10:129-2.9 Requirements for formal investigation

10:129-2.9 Requirements for formal investigation

	(a) No component of the investigation completed during the initial investigation needs to be completed again during the formal investigation.

		(b) The child protective investigator shall, in completing a formal investigation:

		1. Assess the strengths and needs of the caregiver;

		2. Assess the strengths and needs of the alleged child victim;

		3. Interview at least two collateral contacts who have knowledge of the incident or circumstances, if the alleged child victim, the alleged child victim‘s family, or the alleged perpetrator identifies two or more of them;

		4. Confirm child care arrangements reported by the caregiver;

		5. Interview a prior permanency worker who is the most knowledgeable about the family, if available, and if a service case is currently closed but had been open within the last two years;

		6. Interview school personnel or a child care provider, if any, with knowledge of the parental care provided to that child;

		7. Interview each identified witness who is reported to have knowledge of the alleged abuse or neglect;

		8. Interview each community professional who has first-hand knowledge of the alleged abuse or neglect;

		9. Interview the following persons:

		i. Each person residing at the address of occurrence, at the time of incident; and

		ii. Each witness offered by the alleged perpetrator who could provide evidence that he or she did not abuse or neglect the alleged child victim;

		10. Interview each investigative law enforcement officer working on the report if he or she is not involved in cooperative investigation of the report;

		11. Interview each of the initial response law enforcement personnel called to the scene of the alleged abuse or neglect;

		12. Interview each physician directly involved with the treatment of the reported injury or condition, such as the attending physician, radiologist, surgeon or coroner, if any;

		13. Interview each primary care physician who has seen the alleged child victim within the past six months, if any; and

		14. Obtain and document written approval by a supervisor when seeking to eliminate any requirement listed in (b)1 through 13 above.