Section 214-RICR-20-00-1.8 - Response PrioritiesA. Department staff utilize a standardized screening tool to determine the response priority for each report of child abuse or neglect that is screened in for an investigation. Response priorities delineate the time limit for the Department to process the report and for the initiation of an investigation.B. Assigned investigations must commence within the timeframe of the designated response priority. For all response priorities below, the investigation is initiated when the CPI makes contact or attempts to contact any party associated with the investigation. 1. Priority 1 Response - The CPS report must be processed for case assignment within thirty (30) minutes after the call is completed. The CPI must respond to the report within two (2) hours of the report being received to CPS.2.Priority 2 Response - The CPS report must be processed for case assignment within two (2) hours after the call is completed. The CPI must respond to the report within twelve (12) hours of the report being received to CPS. For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, initial contact by the CPI may be by telephone within the time frame referenced above if it is determined that the child is not at substantial risk of harm, and the perpetrator does not have access to the victim. The CPI must make face to face contact with the subjects of the report within 24 hours of receipt of the report.3. Priority 3 Response - The CPS report must be processed for case assignment within four (4) hours after the call is completed. The CPI must respond to the report within forty-eight (48) hours of the report being received to CPS. For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, initial contact by the CPI may be by telephone within the time frame referenced above if it is determined that the child is not at substantial risk of harm, and the perpetrator does not have access to the victim. The CPI must make face to face contact with the subjects of the report within 72 hours of receipt of the report.C. Response priorities reflect the level of harm or risk of harm to the child.1. Priority 1 response criteria include:a. Child in imminent danger of physical harm.b. Child abandoned and in imminent danger.c. Child unsupervised and in imminent danger.d. Family may flee or child may disappear.e. Child at hospital for examination/parents present and awaiting questioning.f. Child fatality or near fatality due to alleged child abuse or neglect/other children in family.g. Child held by police/physician/nurse practitioner on a forty-eight (48) hour hold for Department placement.h. Other circumstances of the case constitute an emergency.2. Priority 2 response criteria include: a. Alleged abuse or neglect in which the child is not in imminent danger but other risk factors are present.b. Child abandoned but not in imminent danger.c. Child unsupervised but not in imminent danger.d. Child hospitalized on a seventy-two (72) hour hold.3. Priority 3 response criteria are used for all other reports in which there is minimal risk of harm to the child.214 R.I. Code R. 214-RICR-20-00-1.8
Amended effective 1/20/2021