Mo. Rev. Stat. § 210.145 — MO Code / Chapter 210 / Section 210.145
210.145 Telephone hotline for reports on child abuse — division duties, protocols, ...
Status: in_force

210.145. Telephone hotline for reports on child abuse — division duties, protocols, law enforcement contacted immediately, investigation conducted, when, exception — chief investigator named — family support team meetings, who may attend — reporter's right to receive information — admissibility of reports in custody cases. — 1. The division shall develop protocols which give priority to:

(1) Ensuring the well-being and safety of the child in instances where child abuse or neglect has been alleged;

(2) Promoting the preservation and reunification of children and families consistent with state and federal law;

(3) Providing due process for those accused of child abuse or neglect; and

(4) Maintaining an information system operating at all times, capable of receiving and maintaining reports. This information system shall have the ability to receive reports over a single, statewide toll-free number. Such information system shall maintain the results of all investigations, family assessments and services, and other relevant information.

2. (1) The division shall utilize structured decision-making protocols, including a standard risk assessment that shall be completed within seventy-two hours of the report of abuse or neglect, for classification purposes of all child abuse and neglect reports. The protocols developed by the division shall give priority to ensuring the well-being and safety of the child. All child abuse and neglect reports shall be initiated within twenty-four hours and shall be classified based upon the reported risk and injury to the child. The division shall promulgate rules regarding the structured decision-making protocols to be utilized for all child abuse and neglect reports.

(2) The director of the division and the office of state courts administrator shall develop a joint safety assessment tool before December 31, 2020, and such tool shall be implemented before January 1, 2022. The safety assessment tool shall replace the standard risk assessment required under subdivision (1) of this subsection and shall also be completed within seventy-two hours of the report of abuse or neglect.

3. Upon receipt of a report, the division shall determine if the report merits investigation, including reports which if true would constitute a suspected violation of any of the following: section 565.020 , 565.021 , 565.023 , 565.024 , or 565.050 if the victim is a child less than eighteen years of age, section 566.030 or 566.060 if the victim is a child less than eighteen years of age, or other crimes under chapter 566 if the victim is a child less than eighteen years of age and the perpetrator is twenty-one years of age or older, section 567.050 if the victim is a child less than eighteen years of age, section 568.020 , 568.030 , 568.045 , 568.050 , 568.060 , 573.200 , or 573.205 , section 573.025 , 573.035 , 573.037 , or 573.040 , or an attempt to commit any such crimes. The division shall immediately communicate all reports that merit investigation to its appropriate local office and any relevant information as may be contained in the information system. The local division staff shall determine, through the use of protocols developed by the division, whether an investigation or the family assessment and services approach should be used to respond to the allegation. The protocols developed by the division shall give priority to ensuring the well-being and safety of the child.

4. The division may accept a report for investigation or family assessment if either the child or alleged perpetrator resides in Missouri, may be found in Missouri, or if the incident occurred in Missouri.

5. If the division receives a report in which neither the child nor the alleged perpetrator resides in Missouri or may be found in Missouri and the incident did not occur in Missouri, the division shall document the report and communicate it to the appropriate agency or agencies in the state where the child is believed to be located, along with any relevant information or records as may be contained in the division's information system.

6. When the child abuse and neglect hotline receives three or more calls, within a seventy-two hour period, from one or more individuals concerning the same child, the division shall conduct a review to determine whether the calls meet the criteria and statutory definition for a child abuse and neglect report to be accepted. In conducting the review, the division shall contact the hotline caller or callers in order to collect information to determine whether the calls meet the criteria for harassment.

7. The local office shall contact the appropriate law enforcement agency immediately upon receipt of a report which division personnel determine merits an investigation and provide such agency with a detailed description of the report received. In such cases the local division office shall request the assistance of the local law enforcement agency in all aspects of the investigation of the complaint. The appropriate law enforcement agency shall either assist the division in the investigation or provide the division, within twenty-four hours, an explanation in writing detailing the reasons why it is unable to assist.

