Information/Referral (I/R) Reports

Regulation Authority:

42-72-5

Purpose and Reason:

This proposed amended rule provides greater detail in the process of referring for service need as well as for supervisory and Administrative review including: When an I/R report is received relating to a case that is not active with DCYF, does not meet criteria for a CPS investigation and it appears that there is a service need, a referral for services may be made to CPS Intake. Information reported suggesting that a child, youth or family may benefit from a service referral due to vulnerability may include: 1. Age (including but not limited to infants and children between the ages of birth and six) and/or 2. An emotional, physical or developmental condition; and/or 3. Circumstances indicating that the caregiver’s protective capacity may be compromised. All calls received by CPS and classified as Information/Referrals are reviewed by the Call Floor Supervisor, who approves or disapproves of the determination to classify the call as an Information/Referral. In addition, the protocol is printed out and placed in the marked box on the Call Floor for administrative review. 1. At the end of the first and second shifts, a CPS Administrator removes and reviews the protocols. 2. The third and fourth shift's protocols are reviewed at the beginning of the day. 3. Weekend protocols are reviewed Monday morning. 4. In all cases, the CPS Administrator documents his/her review in the Information/ Referral Report Log, which is maintained or destroyed in conformance with the Department’s approved records retention policy. 5. If the Administrator determines that an Information/Referral requires upgrade, it is documented and generated as such. In the amendment of this rule, consideration was given to: (1) alternative approaches and (2) overlap or duplication with other statutory and regulatory provisions. No alternative approach or duplication or overlap was identified based upon available information. No substantive changes were made in the final rule.