A CPS intake is any referral made to the Department that alleges child abuse or neglect. Central Intake workers enter CPS intakes into TFACTS. Central Intake only takes CPS referrals. Important aspects of CPS intakes are:
All referents and participants for CPS intakes are considered reported persons; their identities will not become established until the investigation phase. Even if you locate a person profile in TFACTS that seems to match a referent or participant, you need to enter all of the individual’s information in the Participant tab.
CPS intakes are assigned a track and a response priority.
CPS intakes are screened in or screened out based on the track assignment.
Intake referrals
The CPS specialist gathers sufficient information about the referred family to assess the credibility of the allegation, to locate the family and children, and to identify children who may be in danger. When the CPS specialist has collected the information, he or she indicates that the intake record is complete and ready for a screening decision. The CPS specialist makes all the decisions and then the screener approves them if appropriate.
See also:
Track and response priority
An intake worker uses the MRS Tracking Tool to determine the appropriate track that a CPS Intake should be assigned. A team leader then reviews the recommended track. If the team leader rejects the recommended track, he or she must select a different track and document the reason.
An intake worker uses the Priority Tool to determine the appropriate response priority that a CPS Intake should be assigned. This response priority assignment must be reviewed by a specialist. The Priority Tool helps the screener to determine whether to expedite contact with the identified family. The Priority Tool questionnaire is in four parts:
Physical abuse
Medical neglect and psychological harm
Other neglect
Sexual abuse
After you complete the questionnaire, an intake specialist or intake supervisor reviews the recommended response priority. If the specialist rejects the recommended response priority, the specialist or supervisor must select a different response priority and document the reason.
Recommend the track for a CPS intake
Recommend the priority for a CPS intake
Screening decision and assignment
The screening function is the first point at which a judgment must be made about a child’s safety. There are four possible outcomes for a CPS intake during the Multi-level Response System (MRS): screen out, screen in for investigation, screen in for assessment, screen in for resource linkage.
The screening decision maker does the following:
Determines whether the incoming allegation meets the criteria for assessment/investigation and is appropriate for Child Protective Services.
Determines whether the information requires an immediate emergency response because the child appears to be unsafe.
Assigns a track in the MRS Track tool. See Accept or reject the recommended track for a CPS intake.
Assigns a response priority in the MRS Priority tool. See Accept or reject the recommended priority for a CPS intake.
Records the screening decision or returns the intake to the screener for further work.
When an intake is screened in, the screening decision maker links the intake to a case record and assigns it to an investigation unit, an assessment unit, or a resource linkage unit. An intake can be assigned to an employee who is currently logged in to a county worker in the on-call list. Only shift leaders or shift supervisors can choose on-call county workers.
See also:
Record the intake decision and assignment
Record a screening decision for a CPS intake
View a history of intake worker assignments.
Reconsideration
When county or region staff disagree with screening decisions or other documented information made on an intake, the region or county staff can send the intake back to Central Intake for reconsideration. Central Intake reviews the returned intake and responds to the request.
Enter a reconsideration request for an intake
Enter a response to a reconsideration request
Adding information to intake records
After the screening decision has been entered for a CPS intake, certain intake details can be changed such as alleged child victim, alleged perpetrator, and narratives. Changes can be made within four business days of the date and time of the screen decision, or before the safety assessment has been approved, whichever occurs first. See Add details to a completed intake.