REQUIREMENTS

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) shall: 

1. Maintain the safety and well-being of children in DFCS custody during a Child Protective Services (CPS) special investigation of an approved placement resource. 
2. Consult with the CPS Investigator to discuss the allegations of maltreatment, child safety, and family functioning. 
3. Participate in the Special Investigation 48-hours multidisciplinary staffing to discuss the case disposition and recommendations regarding the status of the placement resource. 
4. Notify the Caregiver Recruitment and Retention Unit (CRRU) within 10 calendar days of the completion of the special investigation when there is a recommendation to close a DFCS foster/adoptive home or kinship foster home based on a violation of DFCS policy (see policy 6.11 Special Investigations: Special Investigations and Policy Violations Review Process). 
5. Conduct a policy violation assessment on a DFCS foster, adoptive or kinship foster home to assess policy violations identified but not assessed during a special investigation in accordance with policy 14.22 Resource Development: Policy Violations

PROCEDURES

The Resource Development (RD) Case Manager will: 

1. Immediately review the allegations of the Intake Assessment with the RD Supervisor to discuss potential impact on any current placements. 

2. Verify the placement resource was placed on hold in Georgia SHINES pending the outcome of the investigation. If the home is not on hold, manually complete the process. 

   NOTE: The Office of Provider Management (OPM) is responsible for placing CPA foster/adoptive homes on hold. 

3. Be available to consult with the CPS Investigator, as needed, to support a thorough assessment of child safety and family functioning in the foster/adoptive home. 
   1. Share known history of the placement provider with the CPS Investigator so that it may be considered during the assessment of child safety. 
   2. Provide information requested by the CPS Investigator. 
   3. Refrain from sharing any details of the CPS Investigation obtained from the investigator (or any other source) with the caregivers. 
4. Continue normal case management activities during a special investigation (e.g. making monthly contacts, quarterly visits, monitoring training hours and changes to the household). However, the annual re-evaluation of a placement resource may not be approved until the investigation has concluded (see policy 14.13 Resource Development: Family Re-evaluation).
5. Provide support to the caregiver (after the CPS Investigator has made initial contact) without compromising the integrity of the Special Investigation and safety of the child (see Practice Guidance: Maintaining Neutrality During the Investigative Process). 
6. Participate in the multi-disciplinary staffing held at least 48-hours prior to the special investigation being submitted for closure (see policy 6.8 Special Investigations: Making a Special Investigation Determination). 
   1. If child abuse is substantiated, then discuss whether closure of the placement resource is warranted (see policy 14.23 Resource Development: Case Closure). 
   2. If child abuse is unsubstantiated, but there are significant concerns about the appropriateness of a caregiver to provide care for children in DFCS custody, then discuss whether closure of the placement resource is warranted (see policy 14.23 Resource Development: Case Closure). 
   3. If child abuse is unsubstantiated, but a policy violation exists, then discuss if a corrective action plan is warranted (see policy 14.22 Resource Development: Policy Violations). 
7. Refrain from communicating any details of the staffing with the caregivers. Allow the CPS investigator to communicate the special investigation outcome to the caregivers. 
8. Initiate a policy violation assessment when the CPS Investigator identifies potential policy violations that were not assessed during the investigation in accordance with policy 14.22 Resource Development: Policy Violations. 
9. Notify CRRU when there is a recommendation to close a DFCS foster/adoptive home or kinship foster home based on a violation of DFCS policy.

The RD Supervisor will: 

1. Immediately review the allegations of the Intake Assessment with the RD Case Manager to discuss potential impact on any current placements. 
2. Verify the DFCS foster or adoptive home was placed on hold in Georgia SHINES pending the outcome of the investigation. 
3. Ensure RD staff remains available and responsive to the CPS investigator without compromising the investigative process. 
4. Ensure no annual re-evaluation is approved on a placement resource that is the subject of an active CPS investigation. 
5. Participate in the multi-disciplinary staffing held at least 48-hours prior to the special investigation being submitted for closure (see policy 6.8 Special Investigations: Making a Special Investigation Determination). 
6. Carefully consider the history of the placement provider and the findings of the current special investigation to make decisions regarding the future status of the placement provider (e.g. whether a separate policy violation assessment needed, whether the placement resource should remain open).

PRACTICE GUIDANCE

Maintain Neutrality During the Investigation Process

RD Case Managers should be careful not to interfere with a CPS investigation and should Page 3 of 3 Actions During Special Investigations maintain neutrality throughout the investigative process. This includes not sharing information pertaining to the investigation with caregivers. The CPS investigator will communicate the appropriate information to the caregivers at the appropriate time. RD staff may arrange services required to preserve the current placement(s) in the foster/adoptive home but may not serve in the role of an advocate. Foster and adoptive parents may obtain such advocacy via the Adoptive and Foster Parent Association of Georgia (AFPAG). Foster and adoptive parents are provided with a “Notification of Rights” brochure at the initial CPS investigation meeting, which informs them of their right to an advocate and instructions on requesting an advocate. Foster or adoptive parents may authorize an AFPAG advocate to be present for all portions of investigations of child abuse at which an accused foster or adoptive parent is present. However, CPS investigations including applicable response timeframes are not impacted by the presence or absence of advocates.

FORMS AND TOOLS

Adoption and Foster Parent Association of Georgia