12 CCR 2509-2-7.107 - INSTRUMENTS, TOOLS, AND INTERVIEW PROCEDURES
The following instruments, tools, and procedures are intended to assist county departments in making informed and reliable decisions.
7.107.1
COLORADO FAMILY SAFETY
ASSESSMENT TOOL [Rev. eff. 1/1/17]
There shall be a transition period for completion of training and access to the new Colorado Family Safety Assessment Tool in the state automated case management system. All county child welfare case carrying staff and supervisors shall be trained and have access to the new tool by January 1, 2017.
7.107.11
Parameters for
Use of the Colorado Family Safety Assessment Tool
The Colorado Family Safety Assessment shall be completed:
A. At the time of initial
response with household members.
B.
As soon as additional household members are available, each household member
shall be assessed using the current or impending dangers identified in the
Colorado Family Safety Assessment tool.
C. If household members are not available at
the time of initial response, the Colorado Family Safety Assessment shall be
completed based on the information available and based on the interview or
observation of the alleged victim child(ren)/youth and/or child/youth in
conflict.
D. If no current or
impending danger is identified within 14 calendar days through the Colorado
Family Safety Assessment, interviews with additional household members
identified outside of the 14 calendar days, shall be documented in the state
automated case management system.
E. At the time of contact with the alleged
victim child(ren)/youth and/or child/youth in conflict, or other family members
and current or impending danger is identified, the entire Colorado Family
Safety Assessment tool shall be completed.
F. The tool shall be completed using
available information and accessible household members to mitigate the
danger.
G. Prior to end dating a
safety plan.
H. Whenever there is a
significant change in household circumstances or situations that might pose a
new or renewed threat to the safety of child(ren)/youth.
I. Prior to reunification.
J. Prior to child(ren)/youth returning
home.
K. In all program area 5 (PA
5) referrals being assessed, except:
1.
Institutional abuse assessments, as described in section 7.104.22;
2. Fatality assessments when there are no
surviving siblings, or
3. When
caregivers have abandoned an infant as described in C.R.S.
19-3-304.5.
7.107.12
Safety Threshold
[Eff. 1/1/17]
The following criteria shall be present to determine that current or impending danger exists. Meeting these criteria indicates that the household members behavior, condition or situation threatens the safety of a child(ren)/youth:
A. The threat to
child(ren)/youth safety is specific and observable;
B. Conditions reasonably could result in
moderate to severe harm to a child(ren)/youth;
C. This harm is likely to occur if not
resolved;
D. A child(ren)/youth is
vulnerable to the threat of harm as defined in the Colorado Family Safety
Assessment tool, and/or through professional observation; and,
E. The caregiver(s) is unable and/or
unwilling to control conditions, situation and/or behaviors that threaten
child(ren)/youth safety.
7.107.13
Assessment of Current or
Impending Danger [Eff. 1/1/17]
A. The
county department shall use the current or impending dangers outlined in the
Colorado Family Safety Assessment tool to assess for the safety of identified
child(ren)/youth.
B. The list of
current or impending danger descriptions shall be referenced when assessing
threats to child(ren)/youth safety and prior to checking current or impending
dangers in the Colorado Safety Family Assessment Tool.
7.107.14
Safety Assessment Decision
[Eff. 1/1/17]
A. If none of the current
or impending dangers In The Colorado Family Safety Assessment tool are
identified, the remaining required sections of the tool shall be completed
within fourteen (14) calendar days and no further safety intervention is
required.
B. If assessment of the
child(ren)/youth and household members determines that the child(ren)/youth is
safe and emergency out-of-home placement occurred prior to the completion of
the Colorado Family Safety Assessment, efforts should be made to return
responsibility for the child(ren)/youth's safety back to the
caregiver(s).
C. The caregiver
strengths and protective capacity shall be assessed using the strengths and
protective capacities listed in the Colorado Family Safety Assessment tool to
determine whether a caregiver has the capacity and willingness to assure the
child(ren)/youth's protection.
D.
If the assessment of the child(ren)/youth and household members determines the
child(ren)/youth is unsafe, further assessment, analysis and planning are
necessary as described in 7.107.17.
7.107.15
Actions that Respond to
Current or Impending Danger [Eff. 1/1/17]
The action required shall be determined and based on the completion of the Colorado Family Safety Assessment tool as follows:
A. If no current or impending danger to the
child(ren)/youth has been identified as a part of the assessment, no further
safety intervention is required;
B.
If current or impending danger to the child(ren)/youth has been identified as a
part of the Colorado Family Safety Assessment tool and caregivers' strengths,
protective capacities and/or actions control for the identified danger, no
further safety intervention is required; or,
C. If current or impending danger has been
identified and caregiver(s) or family actions do not control the current or
impending danger, safety intervention analysis is required.
7.107.16
Safety Intervention
Analysis [Eff. 1/1/17]
A. When current
or impending danger is identified as described in section 7.107.15 one of the
following shall be initiated:
1. A safety
plan shall be developed that can reasonably be expected to control for
identified current or impending danger to the child(ren)/youth; or,
2. Human or social service's custody shall be
obtained if it is the only plan that sufficiently controls for the current or
impending danger.
7.107.17
Safety Planning [Eff.
1/1/17]
A. A safety plan shall be
developed for all child(ren)/youth in current or impending danger when a safety
plan can reasonably be expected to control for identified dangers.
B. Safety plans shall be reviewed and
approved by a supervisor as soon as possible and no later than twenty-four (24)
hours from the interview or observation with the alleged victim
child(ren)/youth.
