Primary and secondary caretakers

The system displays the primary and secondary caretakers on the Case Detail screen. Only one primary caretaker can be identified. The primary caretaker is the adult (typically the parent) in the household who assumes the most responsibility for child care. When two adult caretakers are present and only one has legal responsibility, the caretaker 1 is the one who is legally responsible for the children, even if caretaker 1 has less responsibility for child care. If this rule does not resolve the question, the legally responsible adult who was a perpetrator should be selected.

The secondary caretaker is an adult living in the household who has routine responsibility for child care, but less responsibility than the primary caretaker. A living-together partner may be a secondary caretaker even though he or she has minimal responsibility for care of the children.