8. (1) The local office of the division shall cause an investigation or family assessment and services approach to be initiated in accordance with the protocols established in subsection 2 of this section, except in cases where the sole basis for the report is educational neglect. If the report indicates that educational neglect is the only complaint and there is no suspicion of other neglect or abuse, the investigation shall be initiated within seventy-two hours of receipt of the report. If the report indicates the child is in danger of serious physical harm or threat to life, an investigation shall include direct observation of the subject child within twenty-four hours of the receipt of the report. Local law enforcement shall take all necessary steps to facilitate such direct observation. Callers to the child abuse and neglect hotline shall be instructed by the division's hotline to call 911 in instances where the child may be in immediate danger. If the parents of the child are not the alleged perpetrators, a parent of the child must be notified prior to the child being interviewed by the division. No person responding to or investigating a child abuse and neglect report shall call prior to a home visit or leave any documentation of any attempted visit, such as business cards, pamphlets, or other similar identifying information if he or she has a reasonable basis to believe the following factors are present:

(a) a. No person is present in the home at the time of the home visit; and

b. The alleged perpetrator resides in the home or the physical safety of the child may be compromised if the alleged perpetrator becomes aware of the attempted visit;

(b) The alleged perpetrator will be alerted regarding the attempted visit; or

(c) The family has a history of domestic violence or fleeing the community.

(2) If the division is responding to an investigation of abuse or neglect, the person responding shall first ensure safety of the child through direct observation and communication with the child. If the parent or alleged perpetrator is present during a visit by the person responding to or investigating the report, such person shall present identification and verbally identify himself or herself and his or her role in the investigation and shall provide written material to the parent or alleged perpetrator informing him or her of his or her rights regarding such visit, including but not limited to the right to contact an attorney. The parent or alleged perpetrator shall be given a reasonable amount of time to read such written material or have such material read to him or her by the case worker before the visit commences, but in no event shall such time exceed five minutes; except that, such requirement to provide written material and reasonable time to read such material shall not apply in cases where the child faces an immediate threat or danger, or the person responding to or investigating the report is or feels threatened or in danger of physical harm. If the abuse is alleged to have occurred in a school or child care facility the division shall not meet with the child in any school building or child care facility building where abuse of such child is alleged to have occurred. When the child is reported absent from the residence, the location and the well-being of the child shall be verified. For purposes of this subsection, child care facility shall have the same meaning as such term is defined in section 210.201 .

(3) If the division is responding to an assessment of abuse or neglect, the person responding shall present identification and verbally identify himself or herself and his or her role in the investigation and provide a parent of the child with notification prior to the child being interviewed by the person responding and shall provide written material to the parent informing him or her of his or her rights regarding such visit, including, but not limited to, the right to contact an attorney. The parent shall be given a reasonable amount of time to read such written material or have such material read to him or her by the case worker before the visit commences, but in no event shall such time exceed five minutes; except that, such requirement to provide written material and reasonable time to read such material shall not apply in cases where the child faces immediate threat or danger, the person responding to or investigating the report is or feels threatened or in danger of physical harm, or any of the exceptions in subdivision (1) of this subsection would apply.

9. The director of the division shall name at least one chief investigator for each local division office, who shall direct the division response on any case involving a second or subsequent incident regarding the same subject child or perpetrator. The duties of a chief investigator shall include verification of direct observation of the subject child by the division and shall ensure information regarding the status of an investigation is provided to the public school district liaison. The public school district liaison shall develop protocol in conjunction with the chief investigator to ensure information regarding an investigation is shared with appropriate school personnel. The superintendent of each school district shall designate a specific person or persons to act as the public school district liaison. Should the subject child attend a nonpublic school the chief investigator shall notify the school principal of the investigation. Upon notification of an investigation, all information received by the public school district liaison or the school shall be subject to the provisions of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. Section 1232g, and federal rule 34 C.F.R. Part 99.

