Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 110 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES › Title 110 CMR 5.00 - Assessment › Section 5.04 - How Conducted

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1) Upon
			 assignment, the social worker reviews the material included in the case record.
			 If the material indicates that a previous case record exists, the social worker
			 accesses and reviews the previous record(s).
(2) The social worker, together with the
			 client, identifies family members who will be included in the assessment. The
			 assessment process includes the active involvement of all family members. For
			 the purpose of assessment, family is defined as: all family members and other
			 individuals residing in the home, children in Department placement, children
			 residing out of the home, and any parent/parent substitute living out of the
			 home.
(3) The assessment involves
			 collateral contacts with extended family, service providers, and other
			 resources identified by the social worker and family. If the family is willing
			 to sign the required releases permitting the Department to contact these
			 collateral sources, the social worker proceeds to contact these collaterals. If
			 the family is not willing to sign releases, the social worker documents this in
			 the dictation and proceeds with the assessment without the benefit of
			 collateral contacts.
(4) During the
			 course of the assessment, the social worker shall have a minimum of three
			 face-to-face contacts with parents and other individuals who reside in the
			 home, the first of which occurs within five working days after the assignment
			 of the case to the social worker responsible for completing the assessment. Two
			 of the three face-to-face contacts take place in the home. If an out-of-home
			 parent/parent substitute can be located, he/she is visited a minimum of one
			 time, at a mutually agreeable location, during the assessment. All children are
			 visited a minimum of two times during the assessment. The first face-to-face
			 contact occurs in the child's current residence within five working days after
			 the assignment of the case to the social worker responsible for completing the
			 assessment.
(5) If the social
			 worker is not able to meet with the individuals in the family, cannot conduct
			 the expected number of visits, and/or it is not possible or appropriate to
			 conduct a visit in the expected location set forth in 110 CMR 5.04(4), the
			 social worker discusses this with his/her supervisor prior to the completion of
			 the assessment. The reason(s) why the visits were not conducted, and/or
			 occurred at a different location, and the outcome of the discussion with the
			 supervisor are documented in the case record.
(6) In cases which were opened as a result of
			 a supported investigation, under M.G.L. c. 119, § 51B, the social worker
			 informs the family that they may submit information to her/him regarding the
			 investigation decision which will be reviewed at the completion of the
			 assessment.
(7) As part of the
			 assessment, the social worker should request a check of the Registry of Alleged
			 Perpetrators for all household members. For protective cases only, the social
			 worker, in consultation with his/her supervisor, should determine if there is a
			 need to conduct a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check on a
			 household member. When such a determination is made, the social worker should
			 submit a request in accordance with the Department's Policy and Procedures for
			 Accessing Name Search, Central Registry, Registry of Alleged Perpetrators, and
			 CORI Checks policy, (Department Policy # 86-014(R).
(8) If an assessment if being completed as
			 the result of a supported investigation under M.G.L. c. 119, § 51B, and
			 the family refuses, despite reasonable casework efforts, to participate in the
			 assessment process, the social worker and supervisor consult with the Area
			 Director, or designee, to determine risk to the child(ren) and, in consultation
			 with a Department attorney, to determine if there are reasons to pursue legal
			 action.
(9)
Documentation
. Information gathered during the
			 assessment process is documented, by the social worker, in consultation with
			 the supervisor, utilizing a form or an electronic method established by the
			 Department's Assessment policy, Department Policy # 85-011. The assessment is
			 based on an evaluation of information learned from the interviews with all
			 family members and collateral contacts and the use of the Department's Risk
			 Factor Matrix.
(10)
Outcome
. Following completion of the assessment, the
			 social worker and supervisor determine if the case will remain open or be
			 closed.
For cases remaining open the social worker and supervisor
				determine who in the family will be receiving services and be included in the
				service plan. The social worker verbally informs the family of the outcome of
				the assessment and also provides the family with written notification.
For cases that will be closed after the assessment, the social
				worker verbally informs the family of the outcome of the assessment and
				proceeds in accordance with
				110 CMR
				9.00 et seq. and the Department's Case Closing Policy
				(Department Policy # 86-007(R)).