(A) The public
children services agency (PCSA) shall request an extension if the PCSA is
unable to complete specific assessment/investigative activities pursuant to the
time frames established within Chapters 5101:2-36 and 5101:2-37 of the
Administrative Code. The justification for extension shall:
(1) Contain
written justification for not meeting the established time frame.
(2) Contain
supervisory approval of the written justification prior to the expiration of
the established time frame.
(3) Be maintained
in the case record.
(B) An extension
is permitted for the following assessment/investigative activities:
(1) Completion of
the JFS 01401 "Comprehensive Assessment Planning Model - I.S., Safety
Assessment" (rev. 2/2006). The time frame may be extended until
face-to-face contact with each required participant is completed or until the
PCSA is required to make a report disposition or final case decision.
(2) Execution of
the second attempt to complete face-to-face contact and the JFS 01401 within
four working days from the screening decision when all of the following have
been recorded in the extension justification prior to the expiration of the
fourth working day:
(a) The diligent
efforts completed to identify the child's current safety status with a
principal of the report or collateral source who has knowledge of the child's
current condition, and can provide current and credible information about the
child's safety.
(b) The name and
location of the individual who provided the credible information about the
child's safety, and the manner in which the information was obtained.
(c) The
information provided by the principal of the report or collateral source that
supports the PCSA's belief that the child is not at risk of being seriously
harmed.
(d) Completion of
the supervisory approval of the extension request in SACWIS prior to the
expiration of the fourth working day.
(3) Obtaining the
signature of the parent, guardian, or custodian, or person(s) responsible for
an action step on the JFS 01409 "Comprehensive Assessment Planning Model -
I.S., Safety Plan for Children" (rev. 2/2006) within twenty-four hours
from receipt of the verbal authorization. The time frame of the extension shall
not exceed five working days.
(C) A fifteen day
extension is permitted to complete the JFS 01400 "Comprehensive Assessment
Planning Model - I.S., Family Assessment" (rev. 7 /2006), JFS 01402
"Comprehensive Assessment Planning Model - I.S., Ongoing Case Assessment/Investigation"
(rev. 7/2006 ), JFS 01403 "Comprehensive Assessment Planning Model - I.S.,
Specialized Assessment/Investigation" (rev. 2/2006), JFS 01419
"Comprehensive Assessment Planning Model - I.S., Alternative Response Family
Assessment" (rev. 7 /2008), JFS 01423 "Comprehensive Assessment
Planning Model - I.S., Alternative Response Ongoing Case Assessment "
(rev. 7/2008 ) or to reach a case disposition or case decision if diligent
efforts to complete the necessary activities have been unsuccessful and one of
the following applies:
(1) A principal of
the report has not been interviewed.
(2) The PCSA is
waiting on documentation/information from another entity that is necessary in
determining the disposition or case decision.
(3) Interviews
with collaterals or witnesses who have specific information about the
allegations have not been completed.
(4) The case is
assigned to the alternative response pathway and additional time is needed to
complete the linkage to services prior to case closure.
(D) An extension
is permitted to notify the alleged perpetrator in writing of the report
disposition if the alleged perpetrator is the subject of a law enforcement
investigation into human trafficking. The timeframe for the extension shall not
exceed one hundred twenty days from the date the PCSA screened in the referral
as a child abuse and/or neglect report.
(E) The PCSA shall
complete a request to waive an assessment/investigation activity pursuant to
the requirements established within Chapters 5101:2-36 and 5101:2-37 of the
Administrative Code if the PCSA is unable to complete specific
assessment/investigative activities. The request shall:
(1) Contain
written justification of why each assessment/investigation activity can not be
completed.
(2) Contain the
director's or designee's approval of the written request prior to the
termination of the established time frame, or extended time frame, for the
assessment/investigation activity.
(3) Be maintained
in the case record.
(F) A PCSA may
request to waive the following assessment/investigation activities:
(1) Completion of
the face-to-face interview with the alleged child victim or child subject of
the report.
(2) Completion of
the face-to-face interview with each child in the home of the alleged child
victim or child subject of the report.
(3) Completion of
the face-to-face interview with each adult residing in the home of the alleged
child victim or child subject of the report, including the parent(s), guardian,
or custodian.
(4) Completion of
the face-to-face interview with the alleged perpetrator or adult subject of the
report.
(5) Completion of
face-to-face or telephone interviews with any identified witnesses and
collateral sources.
(6) Completion of
the JFS 01400, the JFS 01401, JFS 01402, or JFS
01403 if the report disposition is one of the following:
(a) Family moved:
unable to complete assessment/investigation.
(b) Unable to
locate.
(7) Completion of
the JFS 01401, JFS 01419 or the JFS 01423 if the PCSA has not completed contact
with any principal of the report and has been unable to locate the family.
(8) Completion of
the JFS 01400, JFS 01401, JFS 01402, or JFS 01403 if all of the following
apply:
(a) The PCSA has
not successfully gathered sufficient information from any principal of the
report, identified witness, or collaterals in order to complete the JFS 01400,
JFS 01401, JFS 01402, or JFS 01403.
(b) The parent,
guardian, or custodian of the alleged child victim refused the PCSA to have
contact with family members, including principals of the report, to complete
the required assessment activities.
(c) The PCSA
consulted legal counsel regarding the report and the family's refusal to engage
in the assessment/investigation process.
(d) The PCSA's
legal counsel advised the PCSA no legal action will be pursued.
(e) The PCSA
report disposition is unsubstantiated, substantiated, or indicated.
(9) The signature
of a parent, guardian, or custodian on the JFS 01409 if all of the following
apply:
(a) The PCSA has
obtained one signature from a parent, guardian, or custodian on the JFS 01409.
(b) The PCSA
determines the parent, guardian, or custodian who has not signed is unable or
unavailable to sign the JFS 01409.
(c) The reason(s)
why the parent, guardian, or custodian who has not signed is unable or
unavailable to sign the JFS 01409 is documented in the case record.
(10) Completion of
the JFS 01400, JFS 01401, JFS 01402, JFS 01403, JFS 01419, or JFS 01423 if,
upon initiation, the PCSA determines the specific incident alleged in the
report has been previously assessed/investigated and all of the following
apply:
(a) The report
involves the same alleged child victim or child subject of the previous report.
(b) The report
involves the same alleged perpetrator or adult subject of the previous report.
(c) The previous
report received an alternative response case decision or report disposition of
substantiated, indicated or unsubstantiated.
(G) The PCSA shall
not complete a justification to waive or extend the completion time frame for
any assessment/investigation activity not identified within this rule.
Effective: 6/17/2018
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 5/24/2017 and 06/17/2023
Certification: CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY
Date: 05/17/2018
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 5153.166, 5153.16, 2151.421
Rule Amplifies: 2151.421, 5153.16
Prior Effective Dates: 2/1/82, 10/1/82, 1/1/87, 1/1/88, 3/15/88,
1/1/90, 10/1/95, 6/1/96, 6/1/97, 10/1/97 (Emer.), 12/30/97, 4/1/01, 12/1/01,
6/25/04, 3/01/06, 10/01/09, 3/01/14, 7/23/15