(Revision. 11/1/14)
AS 47.17.030 Action on Reports; Termination of Parental Rights
AS 47.32.090 Complaints and Investigations
To ensure that Office of Children’s Services (OCS) child protection services (CPS) and licensing staff coordinate with one another when the agency receives allegations of child abuse or neglect on a foster parent’s foster, biological, adopted or Guardian Child in licensed foster homes.
OCS is required to assess reports of child abuse or neglect and take action, in accordance with law, that may be necessary to prevent further harm to the child or to ensure the proper care and protection of the child.
A Protective Services Report (PSR) on a foster, biological, adopted or guardian child of the licensed provider residing in the home of a licensed foster care provider may warrant both a CPS initial assessment and a licensing investigation. Foster parents who have the dual role of parenting both biological, adopted or guardian and foster children, may, depending on the allegation, be the subject of both a CPS assessment and a licensing investigation.
If the allegation of harm applies only to the foster parent’s biological, adopted, or guardian children, a CPS Family PSR will be created and linked to a CPS Family case. If the PSR is screened in, an Initial Assessment will be completed to determine if the children are safe.
If the allegation of harm applies only to the Foster Child/ren and not to other children in the home, a CPS Provider PSR will be created and linked to a CPS Provider case. If the PSR is screened in, a CPS Provider Investigation will be completed to determine if the allegations are substantiated.
If the allegation of harm applies to both the foster parent’s biological, adopted, or guardian child and a foster child, two PSRs will be created. Allegations involving the biological, adopted, or guardian child will be recorded in a CPS Family PSR and linked to a CPS Family case. Allegations involving the foster children will be recorded in a CPS Provider PSR and linked to a CPS Provider Investigation case. If PSRs are screened in, see (A)(1) and (A)(2) above.
If a CPS initial assessment is to be conducted, child protection staff and licensing staff will coordinate the assessment.
A screened out PSR on any child residing in a licensed foster home may warrant a licensing investigation. The local Community Care Licensing Specialist (CCLS) II must be notified of screened out PSRs in licensed foster homes.
During an active initial assessment or licensing investigation of a licensed foster home, no new placements may be made until the assessment/investigation is complete and child safety has been established.