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Section 6000
6100 Overview of Investigations
6110 Components of a Thorough Investigation
6130 The Role of the Supervisor
6131 The Role of the Supervisor in All Investigations
6132 The Role of the Supervisor in an Abuse or Neglect Investigation
6140 Joint Investigations with Other Agencies or Departments
6141 Heightened Monitoring (Residential Child Care Only)
6142.1 DFPS Residential Contracts (Residential Child Care Only)
6142.11 Twenty-Four-Hour Awake Night Supervision (Residential Child Care Only)
6142.12 Notifying the Contract Manager of Investigation Findings
6143 CPI Special Investigators
6144.1 Notifying Law Enforcement
6144.2 Conducting a Joint Investigation
6144.3 Documenting Contact with Law Enforcement
6145 Investigations Involving Allegations of Child Trafficking (Sex and Labor Trafficking)
6145.1 Informing Special Investigations of Child Sex or Labor Trafficking
6145.2 Investigations Involving Allegations of Child Trafficking (Sex and Labor Trafficking)
6145.3 Confirmed and Suspected Victims of Child Sex or Labor Trafficking
6200 Assessing and Processing Intake Reports
6210 Reports Received from Statewide Intake (SWI)
6211.1 RCCI Intake Reports Determined Appropriate for Priority None (PN)
6211.2 Contacting the SWI RCCI Screening Unit Outside Regular Business Hours
6212 Intake Reports Not Requiring Screening
6220 Assessing an Intake Report for Type of Investigation and Priority
6221 Assessing an Intake Report for Type of Investigation
6221.1 Intake Reports to Be Investigated
6221.2 Intake Reports to Be Closed Without an Investigation
6222 Assessing an Intake Report for Priority
6222.1 Classifying an Intake Report as a Priority 1 Investigation
6222.2 Classifying an Intake Report as a Priority 2 Investigation
6222.3 Selecting the Priority of an Intake Report in CLASS
6230 Assessing an Intake Report for Allegation Types
6231.1 Selecting Allegations of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation in IMPACT
6232.1 Selecting Allegations of Violations in CLASS
6232.2 Allegation Involving a Child Under the Age of 6 (Child-Placing Agency Only)
6240 Processing Intake Reports in IMPACT and CLASS
6241 Investigate, Downgrade, or Close an Intake Report
6241.1 Changing the Priority of an Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation Intake Report
6241.2 Reclassifying an Intake Report to a Priority None (PN) Intake Report
6241.3 Notification of Priority None (PN) Intake Reports Involving a Child in DFPS Conservatorship
6242 Investigate or Close a Report of Non Abuse or Neglect
6242.1 Closing a Non Abuse or Neglect Intake Report
6243 IMPACT and CLASS Options for Changing the Priority, Downgrading, or Closing an Intake Report
6243.1 IMPACT Options for Changing the Priority, Reclassifying, or Closing an Intake Report
6243.2 CLASS Options for Closing an Intake Report
6250 Confidentiality of the Reporter's Identity
6251 Identifying New Reporters During an Investigation
6252 Responding to Requests for the Reporter's Identity
6253 Protecting a Reporter's Confidentiality During an Investigation
6261.1 Evaluating the Factual Basis of an Anonymous Intake Report
6261.2 Processing an Anonymous Intake Report in CLASS
6262 Merging Investigations about the Same Allegations
6262.1 Merging and Linking Investigations in IMPACT and CLASS
6263 Repeated Reports with No New Allegations
6264 Reports of Incidents That Occurred in the Past
6265 Incidents Reported by an Operation, Known as Self-Reports
6266 Reports Requiring Special Handling
6266.1 Processing Sensitive Intake Reports
6266.2 Processing Intake Reports Receiving Media Attention
6266.3 Processing Intake Reports Involving Disaster Relief
6266.4 Processing Intake Reports Involving H1N1
6300 Preparing for the Investigation
6310 Preparing the Investigation in IMPACT and CLASS
6311 Progressing an Intake Report to an Investigation
6311.1 Progressing an Intake Report to an Investigation in IMPACT
6311.2 Progressing an Intake Report to an Investigation in CLASS
6312 Reviewing the Intake Report Narrative and Determining the Allegations
6312.2 Evaluating Allegations of Licensing Minimum Standards Violations During an Investigation
6330 Assessing the Immediate Safety of Children
6331 Evaluating the Need for a Safety Plan
6332 Implementing a Safety Plan
6332.1 Supervisory Review of the Safety Plan
6332.11 Restricting an Alleged Perpetrator’s Contact With Children or Role at the Operation
6332.12 Requesting That an Operation Stop Operating
6332.2 Documenting the Safety Plan
6332.3 Notifying the Licensing Representative of the Safety Plan
6333 Operation Refuses to Implement a Safety Plan
6334 Evaluating and Ending a Safety Plan
6334.1 Revising or Extending a Safety Plan
6340 Risk Assessment of Regulatory History
6341 Requesting a Risk Assessment of Regulatory History
6342 Conducting a Risk Assessment of Regulatory History
