Child Protective Investigation

Very Complex First Responder Job:

Substance Abuse, Mental Illness, Domestic Violence, Extreme Poverty, Physical Abuse, Sexual Molestation, Torture, Complex Medical Neglect, and Life Threatening Neglect

Largely Grounded in Parental Trauma

Hotline• Establish Jurisdiction/Review Prior Intake• Document and transmit allegations

– Immediate Response– Twenty Four Hour Response

• Criminal Background Checks Unit: FDLE/FBI• Special Conditions

– Parent Needing Assistance– Foster Care Referrals– Child on Child Abuse– Caregiver Unavailable

• Transmit via FSFN• FSFN links all subjects

Miami-DadeFebruary 2010-January 2011

1927 1883

1489

1653

1368

1935 1863

1561 1490

1640

1974 2158

1616

1973

1677

1057

1212 1190

1219 953 9531011

11511371

1184 1009

1235

132 174 171 189 141 108156 175 232 151 139 147

11641301

1334

1150 1099

1211

1450

1196

1487

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Feb-10 Mar-10 Apr-10 May-10 Jun-10 Jul-10 Aug-10 Sep-10 Oct-10 Nov-10 Dec-10 Jan-11

Total ContactsReportsPNAsTotal Reports

StatewideFebruary 2010-January 2011

18636

22576

25648

22153

274812606124092

2327823135

2621627101

2485926268

16866

1433116156

1816816997

15633148791514118431

1731217738

14729

190216861863218621511793169817712181209021221778

19427

16560

19806

180451719917554

1916318745

15805

2100620564

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

Feb-10 Mar-10 Apr-10 May-10 Jun-10 Jul-10 Aug-10 Sep-10 Oct-10 Nov-10 Dec-10 Jan-11

Total ContactsReportsPNAsTotal Reports

Practice Standards: One

• Background Checks: All household members 12 and older

• Immediate or 24 Hour Response

• Diligent Attempts to see alleged victim and all other children (daily)

• Immediate Notification of Law Enforcement if crime alleged

Practice Standards: Two

• Interview with alleged victim and all children in household (for small children at eye level)

• Interview all household members• Observations and Interactions of alleged

victim and all other children– Physical– Emotional– Developmental– Behavioral

Practice Standards: Three

• Child Safety Assessment• Development of Safety Plan• Collateral Contacts

– Neighbors– Doctors– Teachers– Day Care

• Child Protection Team: Forensic medical, developmental and behavioral assessment

Practice Standards: Four• Supervisory Review• Second Party Review with Administrator - 4 or under

- Non-verbal - Prior reports• Weigh evidence and make findings• Children’s Legal Services Staffing: For Legal Sufficiency

– In-Home Dependency– Shelter

Practice Standards: Five

• Early Services Intervention: Transfer to CBC Case Management– Clear case ownership at all times– Multi-disciplinary planning: Substance abuse,

mental health, domestic violence experts; Family Intervention Specialists

– Engage in services; not just referrals– Blow whistle when services fail– Close the loop and plan next steps when

services fail