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Section 6000
6100 Overview of Investigations
6120 The Roles of the Investigator and the Monitoring Inspector
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
6200 Assessing and Processing Intake Reports
6210 Reports Received From Statewide Intake (SWI)
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 as Abuse or Neglect
6221.2 Intake Reports to Be Investigated as Non Abuse or Neglect
6221.3 Reports Received for Listed Homes
6221.4 Reports Investigated by a Child-Placing Agency
6221.5 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 Classifying an Intake Report as a Priority 3 Investigation
6222.4 Classifying an Intake Report as a Priority 5 Investigation
6222.5 Re-Classifying a Priority 5 Investigation as a Priority 4 Investigation
6222.6 Choosing the Priority of an Intake Report in CLASS
6222.7 Changing the Priority of an Investigation in CLASS
6230 Assessing an Intake Report for Allegation Types
6231.1 Selecting Allegations of Abuse or Neglect 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 Upgrading a Non-Abuse or Neglect Intake Report to an Abuse or Neglect Intake Report
6242 Investigate, Downgrade, or Close an Abuse or Neglect Intake Report
6242.1 Changing the Priority of an Abuse or Neglect Intake Report
6242.2 Downgrading an Abuse or Neglect Intake Report to a Non Abuse or Neglect Intake Report
6242.3 Closing an Intake Report of Abuse or Neglect
6243 Investigate or Close a Report of Non Abuse or Neglect
6243.1 Closing a Non Abuse or Neglect Intake Report
6244 IMPACT and CLASS Options for Changing the Priority, Downgrading, or Closing an Intake Report
6244.1 IMPACT Options for Changing the Priority, Downgrading, or Closing an Intake Report
6244.2 CLASS Options for Closing an Intake Report
6250 Reports Received by Licensing Offices
6251 Entering a Non Abuse or Neglect Intake Report in CLASS
6251.1 Information to Obtain When Receiving a Report at a Local Licensing Office
6251.2 Entering Reports of Illegal Operations
6251.3 Encouraging a Reporter to Disclose His or Her Identity
6251.4 Processing the Intake Report
6252 Referring Reports to Statewide Intake
6260 Confidentiality of the Reporter's Identity
6261 Identifying New Reporters During an Investigation
6262 Responding to Requests for the Reporter's Identity
6263 Protecting a Reporter's Confidentiality During an Investigation
6271.1 Evaluating the Factual Basis of an Anonymous Intake Report
6271.2 Processing an Anonymous Intake Report in CLASS
6272 Multiple Intake Reports Received for the Same Operation
6272.1 Merging and Linking Investigations in IMPACT and CLASS
6273 Repeated Reports With No New Allegations
6274 Report of Incidents That Occurred in the Past
6275 Incidents Reported by an Operation, Known as Self-Reports
6275.1 Incidents Self-Reported by Operations That May Not Require an Investigation
6275.2 Self-Reports Received by a Licensing Office
6276 Reports Requiring Special Handling
6276.1 Processing Sensitive Intake Reports
6276.2 Processing Intake Reports Receiving Media Attention
6276.3 Processing Intake Reports Involving Disaster Relief
6276.4 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 Determining Which Minimum Standards to Evaluate
6330 Assessing the Immediate Safety of Children
6331 Evaluating the Need for a Safety Plan
6332.1 Requesting a Safety Plan Outside of an Inspection
6332.2 Requesting a Safety Plan During an Inspection
6332.3 Requesting That an Alleged Perpetrator Not Have Contact With Children
6332.4 Requesting That an Operation Cease Operating (Day Care Only)
6332.5 Operation Refuses to Develop a Safety Plan
6333 Approving the Safety Plan
6334 Notifying the Supervisor and Monitoring Inspector of the Safety Plan (Abuse or Neglect Only)
6335 Documenting the Safety Plan in CLASS
6336 Ongoing Evaluation of the Safety Plan
6336.1 Plan Does Not Minimize Safety Threat
6336.2 Operation Does Not Comply With Safety Plan
6340 Assessment of Risk During Abuse or Neglect Investigation
6341 Requesting a Risk Assessment
6342 Information to Discuss During a Risk Assessment
6342.1 Reviewing the Operation's Compliance and Investigation History
6342.2 Reviewing the Alleged Perpetrator's Investigation History
6342.3 Reviewing the Alleged Victim's Investigation History
6343 Documenting the Risk Assessment
6343.1 Documenting the Recommended Actions
6350 Notifications Made at Beginning of Investigation
6351 Notifying and Working With Law Enforcement
