LAW
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Ohio Laws and Rules
(A) A public children services agency (PCSA) shall conduct a deserted child assessment/investigation if all of the following apply to the child subject of the report:
(1) The child is less than thirty-one days old.
(2) The child was voluntarily left in the care of an emergency medical service worker, peace officer, or hospital employee by the child's parent(s).
(3) The child's parent(s) did not express an intent to return for the child.
(B) The PCSA shall initiate the screened in family in need of services, deserted child report by attempting a face-to-face contact with the child subject of the report within one hour from the time the referral was screened in as a report.
(C) The PCSA shall contact the individual who originally took possession of the child and obtain:
(1) The date and time the child subject of the report was left with the individual.
(2) All information regarding the child left by the parent(s).
(3) The JFS 01672 "Voluntary Medical History" (rev. 3/2009) form, if completed by the child's parent(s).
(4) All clothing and articles left with the child.
(D) The PCSA shall accept emergency temporary custody of the child subject of the report.
(E) The PCSA shall arrange for the child subject of the report to be examined by a physician within one hour of face-to-face contact with the child subject of the report.
(1) The examination shall assess the health and well being of the child and indicators of maltreatment.
(2) If the child subject of the report is not left at a hospital, the PCSA shall transport, or arrange for transportation of the child to the nearest appropriate hospital emergency department.
(F) The PCSA shall obtain the medical examination report from the physician documenting that medical treatment was provided to the child.
(G) The PCSA shall place the child subject of the report in substitute care pursuant to rule 5101:2-42-04 of the Administrative Code and provide a copy of the medical examination report to the caregiver.
(H) The PCSA shall contact the following agencies and determine if a child matching the description of the child subject of the report has been reported missing:
(1) Local law enforcement.
(2) Ohio's missing children's information clearinghouse (http://www.mcc.ag.state.oh.us/).
(3) National center for missing and exploited children (http://www.missingkids.com/).
(I) The PCSA shall complete activities to obtain a birth certificate and a social security card for the child subject of the report.
(J) The PCSA shall complete the deserted child assessment/investigation no later than thirty days from the date the referral was screened in as a report. The PCSA may extend the timeframe by a maximum of fifteen days if information needed cannot be obtained and the reasons are documented in the case record pursuant to rule 5101:2-36-11 of the Administrative Code.
(E) The PCSA shall consider the child to be abused or neglected or both pursuant to rule 5101:2-1-01 of the Administrative Code if:
(1) The child has suffered a physical or mental wound or injury, or the child's condition reasonably indicates abuse or neglect.
(2) It is determined that someone other than the parent deserted the child pursuant to paragraph (A) of this rule.
(3) The child is determined to be more than seventy-two hours old at the time the child was deserted pursuant to paragraph (A) of this rule.
(F) If it is determined the child has been abused or neglected, the PCSA shall:
(1) Complete activities identified in paragraphs (A)(2) to (A)(6) of this rule.
(2) Make all possible attempts to identify and locate the parent(s).
(3) Conduct an assessment/investigation pursuant to rule 5101:2-36-03 of the Administrative Code.
(K) The PCSA shall screen in a report of child abuse and/or neglect if any of the following occur during the assessment/investigation of a deserted child:
(1) The child's condition reasonably indicates abuse and/or neglect.
(2) The PCSA determines that someone other than the parent delivered the child subject of the report to the care of an emergency medical service worker, peace officer, or hospital employee.
(3) The child subject of the report is determined to be more than thirty-one days old at the time the child was delivered to the care of an emergency medical service worker, peace officer, or hospital employee.
(L) Upon receipt of a child abuse and/or neglect report during a deserted child assessment/investigation the PCSA shall:
(1) Complete all activities identified in this rule.
(2) Attempt to identify and locate the parents.
(3) Conduct an assessment/investigation pursuant to rule 5101:2-36-03 of the Administrative Code.
(M) The assessment/investigation documentation and any materials obtained as a result of the assessment/investigation shall be maintained in the case record.
R.C.
119.032 review dates:
07/22/2011 and
07/01/2016
Promulgated
Under: 119.03
Statutory
Authority:
2151.421,
5153.16
Rule
Amplifies:
2151.3518,
2151.421,
5153.16
Prior
Effective Dates: 12/1/01, 3/01/06, 10/01/09