36-15-5.1, "Service Agreement/Safety Plan"

Legal Reference: CONN. GEN. STAT. §17a-101 et seq.

A home visit must be made during the investigation.

The purpose of the home visit is to

• observe the child and any siblings
• obtain the name, age and condition of other children residing in the same household
• determine the nature, extent and cause(s) of the reported abuse or neglect
• identify the perpetrator(s) of the abuse or neglect
• evaluate the parents and the home.

During the home visit, the investigator shall

• meet with the parents to
• inform them of the Department’s protective services program, including the investigation goals and process
• provide the parents with the brochure, "Parent’s Right to Know."

• interview
• each family member living in the home
• non-family members with caretaker responsibilities or access to the child, as related to the report
• conduct interviews in the following order, if possible
• child victim (see below for interview conditions)
• siblings and other children in the home
• adults in the home who are not alleged to have abused or neglected the child
• the alleged perpetrator
• if substance abuse is suspected, use the "Substance Abuse Screening" tool, DCF-2110

• if domestic violence is suspected, use the "Domestic Violence Assessment" tool, DCF-2141.

Note: If the family refuses to allow the investigator to conduct the investigation, other measures must be pursued in order to assess the safety of the child. The investigator, in consultation with his/her supervisor, may seek the assistance of the police and/or petition the Court.

• Coordinate investigatory activities in order to minimize the number of interviews of any child and share information with others who are authorized to conduct an investigation of child abuse or neglect, as appropriate.
• Obtain the consent of the parents or guardians or other persons responsible for the care of the child to any interview with the child, except that such consent shall not be required when the Department has reason to believe such parent or guardian or other person responsible for the care of the child or member of the child's household is the perpetrator of the alleged abuse or neglect.

Note: Unless the investigator has facts that exclude the parent or guardian as the perpetrator, the investigator shall proceed without consent until such time as the parent or guardian is excluded.  A perpetrator includes one who is responsible for acts by omission or commission.

If consent is not required to conduct the interview, such interview shall be conducted in the presence of a disinterested adult unless immediate access to the child is necessary to protect the child from imminent risk of physical harm and a disinterested adult is not available after a reasonable search.

IN ALL SITUATIONS, THE CHILD SHALL BE INTERVIEWED APART FROM THE PARENT OR PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHILD.

• make the appropriate collateral contacts
• seek consultation, as follows:
  • consult with the Regional Resource Group, as appropriate, particularly in relation to substance abuse, mental health issues, or the child’s special needs
  • when warranted, arrange for a medical evaluation of the child
  • confer with the supervisor regarding the
    risks to the child
    need to consider removing the child from the home
    need for emergency services to protect the child
    strategy of the investigation.

   

The investigator shall

• complete the DCF-2166 with the parents or legal guardians
• provide the parents or legal guardians with a copy
• file a copy in the Uniform Case Record
• note the use of the DCF-2166 in the LINK case narrative within three (3) days of the effective date of the agreement.