Isanti County Family Services (ICFS) works within state guidelines and mandates to protect children from physical abuse , sexual abuse and neglect. All reports are screened according to MN Statute 626.556 and Child Maltreatment Screening Guidelines.
Child
Protection Report Process
Mandated/Voluntary
Reporters
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
Professional Community Collaborations
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
CHILD PROTECTION REPORT PROCESS
When a report is accepted for assessment, the approach in how to assess the report must be determined. There are two tracks from which to choose for assessing maltreatment reports, Family Assessment and traditional investigations. ICFS has used Family Assessment response since 2003 and most reports will be assessed using this approach. Traditional investigations are used for reports of endangerment. At the conclusion of the assessment or investigation a certain determination must be made. In a Family Assessment, a determination of whether or not services are needed is made. In a traditional investigation two determinations must be made – did maltreatment occur and are services needed. If services are needed in either approach, case management services will be provided to the family to ameliorate the condition that led to the report. Flow Chart
Reconsideration
When maltreatment is determined, the determination can be
requested to be reconsidered. A
request for reconsideration must be done in writing within 30 days upon
receipt of the determination letter. The
letter must be written to the Director of Social Services.
If the reconsideration upholds the original determination, that
decision may be appealed to the Department of
Human Services.
Back to Top
Anyone can make a report,
MN Statute
626.556 subdivision 3
identifies certain professionals that must report to child protection when child
abuse or neglect is suspected. All
reports must be made orally followed by a written report within 72 hours.
professional's delegate who is engaged in the practice of:
● the healing arts
● social services
● hospital administration
● psychological or psychiatric treatment
● child care
● education
● correctional supervision
● probation and correctional services
● law enforcement
● a member of the clergy and received the information while
engaged in ministerial duties, provided that a member of
the clergy is not required by this subdivision to report
information that is otherwise privileged under section
MN Statute 595.02, subdivision 1, paragraph (c).
How To Make A Report
- Call
the Child Protection Social Worker on Intake at
763-689-1711 immediately. - Complete the Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect Report form within 72 hours of your oral report.
Persons mandated to report suspected child abuse or neglect will receive a
letter of the disposition of their report, unless release would be detrimental
to the best interests of the child. Voluntary
reporters can request to be notified of the disposition of their report.
Immunity
When acting in good faith as a mandated or voluntary reporter, the reporter
is immune from civil or criminal liability.
Mandated reporters are also immune from retaliation from an employer.
Back to Top
Authority to Remove
Social Workers do not have the authority to remove a child from their
parental home. Law enforcement may
sign a child welfare hold (also known as a 72-hour hold) when a child is found
in an environment that is unsafe. Social
Workers can petition the court requesting the child be removed from their
parental home. A judge may order the
child to be removed from the home should s/he believe the children are in an
unsafe environment. Once a child is
removed from the home and the county believes the child needs to remain out of
the home to ensure the family receives services, the county can submit a CHIPS
petition to the court. CHIPS is an
acronym which means child in need of protection services.
Having a child removed from the home is the last resort to ensuring safety
for the child. Should this happen
the agency will conduct a search to find a suitable relative that can care for
the child. If necessary, the
relative will be asked to provide a permanent home. MN
Statute 260C.201, subdivision 11a
requires permanency for children under 8 years of age be established by
six months from date of removal, and for children age 8 and older by 12 months
from date of removal.
Brochure: When Your Child Is Removed From Your Home
Native American Heritage
Isanti County Family Services follows the Indian
Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
MN Statute 260C.331
provides for counties to be reimbursed for the cost of providing care for
children. Specifically, the total
income and resources attributable to the child for the period of care may be
used to reimburse the county for the cost of care.
Parental
Fees Pamphlet
Medical Non-Emergency Transportation
The Department of Human Services contracts with an agency to provide
transportation services for individuals who are covered under Medical Assistance
(MA). Medical Non-emergency
Transportation Services (MNET) must be contacted to in order for medical
transportation costs to be reimbursed through MA.
For children in an out of home placement, their foster parent or facility
personnel need to contact MNET to be reimbursed for mileage in transporting a
foster child to and from a medical appointment.