C. Safety plans
shall be documented in the state automated case management system no later than
fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the alleged victim child(ren)/youth
was interviewed or observed.
D.
Safety plans shall include the following:
1.
Identification of each family member and safety management provider who is
participating in the plan;
2. A
description of actions to be taken that address each specific current or
impending danger, including:
A. Frequency of
each action;
B. Who is responsible
for each action;
C. The safety
response shall have an immediate impact on controlling the identified current
or impending danger; and,
D. Be
readily accessible at a level required to ensure safety.
3. When available, caregiver(s)
acknowledgement of current or impending dangers and willingness to participate
in the safety plan; and,
4.
Caseworker activities to oversee the safety plan.
E. Parents, caregivers, and others who are a
part of the safety plan shall sign the safety plan and receive a copy. The
signatures and paper form shall be retained in the file.
F. Safety plans shall not be developed if the
safety analysis results in the decision that human or social services custody
is the only plan that is sufficient to control for all identified current of
impending danger.
7.107.18
Timing and Documentation [Eff.
1/1/17]
A. The Colorado Family Safety
Assessment tool shall be completed with household members at the time of the
contact and documented in the state automated case management system no later
than fourteen (14) calendar days.
B. The Colorado Family Safety Assessment tool
shall be approved by a supervisor as soon as possible and no later than
fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the alleged victim child(ren)/youth
was interviewed or observed.
C. If
the child(ren)/youth is determined to be in current or impending danger, the
remainder of the Colorado Family Safety Assessment tool shall be completed at
the time of contact with available information and accessible household members
to determine the actions needed that respond to the current or impending danger
and shall be documented in the state automated case management system within
fourteen (14) calendar days of the alleged victim child(ren)/youth interview or
observation.
D. If the
child(ren)/youth is determined to be in current or impending danger, the safety
assessment, safety plan, or decision to initiate human or social services
custody shall be reviewed and approved through contact with a supervisor as
soon as possible and no later than twenty-four (24) hours from the interview or
observation with the alleged victim child(ren)/youth. Supervisor contact and
approval shall be documented in the state automated case management system
within fourteen (14) calendar days of the alleged victim child(ren)/youth
interview or observation.
7.107.2
Colorado Family Risk Assessment
Tool [Rev. eff. 7/10/17]
There shall be a transition period for completion of training and access to the new Colorado Family Risk Assessment Tool in the state automated case management system. All county child welfare case carrying staff and supervisors shall be trained and have access to the new tool by January 1, 2017.
7.107.21
Parameters for
Use of the Colorado Family Risk Assessment Tool [Eff. 1/1/17]
A. The Colorado Family Risk Assessment tool
shall be completed:
1. With the household
members;
2. As part of any Program
Area 5 assessment, except:
a. Institutional
assessment as described in section 7.104.22;
b. Fatality assessment when there are no
surviving siblings; or,
c. When
caregivers have abandoned an infant as described in C.R.S.
19-3-304.5.
B. The Colorado Risk Assessment
Tool shall be used to:
1. Determine risk for
future abuse and/or neglect;
2. Aid
in determining if services should be provided; and,
3. Aid in determining the appropriate level
of services.
7.107.22
Procedures for Completing the
Colorado Family Risk Assessment Tool [Eff. 1/1/17]
The Colorado Family Risk Assessment tool shall be completed with the family, and shall address all areas of risk on the tool.
7.107.23
Risk Analysis [Eff.
1/1/17]
If the risk assessment score is high, the county shall document reasonable efforts to hold a family engagement meeting to discuss next steps with the family.
7.107.24
Timing and Documentation [Eff.
1/1/17]
A. The completed Colorado
Family Risk Assessment shall be documented in the state automated case
management system within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the referral
was received.
B. Family Engagement
Meetings shall be documented in the framework in the state automated case
management system.
C. If the risk
assessment score is high and the county department decides to close the
assessment without providing services, the county department shall document in
the statewide case management system how they reached the decision.
7.107.3
YOUTH
SAFETY ASSESSMENT TOOL (Reserved for Future Use)
7.107.4
COLORADO HUMAN TRAFFICKING
SCREEN PARAMETERS FOR USE:
The Colorado human trafficking screen shall be completed:
A. Anytime a county accepts
a referral for assessment with human trafficking concerns.
B. Anytime during an open assessment or case
where new concerns related to human trafficking arise.
C. Anytime a child/youth in state custody
returns to care from runaway or missing status
7.107.5
Colorado Plan of Safe Care
parameters for use
The Colorado Plan of Safe Care shall be completed:
A. Any time a referral is accepted for
assessment and the child meets the definition of substance exposed newborn as
described in
19-1-103(1)(a)(vii),
C.R.S and 19-3-102(1)(g),
C.R.S.
B. The Colorado Plan of Safe
Care shall be completed based on the information available and based on the
interview or observation of the alleged victim child(ren) and in collaboration
with parents, caregivers, medical providers, and others who may be a part of
the plan.
C. A Colorado Plan of
Safe Care shall be documented in the state automated case management system and
approved within sixty (60) calendar days from the date the referral was
received.
7.107.51
When to
complete a Colorado Plan of Safe Care
The action required shall be determined and based on an assessment that contains an allegation of substance exposed newborn as follows:
A. If a Colorado Plan of Safe
Care has not been created by a medical, treatment or community provider, the
caseworker shall create a Colorado Plan of Safe Care, and/or;
B. When a Colorado Plan of Safe Care has been
developed by a medical, treatment or community provider, the caseworker shall
update the Colorado Plan of Safe Care to reflect the current
circumstances.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.