Essay
The local welfare agency shall determine whether to conduct a family assessment, an investigation, or a non-caregiver sex trafficking assessment or provide a discretionary child welfare response as appropriate to prevent a proven remedy for maltreatment. The local welfare agency shall conduct an investigation when the report involves sexual abuse or substantial child endangerment.
The local welfare agency may conduct a family assessment for a report that was initially screened and assigned for an investigation. In determining that a complete investigation is not required, the local welfare agency must document the reason for terminating the investigation and notify the local law enforcement agency if the local law enforcement agency is conducting a joint investigation. The local welfare agency shall also conduct a non-caregiver sex trafficking assessment when a maltreatment report alleges sex trafficking of a child and the alleged offender is a non-caregiver sex trafficker.
During a non-caregiver sex trafficking assessment, the local welfare agency shall initiate an immediate investigation if there is reason to believe that a child's parent, caregiver, or household member allegedly engaged in the act of sex trafficking a child or was alleged to have engaged in any conduct requiring the agency to conduct an investigation. If a child’s family refuses to engage with the services after the local welfare agency, county attorney, community-based organization, or community partner makes multiple varied attempts to engage the child's family, the local welfare agency may conduct a family assessment.