Intake/Investigations Unit

This unit is designed to investigate the calls and complaints that come into the agency from the community.  These calls and complaints are called referrals.  This unit works primarily with families that have children ages 0-12 that are having issues related to Abuse or  Neglect.

Once a referral has been accepted, it is prioritized as an emergency, non-emergency or I&R (Information and Referral) and assigned to an investigator.   

●         If the referral is an emergency, then the investigator has one  hour to attempt to make face to face contact with the alleged child victim.

●         If the referral is a non-emergency, the investigator has 24 hours to make a collateral contact regarding the child’s safety and 72 hours to attempt to make face to face contact with the child.

●         I & R referrals alert the agency that a family is having some sort of difficulty.  This allows the investigators to provide preventative services to the family prior to the occurrence of abuse or neglect.  The time frame for initial contact is the same as a non-emergency classification.

The investigator will visit the home and will gather needed information to make an decision regarding the safety of the child.  If the investigator feels that a child is at risk of serious injury then they will automatically try to find a family member that can will take the child until the unsafe situation is resolved.  There are not always family members that are willing to take on the role of caregiver.  In this situation the Investigator would remove the children and place them in a family foster home.  

If the child is removed from the home, then the family services unit passes the family case on to the Foster/Adoption Unit for further services.