6343 Documenting the Risk Assessment of Regulatory History
6350 Notifications Made at Beginning of Investigation
6352 Notifying the Operation of an Investigation
6352.1 Methods of Notifying the Operation
6352.2 Exceptions to Notifying the Operation
6353 Notifications of Investigations Involving a Child in the DFPS Conservatorship
6353.1 How to Notify the CPS Caseworker and Supervisor
6353.2 Maintaining Contact With the CPS Caseworker of Alleged Victims
6353.3 Documenting Contact With the CPS Caseworker
6360 Preparing for the Initiation
6361 Time Frames for Initiation
6361.1 Time Frame for Initiating a Priority 1 (P1) Investigation
6361.2 Time Frame for Initiating a Priority 2 (P2) Investigation
6362 Investigation Assignment Conference
6362.1 Background Checks on Principals
6370 Preparing Equipment and Other Required Items
6400 Conducting the Investigation
6410 Initiating the Investigation
6411 Time Frames for Face-to-Face Contact with Alleged Victims
6412 Documenting Face-to-Face Contacts with Alleged Victims
6412.1 Documenting Contacts with Alleged Victims in CLASS
6412.2 Documenting Contacts with Alleged Victims in IMPACT
6421 Observing and Interviewing Children
6421.1 Observing and Interviewing Alleged Victims
6421.11 Interview Takes Place Before Receipt of Intake Report
6421.12 Contacting a Children’s Advocacy Center About Certain Allegations
6421.2 Observing and Interviewing a Child Related to a Child Care Provider
6421.3 Notifying Parents, Guardians, or Managing Conservators of Interview With Child
6421.31 Notifying a Parent of an Alleged Victim
6421.33 Notifying a Parent of a Child Interviewed During a Non Abuse or Neglect Investigation
6421.4 Age and Ability Requirements for Observing and Interviewing Children
6422.1 Interviewing Alleged Perpetrators
6422.2 Interviewing Principal and Collateral Sources
6423.1 Testing the Recording Equipment
6423.2 Authenticating the Recording
6423.3 Exceptions to Recording the Interview
6423.4 Documenting Whether an Interview Was Recorded
6423.5 Using an Alternative Recording Device
6424 Requesting a Courtesy Interview
6425 Interviewing Persons With Limited English Proficiency
6425.1 Using an Interpreter to Conduct an Interview
6425.2 Documenting the Use of Interpretation Services
6431 Requirements for Conducting Unannounced Inspections
6431.1 Inspection Time Frame Priority 1 or Priority 2 Investigations
6431.2 Inspection Time Frame for Priority 3 Investigations
6431.3 Inspection Time Frame for Priority 4 Investigations
6431.4 Inspection Not Required for Priority 5 Investigations
6432 Documenting the Observations Made During the Inspection
6441 Collecting Evidence Related to Interviews
6441.1 Conducting and Recording Interviews
6441.2 Obtaining Written Statements
6441.3 Maintaining Investigation Notes
6442 Taking Photographs as Evidence
6443 Obtaining Written Documents as Evidence
6443.1 Obtaining Medical Records
6443.2 Obtaining Reports From Law Enforcement
6443.3 Reviewing Documents From CPS
6443.4 Obtaining Documents From the Operation
6444 Maintaining Records of Correspondence
6444.1 Documenting and Maintaining Email Correspondence
6444.2 Documenting and Maintaining Written Correspondence
6444.3 Documenting and Maintaining Voicemails and Texts
6450 Conducting Surveillance (Day Care Only)
6460 Interim Staffing With Supervisor
6470 Handling Obstruction of an Investigation
6471 Obstruction by the Operation
6472 Alleged Perpetrator Requests Investigation Status
6473 Obstruction by Regulated Operations
6474 Obstruction by Unregulated Operations
6500 Special Considerations for Certain Types of Reports
6510 Investigation of DFPS Employees
6520 Investigation of a Child's Death
6521 Actions in the First 24 Hours
6521.1 Entering Person Details in IMPACT
6521.2 Answering the Question About the Child Fatality Allegation in IMPACT
6521.3 Assessing the Safety of Other Children in Care
6521.4 Notifications of a Child’s Death
6521.41 Notifying Law Enforcement About a Child's Death
6521.42 Notification Regarding the Death of a Child Younger Than Age 6
6521.43 Notifications Within DFPS
6521.5 Entering Preliminary Findings Related to a Child's Death
6521.6 Completing the Preliminary Child Death Report (Form 2899e) in CLASS
6522 Staffing an Investigation of a Child's Death
6523 Documenting the Investigation of a Child’s Death
6524 Completing the Investigation of a Child's Death
6524.1 Reason for a Child's Death
6524.2 Assigning the Severity of Allegations When a Child Dies
6524.3 Final Medical Examiner's Findings
6524.4 Death Related to Restraints
6524.5 When an Extension Is Needed for Autopsy Results or Criminal Investigation
6525 Supervisory Approval of the Investigation of a Child's Death
6525.1 Completing the Confirmed Child Death Report (Form 2899e) in CLASS
6526 Release of Information for a Child Death or Near Fatality at a Residential Care Operation