10. The investigation shall include but not be limited to the nature, extent, and cause of the abuse or neglect; the identity and age of the person responsible for the abuse or neglect; the names and conditions of other children in the home, if any; the home environment and the relationship of the subject child to the parents or other persons responsible for the child's care; any indication of incidents of physical violence against any other household or family member; and other pertinent data.

11. When a report has been made by a person required to report under section 210.115 , the division shall contact the person who made such report within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the report in order to ensure that full information has been received and to obtain any additional information or medical records, or both, that may be pertinent.

12. Upon completion of the investigation, if the division suspects that the report was made maliciously or for the purpose of harassment, the division shall refer the report and any evidence of malice or harassment to the local prosecuting or circuit attorney.

13. Multidisciplinary teams shall be used whenever conducting the investigation as determined by the division in conjunction with local law enforcement. Multidisciplinary teams shall be used in providing protective or preventive social services, including the services of law enforcement, a liaison of the local public school, the juvenile officer, the juvenile court, and other agencies, both public and private.

14. For all family support team meetings involving an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect, the parents, legal counsel for the parents, foster parents, the legal guardian or custodian of the child, the guardian ad litem for the child, the child's counsel, and the volunteer advocate for the child shall be provided notice and be permitted to attend all such meetings. Family members, other than alleged perpetrators, or other community informal or formal service providers that provide significant support to the child and other individuals may also be invited at the discretion of the parents of the child. In addition, the parents, the legal counsel for the parents, the legal guardian or custodian and the foster parents may request that other individuals, other than alleged perpetrators, be permitted to attend such team meetings. Once a person is provided notice of or attends such team meetings, the division or the convenor of the meeting shall provide such persons with notice of all such subsequent meetings involving the child. Families may determine whether individuals invited at their discretion shall continue to be invited.

15. If the appropriate local division personnel determine after an investigation has begun that completing an investigation is not appropriate, the division shall conduct a family assessment and services approach. The division shall provide written notification to local law enforcement prior to terminating any investigative process. The reason for the termination of the investigative process shall be documented in the record of the division and the written notification submitted to local law enforcement. Such notification shall not preclude nor prevent any investigation by law enforcement.

16. If the appropriate local division personnel determines to use a family assessment and services approach, the division shall:

(1) Assess any service needs of the family. The assessment of risk and service needs shall be based on information gathered from the family and other sources;

(2) Provide services which are voluntary and time-limited unless it is determined by the division based on the assessment of risk that there will be a high risk of abuse or neglect if the family refuses to accept the services. The division shall identify services for families where it is determined that the child is at high risk of future abuse or neglect. The division shall thoroughly document in the record its attempt to provide voluntary services and the reasons these services are important to reduce the risk of future abuse or neglect to the child. If the family continues to refuse voluntary services or the child needs to be protected, the division may commence an investigation;

(3) Commence an immediate investigation if at any time during the family assessment and services approach the division determines that an investigation, as delineated in sections 210.109 to 210.183 , is required. The division staff who have conducted the assessment may remain involved in the provision of services to the child and family;

(4) Document at the time the case is closed, the outcome of the family assessment and services approach, any service provided and the removal of risk to the child, if it existed.

17. (1) Within forty-five days of an oral report of abuse or neglect, the local office shall update the information in the information system. The information system shall contain, at a minimum, the determination made by the division as a result of the investigation, identifying information on the subjects of the report, those responsible for the care of the subject child and other relevant dispositional information. The division shall complete all investigations within forty-five days, unless good cause for the failure to complete the investigation is specifically documented in the information system. Good cause for failure to complete an investigation shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) The necessity to obtain relevant reports of medical providers, medical examiners, psychological testing, law enforcement agencies, forensic testing, and analysis of relevant evidence by third parties which has not been completed and provided to the division;

(b) The attorney general or the prosecuting or circuit attorney of the city or county in which a criminal investigation is pending certifies in writing to the division that there is a pending criminal investigation of the incident under investigation by the division and the issuing of a decision by the division will adversely impact the progress of the investigation; or

(c) The child victim, the subject of the investigation or another witness with information relevant to the investigation is unable or temporarily unwilling to provide complete information within the specified time frames due to illness, injury, unavailability, mental capacity, age, developmental disability, or other cause.

