2310. Child Protective Services (CPS) Initial Face-To-Face (IFF) Response

Applies To:  This policy applies to child welfare (CW) and Licensing Division (LD) Child Protective Services (CPS) employees.

Policy Number & Title:  2310. Child Protective Services (CPS) Initial Face-To-Face (IFF) Response

Effective Date:   July 1, 2024

Policy Update Memo Effective December 5, 2022-Child Welfare 

Policy Update Memo Effective January 3, 2023-Licensing Division

Purpose 

The purpose of this policy is to provide direction when making initial face-to-face (IFF) contact with victims or identified children and youth for CPS cases.

Authority 

RCW 26.44.020  Definitions
RCW 26.44.030  Reports-Duty and authority to make-Duty of receiving agency-Duty to Notify-Case planning and consultation-Penalty for unauthorized exchange of information-Filing dependency petitions-Investigations-Interviews of children Records-Risk assessment process
RCW 74.13.031  Duties of the department-Child welfare services-Children’s services advisory committee

Policy 

Caseworkers, after-hours workers, and LD CPS investigators must:

  1. Meet in-person with the victims or identified children or youth within the following timeframes once DCYF receives the intake:
    1. Twenty-four hours for emergent responses.
    2. Seventy-two hours for non-emergent responses.
  2. CPS caseworkers must:
    1. Determine if there is reason to know children are or may be Indian children, as outlined in the Indian Child Welfare (ICW) Reason to Know Tribal Inquiry policy.
    2. If there is reason to know children are or may be Indian children, follow ICW policies: 
      1. Tribal-State Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) if there is a MOA in place with the tribe. 
      2. CPS Investigation and Family Assessment Response to conduct a CPS investigation or CPS FAR. 

Resources 

Child Protective Services (CPS) Initial Face-To-Face (IFF) Response procedures (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules Office SharePoint)

CPS Investigation and Family Assessment Response policy

Indian Child Welfare Memoranda of Agreement policy

Indian Child Welfare Reason to Know policy

Original Date:  September 27, 1995

Revised Date:  July 1, 2024

Review Date:  July 31, 2028

Approved by:  Natalie Green, Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare Division