Grandparent Visitation Statute. (2)The person in charge of the agency which placed the child. The county agency shall be provided access to the actual photographs and X-rays and may obtain them or duplicates upon request. Retention of information on unfounded reports. Through the investigation, Social Services will determine whether the allegations were founded or unfounded. The provisions of this 3490.65 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. The provisions of this 3490.66 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. Keely v. Department of Public Welfare, 552 A.2d 739 (Pa. Cmwlth. The provisions of this 3490.31 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. The provisions of this 3490.68 adopted December 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. An initial safety Intake Assessment includes investigating: The person making the allegation is probed for information, analyzed, and the exact words used in the allegation are recorded. Investigation Response A child abuse or neglect investigation is . If the CPS investigator finds evidence supporting the validity of the complaint, the agency will determine the appropriate course of action to intervene. When CPS receives a report from the SCR, it is required to begin an investigation within 24 hours. 8. An intake assessment must occur within 0-24 hours if the child may be in Present Danger due to specific maltreatment, child, parent, and/or family-related dangers (including multiple injuries, face/head injuries, serious injury, numerous victims, life-threatening living arrangements, unexplained injuries, the bizarre parental viewpoint of child, extended unsupervised periods, a child in need of medical attention, fearful/anxious child, intoxicated, dangerous, or out of control parent unable to provide care, failure to perform parental responsibilities, presence of family violence (D-LAG indicators), and/or a report indicating that the family is transient or may flee/hide the child. (4)An authorized official or agent of the Department including the following: (ii)Deputy Secretaries of the Department and designated staff, in cases involving alleged or actual abuse of children in facilities or programs under their jurisdiction. Small objects left in the reach of very young children can present a choking hazard. (3)The telephone number of the local county agency. The case may be screened out with a determination that the child is safe and any maltreatment allegations are unsubstantiated. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (211721) to (211722).