The division shall document any such reasons for failure to complete the investigation.

(2) If a child fatality or near-fatality is involved in a report of abuse or neglect, the investigation shall remain open until the division's investigation surrounding such death or near-fatal injury is completed.

(3) If the investigation is not completed within forty-five days, the information system shall be updated at regular intervals and upon the completion of the investigation, which shall be completed no later than ninety days after receipt of a report of abuse or neglect, or one hundred twenty days after receipt of a report of abuse or neglect involving sexual abuse, or until the division's investigation is complete in cases involving a child fatality or near-fatality. The information in the information system shall be updated to reflect any subsequent findings, including any changes to the findings based on an administrative or judicial hearing on the matter.

18. A person required to report under section 210.115 to the division and any person making a report of child abuse or neglect made to the division which is not made anonymously shall be informed by the division of his or her right to obtain information concerning the disposition of his or her report. Such person shall receive, from the local office, if requested, information on the general disposition of his or her report. Such person may receive, if requested, findings and information concerning the case. Such release of information shall be at the discretion of the director based upon a review of the reporter's ability to assist in protecting the child or the potential harm to the child or other children within the family. The local office shall respond to the request within forty-five days. The findings shall be made available to the reporter within five days of the outcome of the investigation. If the report is determined to be unsubstantiated, the reporter may request that the report be referred by the division to the office of child advocate for children's protection and services established in sections 37.700 to 37.730 . Upon request by a reporter under this subsection, the division shall refer an unsubstantiated report of child abuse or neglect to the office of child advocate for children's protection and services.

19. The division shall provide to any individual who is not satisfied with the results of an investigation information about the office of child advocate and the services it may provide under sections 37.700 to 37.730 .

20. In any judicial proceeding involving the custody of a child the fact that a report may have been made pursuant to sections 210.109 to 210.183 shall not be admissible. However:

(1) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the introduction of evidence from independent sources to support the allegations that may have caused a report to have been made; and

(2) The court may on its own motion, or shall if requested by a party to the proceeding, make an inquiry not on the record with the children's division to determine if such a report has been made.

If a report has been made, the court may stay the custody proceeding until the children's division completes its investigation.

21. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the children's division from coinvestigating a report of child abuse or neglect or sharing records and information with child welfare, law enforcement, or judicial officers of another state, territory, or nation if the children's division determines it is appropriate to do so under the standard set forth in subsection 4 of section 210.150 and if such receiving agency is exercising its authority under the law.

22. In any judicial proceeding involving the custody of a child where the court determines that the child is in need of services under paragraph (d) of subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 211.031 and has taken jurisdiction, the child's parent, guardian or custodian shall not be entered into the registry.

23. The children's division is hereby granted the authority to promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the provisions of section 207.021 and chapter 536 to carry out the provisions of sections 210.109 to 210.183 .

24. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010 , that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028 . This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2000, shall be invalid and void.

(L. 1975 H.B. 578 § 8, A.L. 1980 S.B. 574, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1171, et al., A.L. 1986 S.B. 470, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1370, et al., A.L. 1993 S.B. 52, A.L. 1994 S.B. 595, A.L. 2000 S.B. 757 & 602, A.L. 2002 S.B. 923, et al., A.L. 2003 H.B. 613, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1453 merged with S.B. 945 and S.B. 803 & 1257 merged with S.B. 968 and S.B. 969, A.L. 2007 S.B. 25, A.L. 2011 S.B. 54, A.L. 2012 H.B. 1323, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1092 merged with S.B. 869, A.L. 2018 S.B. 819, A.L. 2020 H.B. 1414 merged with S.B. 653, A.L. 2025 H.B. 737 & 486 merged with S.B. 43)