6530 Investigation of a Child's Near Fatality
6531 Actions in the First 24 Hours
6532 Supervisory Approval of the Investigation of a Near Fatality
6540 Investigations Involving Homes Regulated by a Private Child-Placing Agency (CPA)
6541.1 Allegations and Incidents That Must Be Investigated by Licensing
6541.2 Allegations and Incidents That May Be Investigated by Licensing
6541.3 History of Family Violence Calls
6542 Investigations of Minimum Standards Violations Conducted by CPAs or CPS
6542.1 Receiving and Assigning the Report
6542.3 Licensing Responsibilities
6542.4 Reclassifying an Investigation of an Agency Home as a Priority 4
6542.5 Documentation of Investigations by Child-Placing Agencies
6543 Agencies Responsible for Investigations in CPA and CPS Homes
6550 Investigations of Matches to the Database of Sex Offenders
6551 Investigating the Match When the Sex Offender's Offense is Against a Child
6552 Investigating the Match When the Sex Offender's Offense is Against an Adult
6560 Investigations of Illegal Operations
6562 Prioritizing Investigations of Illegal Operations
6562.1 Day Care Operations Providing Care Illegally With No Other Allegations
6562.2 Residential Operations Providing Care Illegally With No Other Allegations
6563 Initiating the Investigation of an Illegal Operation
6564 Conducting the Investigation of an Illegal Operation
6564.3 Conducting Investigations When Only an Email Address Is Known (Priority 5 Investigations)
6565 Obtaining Consent to Enter an Illegal Operation
6565.1 Obtaining a Court Order to Gain Access
6566 Requesting an Illegal Operation to Cease Operating
6567 Determining Whether an Unregulated Operation Is Subject to Regulation
6568 Risk Based Follow-Up Actions for Illegal Operations
6568.1 Completing the Risk Factor Survey
6568.3 Action to Take After the Follow-Up
6570 Allegations That Merit Administrative Closure
6571 Investigator Responsibilities When Recommending an Administrative Closure
6572 Supervisor and Program Administrator Responsibilities When Approving an Administrative Closure
6600 Completing the Investigation
6610 Time Frames for Completion of the Investigation
6611 Extending Time Frames for Completing an Investigation
6611.1 Criteria for Requesting Additional Time to Complete the Investigation
6611.2 Documenting an Extension
6611.3 Obtaining an Additional Extension
6611.4 Time Frame for Supervisor to Approve or Reject an Extension Request
6621 Elements of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
6622 Issuing a Finding of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation When the Perpetrator Cannot Be Determined
6624 Assigning the Severity to a Reason to Believe Disposition
Definitions of Terms6625 Roles of Persons Involved in the Investigation
6626 Allegations Involving Child Sexual Aggression or Child-on-Child Physical Abuse
6626.1 Documenting Child Sexual Aggression Determinations for a Child in DFPS Conservatorship
6627 Repeated Allegations Involving the Same Operation or Person in Charge
6627.1 Multiple Referral Investigations
6630 Notifying Relevant Parties of the Results of an Investigation
6631 Notifying the Residential Care Operation of the Results of an Investigation
6631.1 Documenting the Notification to the Residential Care Operation
6631.2 Release of Necessary Information
6632 Notification to the Alleged Perpetrator for an Abuse or Neglect Investigation
6632.1 For Findings of Reason to Believe
6632.2 If the Alleged Perpetrator Is an Employee of the Operation
6632.3 If the Alleged Perpetrator Is a Minor (10 to 17 years of age)
6632.4 If a Due Process Hearing Is Requested
6633 Notifying the Reporter of Investigation Results
6634 Notification to Child Care Licensing
6635 Special Notifications for Investigations Involving Children in DFPS Conservatorship
6636 Notification to Parent of an Alleged Victim of the Results of an Abuse or Neglect Investigation
6700 Documenting the Investigation
6710 Documentation in the CLASS and IMPACT Systems
6711 Documentation of All Investigations
6712 Additional Documentation for Abuse or Neglect Investigations
6720 Documentation on the Investigation Conclusion Page in CLASS
6721 Initiation of Investigation Field
6722 Observation Made During Inspection Field
6724.1 Findings Involving Child Sexual Aggression
6724.2 Findings Involving Child-on-Child Physical Abuse
6724.3 Explanation of Disposition Based on Preponderance
6724.4 Final Disposition and Summary of Due Process
6730 Updating the Person Detail Page
6740 Documentation of Case Notes
6750 Maintaining an Investigation File
6751 Investigations Not Involving Abuse or Neglect
6752 Investigations Involving Allegations of Abuse or Neglect
6800 Submitting and Approving Investigations
6810 Submitting an Investigation
6820 Reviewing an Investigation
6821 Investigations Requiring Secondary Approval
6822 Submitting an Investigation for Secondary Approval