Library: Policy
340:75-3-520. Closure of the child protective services assessment or investigation
Revised 2-1-22
(a) Determination of prevention and intervention-related services. Per Section 1-2-105 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes (10A O.S. § 1-2-105), Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS), where appropriate and at its discretion, identifies prevention and intervention-related services available in the community and arranges for services to be provided to the family when an assessment or investigation indicates the family would benefit from services or OKDHS may provide services directly.
(1) Attempts to provide, refer, or arrange voluntary services are documented in the OKDHS record.
(2) OKDHS determines within 60-calendar days whether the family has accessed services directly related to the child's safety.
(3) When the family refuses voluntary services or does not access services directly related to the child's safety, and OKDHS determines that the child's surroundings endanger the child's health, safety, or welfare, OKDHS may recommend the child be placed in protective or emergency custody, or that a petition be filed. • 1
(b) Notification of assessment conclusion or investigative finding to person responsible for the child (PRFC).
(1) Following completion of the assessment, OKDHS notifies each PRFC of the conclusion. • 2 & 4
(2) Following completion of the investigation, OKDHS notifies each PRFC of any findings pertaining to the PRFC. • 3 & 4
(c) Disclosure of information to reporter of child abuse or neglect. Per 10A O.S. § 1-6-102, OKDHS may summarize the outcome of an investigation to the person who reported a known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect, or to any person providing services to a child who is, or is alleged to be, a victim of child abuse or neglect.
(d) Disclosure of findings or conclusions and other information to persons or agencies providing professional services.
(1) Per 10A O.S. § 1-2-107, OKDHS may provide information to a person or agency that provides professional services, such as medical examination of, or therapeutic intervention with, a victim of abuse or neglect. This information may include, but is not limited to the:
(A) investigative determination; or
(B) services offered and provided.
(2) OKDHS forwards information, including the investigative determination, the services offered or provided, and such other information deemed necessary by OKDHS, to any hospital or any physician including, but not limited to, doctors of medicine and dentistry, licensed osteopathic physicians, residents and interns, reporting the abuse or neglect of a child, per 10A O.S. § 1-2-101,. The information is entered and maintained in the child's medical record. • 5
(e) Notification to Child Care Services (CCS) of a substantiated finding of heinous and shocking abuse by a PRFC.
(1) Child Welfare Services (CWS) is responsible for notifying CCS upon completion of a program review when a finding of heinous and shocking abuse is substantiated.
(2) CCS notifies a child care facility owner or operator and the child care resource and referral organization in writing immediately or not later than one-business day after CWS substantiates a finding of heinous and shocking abuse by a PRFC, per 10 O.S. § 406. • 6
INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:65-3-520
Revised 2-1-22
1. Determination of prevention and intervention-related services.
(1) When voluntary services are recommended, the child welfare (CW) specialist documents the attempts to provide, refer, or arrange for the provision of voluntary services in the Investigation Contacts screen in KIDS.
(2) Within 60-calendar days of the approval of the KIDS assessment or Form 04KI003E, Report to District Attorney, a contact entitled "Services Follow-up," is entered in the Investigation Contacts screen in KIDS in the closed case. After verifying with the person(s) responsible for the child (PRFC) and service provider, the CW specialist documents whether the family voluntarily accessed recommended services directly related to child safety when allegations of abuse or neglect are substantiated. Examples of a "services follow-up" include, but are not limited to, contacting the:
(A) parent education program the family was referred to, obtaining information related to the:
(i) family's attendance;
(ii) progression in services;
(iii) impact of the services on the family dynamics; and
(iv) child's functioning and safety;
(B) mental health provider the PRFC was referred to, obtaining information related to:
(i) PRFC's progress in treatment;
(ii) PRFC's current treatment needs; and
(iii) how the PRFC's functioning impacts the child's functioning and safety;
(C) medical professional responsible for the child's ongoing or specialty medical care, obtaining information regarding:
(i) the child's required medical care and treatment needs;
(ii) the PRFC's follow-up with the child's medical care;
(iii) the PRFC's ability to meet the child's medical needs on a consistent basis; and
(iv) how this information impacts the child's functioning and safety;
(D) substance abuse program the PRFC was referred to, obtaining information about:
(i) the PRFC's progress in treatment;
(ii) current substance use and impact on the PRFC's functioning; and
(iii) how this information impacts the child's functioning and safety; and
(E) PRFC to obtain information regarding:
(i) progress in the recommended services;
(ii) how the services are impacting the household's dynamics and functioning; and
(iii) if further referrals to community service providers are requested.
(3) When the family refuses voluntary services, or does not access services directly related to child safety, and it is determined the child's surroundings endanger the child's health, safety, or welfare, the CW specialist consults the CW supervisor to determine if a recommendation is made to place the child in protective or emergency custody or that a petition be filed.
(4) When an emergency or temporary guardianship was obtained during the Child Protective Services (CPS) assessment or investigation, and when the family refuses voluntary services or does not access services directly related to child safety, the CW specialist verifies within 60-calendar days after closure of the CPS assessment or investigation if the guardianship was continued or dissolved. When the guardianship was dissolved, and it is determined the child's surroundings endanger the child's healthy, safety, or welfare, the CW specialist consults the CW supervisor to determine if a recommendation is made to place the child in protective or emergency custody or that a petition be filed.
2. Notification of assessment conclusion. Following completion of the assessment, the CW specialist notifies each PRFC of the conclusion. The CW specialist mails each PRFC Form 04KI021E, Notification Regarding Assessment.
3. Notification of investigative finding. Following completion of the investigation, the CW specialist notifies each PRFC of the finding pertaining to each PRFC. The CW specialist mails:
(1) Form 04KI019E, Notification Concerning Finding(s) of Child Abuse/Neglect, to each PRFC;
(2) each PRFC Form 04KI019E for in-home investigations. Refer to Oklahoma Administrative Code 340:75-3-410 and 340:75-3-420 for out-of-home investigative findings and notification to PRFCs; and
(3) Form 04KI019E to the child care program employee's home.
4. When closure with PRFC or family not required. Closure with the PRFC or family may be circumvented when there is reason to believe it may place the child or CW specialist in danger or when the PRFC cannot be located.
5. Disclosure of information to reporter of child abuse or neglect or to persons or agencies providing professional services. Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) may summarize the outcome of an investigation to the person who reported a known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect or to any person providing services to a child who is or is alleged to be a victim of child abuse. The reporter is also told:
(1) the assessment or investigation specifics cannot be disclosed;
(2) the assessment or investigation was completed;
(3) a report of the assessment conclusions or investigative findings was forwarded to the district attorney's office, per Oklahoma Statutes; and
(4) a completed assessment or investigation does not preclude future assessments or investigations when new allegations of child abuse or neglect are reported.
6. Heinous and shocking finding of abuse. When OKDHS makes a recommendation for a finding of shocking and heinous abuse by a PRFC:
(1) the CW specialist notifies the CPS Programs office upon the closure of an investigation with a finding of heinous and shocking abuse;
(2) CPS Programs conducts a program review to determine if the finding is correct per policy;
(3) CPS Programs adds the PRFC(s)' name with a finding of heinous and shocking abuse to a centralized location; and
(4) CPS Programs is then responsible for providing the PRFC(s)' name to Child Care Services within one-business day of the program review's completion.
