Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-34-.12

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 660-5-34-.12 - Multi-Disciplinary Child Protection Teams

(1) The Department is required to provide for the development and coordination of multi-disciplinary child protection teams throughout the state to assist and supplement protective services to abused and neglected children.

(2) The guidelines and criteria relating to the operations and functions of multi-disciplinary child protection teams as promulgated by the ad hoc advisory committee and approved by the Governor are as follows:

(a) Membership - A multi-disciplinary child protection team, hereinafter referred to as team, must be composed of representatives from County Departments of Human Resources, and local law enforcement agencies, district attorney's offices, educational systems, and the medical community. In communities where local volunteer groups deal with child protective service needs, those organizations should have a representative on the multi-disciplinary team. Teams may also include other professional representatives from the mental health, legal, juvenile court, child development, and other disciplines as deemed appropriate;

(b) Functions - To the extent that resources are available to each of the various teams, the functions of the teams shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1. Advisory Case Consultation - Gathers expert advice, opinions, or information as an aid in the assessment and treatment planning for abused, neglected children and their families;

2. Information and Referral - Serves to provide case coordination and assistance, including the types and locations of services available to abused children and their family members from public or private agencies in the community, in an effort to provide the fullest range of services without duplication of services;

3. Education - Provides for educational and community awareness campaigns on child abuse and neglect in an effort to enable citizens to more successfully prevent, identify, report, and treat child abuse and neglect victims in the community;

4. Resource Development - Occurs when the team identifies recurring gaps in services and unmet needs of child abuse/neglect victims and their families, and explores methods by which resources can be developed or enhanced to fill these gaps and unmet needs;

5. Treatment - Allows for comprehensive medical and psychological programs for the identification and diagnosis of child abuse/neglect and treatment and rehabilitation programs for abused/neglected children and their families.

(c) Meetings - Teams must meet at least once every two months, unless prior approval has been given in writing by the Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources;

(d) Case Referrals - Any case may be presented by any team member when the case meets Alabama laws defining child abuse/neglect or the case involves children who are at risk of serious harm and are, therefore, in need of child protective services;

(e) Confidentiality - Confidentiality of family information must be ensured pursuant to state law and each team member must sign an agreement of confidentiality; and

(f) Individual Team Plan - The directors of each County Department of Human Resources, or their designee, shall submit an operational plan to the Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources within 90 days after adoption of these guidelines. This plan shall include functions of the teams; membership; and provisions for referrals, case load, team standards, record keeping, membership selection and retention, follow-up reporting, meeting location, scheduling, coordination, and other provisions as needed. Likewise, any revisions to the plan must be submitted to the Commissioner.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 660-5-34-.12

Emergency rule effective March 27, 1986. Permanent rule effective July 25, 1986. Repealed: Effective August 11, 1988 (formerly 660-5-34-.05). Readoption: Effective August 11, 1988. Amended: Filed February 4, 2003; effective March 11, 2003. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 4, 2003; effective October 9, 2003. Repealed and New Rule: Filed June 2, 2006; effective July 7, 2006. Repealed and New Rule: Filed May 4, 2007; effective June 8, 2007.

Was previously 660-5-34-.10, renumbered 660-5-34-.11 and the former 660-5-34-.11, Administrative Record Reviews, was repealed as per certification filed September 4, 2003; effective October 9, 2003. Previous Rule 660-5-34-.11 was renumbered to .12 as per certification filed May 4, 2007; effective June 8, 2007.

Author: Jerome Webb

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, Title 26, §§ 26-16-50 through -53.