Florida Abuse Hotline Experience the Intake Process

Workshop Agenda Hotline Overview Child on Child Sexual Abuse Parent in Need of Assistance Multiple Reports Helpline Q&A

Hotline Overview HOTLINE MISSION: Help protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, abandonment and exploitation. – Assess calls for Child abuse, neglect and abandonment – Assess calls for Adult abuse, neglect and exploitation – Provide information and community referrals – Partner with DCF investigative staff, law enforcement, and others by providing accurate, timely, and comprehensive documentation

Hotline Overview Availability 24 / 7 / 365 Staffing 160 Counselors and 60 CIU Majority - 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Important Stats About 433,000 total contacts per year 71.4% of calls answered resulted in a report Out of all the reports we took, 81.4% were child reports 49.16% of calls came from mandated reporters

Child on Child Sexual Abuse Mock Call

Child on Child Sexual Abuse Florida Statute Chapter 39 requires the Department to conduct an assessment and assist the family in receiving appropriate services when a child aged 12 or younger has allegedly committed an act that meets criteria of child on child sexual abuse. Child on Child Sexual Abuse refers to any sexual behavior between children which occurs without consent, without equality, or as a result of coercion. These behaviors range from non-contact sexual behavior such as making obscene phone calls, exhibitionism, voyeurism, and the showing or taking of lewd photographs to varying degrees of direct sexual contact, such as frottage, fondling, digital penetration, rape, fellatio, sodomy, and various other sexually aggressive acts.

Child on Child Sexual Abuse There are five options available to Hotline staff when assessing an allegation of child on child sexual abuse. Which option staff will utilize depends upon what is ascertained during the interview with the reporter. The options are outlined below: – FSFN child on child sexual abuse special conditions when the alleged juvenile sexual offender is age 12 or under – Phoenix child on child sexual abuse template when the alleged juvenile sexual offender is age 13 to 17 – FSFN foster care referral when the victim and/or alleged juvenile sexual offender is age 13 to 17 AND resides in a Department licensed placement – Phoenix child on child referral when the victim and/or alleged juvenile sexual offender is age 13 to 17 AND resides in a non-licensed placement – Phoenix screen child template when the allegations of child on child sexual behavior does not meet criteria

Parent in Need of Assistance Mock Call

Parent in Need of Assistance Parent needs assistance special conditions intake are calls to the Hotline that do not meet the statutory criteria for an abuse, abandonment, or neglect investigation but the Hotline staff identifies the family may be in need of services. CFOP Intakes alleging maltreatment of a child take precedence over all special conditions intakes, including Parent Needs Assistance. Hotline staff must first assess the situation and determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that the child has been abused, neglected, or abandoned.

Parent in need of Assistance Parent in Need of Assistance should be used only when the level of risk has not risen to the point that abuse, neglect, or abandonment is suspected. Factors to consider: – Ungovernable child and other options for services have been exhausted – Caregiver is looking for help to prevent abuse or neglect in the present situation (note: the caregiver does not need to be the one calling the Hotline) – Caregiver and/or child has a physical or mental condition – Situation may get worse without assistance – Potential for abuse if situation goes unresolved – Family may benefit from community services – Family history in FSFN – Age of the child(ren) – Family is homeless

Multiple Reports Mock Fax

Multiple Reports Situation involving more than one family unit or children who visit with non-custodial parents or relatives may result in the Hotline staff entering more than one intake. When deciding how many intakes to enter, Hotline staff are to consider the number family units as well as households. A household is defined as all the people who reside together in the same dwelling. A family unit is defined as a child(ren) and their parent(s) or primary caregiver(s).

Multiple Reports Hotline staff will create separate intakes for allegations involving separate family units because intakes involving separate family units must be linked to different cases. Other factors to consider: – Victims located in different counties – Incidents involving institutional and in-home allegations – Incidents involving Child on Child and Foster Care Referral special conditions and abuse allegations – Child death allegations not related to the open investigation

Helpline Mock Call

Helpline The Helpline provides 24 hour assistance to field staff. This Helpline is answered by Crime Intelligence staff, Lead Hotline counselors, Hotline supervisors and the Supervisor specialist. Frequent Helpline requests: – Criminal checks by CIU – Merges/splits – County reassignments – Date/time error – Supplementals vs. Additionals – Intake documentation errors – Intake screen out requests – Request to review call/fax/web – Intake investigative type – Changing responses priorities

Helpline To ensure Hotline staff is best able to assist the field with their requests, below are best practice recommendations: – To make intake corrections, immediately contact the Hotline BEFORE entering and saving risk assessments in the investigation – For corrections requiring the intake to be delinked from the case, be advised that delinking the intake deletes the investigation and all associated notes – Fully review the intake as sometimes critical information is documented in the reporter narrative – Be familiar with the intake format and the Hotline noting current means to locate in Section E/Victim Location – To avoid waiting in the queue with the public, field staff are encouraged to contact the Helpline by calling or (direct line to a Supervisor or Lead counselor)

Q&A