6351.1 Procedures for Notifying Law Enforcement
6351.2 Conducting a Joint Investigation
6351.3 Documenting Contact With Law Enforcement
6352 Notifying the Operation of an Investigation
6352.1 Methods of Notifying the Operation
6352.2 Exceptions to Notifying the Operation
6353 Notifications Involving a Child in the Conservatorship of DFPS (Abuse or Neglect Only)
6353.1 How to Notify the CPS Caseworker
6353.2 Maintaining Contact With the CPS Caseworker of Alleged Victims
6353.3 Documenting Contact With the CPS Caseworker
6355 Requesting Assistance from CPS Special Investigators (Residential Care Only)
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
6361.3 Time Frame for Initiating a Priority 3 (P3) Investigation
6361.4 Time Frame for Initiating a Priority 5 Investigation
6370 Preparing Equipment and Other Required Items
6400 Conducting the Investigation
6410 Initiating the Investigation
6411 Defining What Constitutes an Initiation
6412.1 Initiating an Investigation Involving Abuse or Neglect
6412.11 Exceptions to Initiating by Contact With Alleged Victim
6412.2 Initiating an Investigation Not Involving Abuse or Neglect
6412.3 Initiating an Investigation Assigned a Priority 5
6413 Documenting the Initiation
6421 Observing and Interviewing Children
6421.1 Observing and Interviewing Alleged Victims (Abuse or Neglect Only)
6421.11 Interview Takes Place Before Receipt of Intake Report
6421.12 When to Refer an Interview to a Children’s Advocacy Center
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 Storing Audio Files on a Compact Disc
6423.6 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 Taken 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
6521.7 Distributing 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 the Abuse or Neglect When a Child Dies
6524.3 Final Medical Examiner's Findings
6524.4 Death Related to Restraints
6524.5 When an Extension Is Needed to Obtain Autopsy Results
6524.6 Completing the Investigation Before the Results of the Autopsy Are Received
6525 Closing the Investigation of a Child's Death
6525.1 Completing the Confirmed Child Death Report (Form 2899e) in CLASS
6525.2 Distributing the Confirmed Child Death Report
6526 Release of Information for a Child Death or Near Fatality at a Residential Care Operation
6526.1 Completing the SB1050a Report to Release Information About a Child’s Death
6526.2 Completing Form 2058b When the Finding for a Child’s Death Is Reason to Believe
6526.3 Completing Form 2058c When the Finding for a Child’s Near Fatality Is Reason to Believe
6530 Investigation of a Child's 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 Procedures When an Illegal Operation Is Determined to Be Not 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 Investigations Conducted as Desk Reviews
6571 Licensing Responsibilities
6572 Reclassifying a Desk Review Investigation as a Priority 4
6573 Documentation of Investigations of Illegal Operations
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
6621 Non Abuse or Neglect Investigations
6622 Investigations of Possible Abuse or Neglect
6622.1 Types of Abuse or Neglect
6622.2 Issuing a Finding of Abuse or Neglect When the Perpetrator Cannot Be Determined
6622.4 Assigning the Severity to a Reason to Believe Disposition
Definitions of Terms6622.5 Roles of Persons Involved in the Investigation
6622.6 Allegations Involving Child Sexual Aggression or Child-on-Child Physical Abuse
6630 Notifying Relevant Parties of the Results of an Investigation
6631 Notifying the Operation of the Results of an Investigation
6631.1 Completing the Findings Letter or Compliance Evaluation Form
6631.2 Additional Notification for Abuse or Neglect Investigations
6631.3 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 Monitoring Unit
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 Abuse and Neglect Investigations
6810 Submitting an Abuse or Neglect Investigation
6820 Reviewing an Abuse or Neglect Investigation
6830 Rejecting an Abuse or Neglect Investigation
6831 Rejecting and Resubmitting the Investigation for Minor Documentation Errors
6840 After an Abuse or Neglect Investigation Is Approved
6900 Recommending Action as a Result of Investigation Findings
6910 Conducting a Case Review Before Recommending an Action
6920 Issues to Consider Before Recommending an Action
6930 Actions to Take Following the Investigation of a Regulated Operation
6940 Actions to Take Following an Investigation of an Unregulated Operation