Please contact MNET at: 1-866-467-1724.
INDIAN
CHILD WELFARE ACT (ICWA)
Isanti County Family Services strives to provide culturally sensitive
services to persons of Native American heritage.
ICFS follows the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) when a Native American
child is placed out of the home. The
tribe is contacted so as to elicit their expertise in providing culturally
sensitive services to their tribal member. To
support the preservation of Native American heritage, ICFS child protection
designates social workers to handle ICWA matters so that consistent culturally
sensitive services are provided.
PROFESSIONAL
COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS
Child Protection Social Workers are members of a variety of collaborative
efforts in
In accordance with MN
Statute 626.558, subd. 1
Isanti County Children’s Justice
Initiative
The Children’s Justice Initiative is the collaboration between the Minnesota
Judicial Branch and the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The purpose of the
initiative is to improve the processing of child protection cases and the
outcomes for abused and neglected children.
The mission of the Children’s Justice Initiative is to ensure that in a
fair and timely manner abused and neglected children involved in the juvenile
protection court system have safe, stable, permanent families.
Isanti
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
What is child abuse and neglect?
Isanti
County Screening Guidelines
How do I report child abuse?
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected please call the Child
Protection Social Worker on Intake at 763-689-1711.
Should a worker be busy with another report please leave your name so the
worker can return your call. If you
have concerns after
For emergency situations always call 911.
Isanti
Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect Report
Will the family know I reported?
The name of any reporter acting in good faith is confidential and cannot
be released except by a Judge ordering the name to be revealed.
Can I report anonymously?
Yes, voluntary reporters can report anonymously.
However, providing your identity and your relationship to the family
lends credibility to the report. Also,
it is helpful in cases where we need clarification or have further questions.
Who is a mandated reporter?
Anyone can report a concern of child abuse or neglect.
However, the state mandates that professionals in a child caring role
must report. Isanti
County Screening Guidelines
How old can a child be left home alone?
Isanti
County Screening Guidelines
An article printed in the Green Bay Press-Gazette in Brown County
Wisconsin addressed this concern for parents.
The questions are good ones to ask in determining whether or not a child
is capable of being home alone. There
are two areas to address in answering this question.
The first area to address is to ensure the home is safe enough for
children. The other is to determine
the child’s ability to care for oneself.
● Are there fire dangers in the home?
● Is there a plan for what to do should a fire occur (e.g. escape
route, meeting place)?
● Are the smoke detectors in working order?
● Is your home “child proof” with medicines, poisons,
knives,
and dangerous tools out of reach of the children?
● Does your child know basic first aid procedures?
● Is wiring exposed?
● Do any cords, plugs or sockets look dangerous?
● Does your child know not to plug in electrical appliances
with wet
hands?
Questions to answer to determine that your child is able to
care for oneself are the following:
● Do you consider your child mature enough to care for
her/himself?
● Has your child indicated that s/he wants to take care of
her/himself?
● Is your child able to solve problems?
● Is your child able to complete daily tasks?
● Is your child generally unafraid to be alone?
● Is your child comfortable entering your house alone?
● Can your child unlock and lock the doors by him/herself?
● Is there an adult living or working nearby that your child can
trust in an emergency?
● Do you consider your house secure?
● Do you think your child is safety conscious?
Does your child
play with fire or dangerous equipment? Is
your child violent
or aggressive?
● Would a telephone be available to your child?
● Are you accessible by phone for your child?
● Can your child use the phone?
● Is your child free of disabilities that require supervision?
● Does your child sleep well? Does
your child have sleep
disturbances or recurring nightmares?
● Does your child spontaneously tell you about events that have
occurred in her/his life?
● Do you consider the relationship between you and your child to
be
close?
If you answered no to any of the second set of questions, it is recommended that you delay plans to leave your child alone to care for her/himself. Children need to be prepared for this experience. Setting guidelines for their behavior needs to occur. Routine should be established and emergency procedures should be taught.
Yes. You can contact the
Child Protection Social Worker on Intake. 763-689-1711.
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Minnesota Indian Tribes and Reservations
Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association