3.21 Special Circumstance Intakes Involving Short Term Emergency Care (Emergency or Illness)

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

(3) Intake

Policy Title:

Special Circumstance Intakes Involving Short Term Emergency Care (Emergency or Illness)

Policy Number:

3.21

Previous Policy Number(s):

3.12

Effective Date:

December 2021

Manual Transmittal:

2021-06

Codes/References

O.C.G.A. § 15-11-130 (a) Emergency Care and Supervision of Child Without Court Order
O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5 Reporting of Child Abuse

Requirements

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will:

  1. Receive intake reports involving requests for short term emergency care (STEC) when the following criteria is met:

    1. As a result of an emergency or illness, the physical and legal custodian is unable to provide for the care and supervision of the child;

    2. The circumstances are not expected to exceed seven calendar days;

    3. The reporter is the physical and legal custodian, a law enforcement officer, emergency personnel employed by a licensed ambulance provider, fire rescue personnel, or a hospital administrator or their designee; and

    4. The child is not at imminent risk or abuse or neglect, other than the risks arising from being without a caretaker.

  2. Gather from the reporter the circumstances surrounding the STEC request.

  3. Screen-in Intake Assessments that meet the criteria for Special Circumstance Short Term Emergency Care.

  4. Screen-out Intake Assessments when the information gathered does not meet the criteria for STEC.

    Intake Assessments that do not meet the criteria for a Special Circumstance Short Term Emergency Care (Emergency or Illness) must be processed and assessed in accordance with policies 3.1 Intake: Receiving Intake Reports and 3.2 Intake: Making an Intake Decision.

  5. Notify the County Department of any assigned Special Circumstance STEC within two hours of receipt of the intake report.

Procedures

Centralized Intake Specialist

  1. Gather information from the reporter regarding the STEC request:

    1. The name, address, date of birth, demographics, and current location of all children in need of STEC;

    2. The name, address, date of birth, demographics, and current location of all parents (mother(s) and father(s)) and legal guardians, regardless of where the child(ren) reside.

    3. If the child and/or parents have or is believed to have, American Indian heritage (see policy 1.6 Administration: Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and Transfer of Responsibility for Placement and Care to a Tribal Agency);

    4. The circumstances surrounding the emergency or illness, including if the parent is incapacitated and unable to make decisions.

    5. The estimated duration of the emergency or illness.

    6. The names and contact information for any relatives or fictive kin.

    7. Inform the reporter of the next steps in the intake process.

  2. Thoroughly evaluate all information gathered:

    1. Determine if the Intake Assessment meets the criteria for Special Circumstance Short Term Emergency Care (Emergency or Illness).

    2. Analyze DFCS history in accordance with policy 19.10 Case Management: Analyzing DFCS History.

    3. Evaluate for indicators of child maltreatment and safety issues.

  3. Input the Intake Assessment in Georgia SHINES using the guidelines in the Georgia SHINES Job Aid Recording Safe Place for Newborns-Short-Term Emergency Care Intakes.

    1. Classify the intake report as a Special Circumstance Short Term Emergency Care.

    2. Document the justification to support case assignment recommendation.

  4. Recommend the Intake Assessment is:

    1. Screened-in when the information gathered meets the criteria for a STEC.

    2. Screened-out when the information gathered does not meet the criteria for a STEC.

      Intake Assessments that do not meet the criteria for a Special Circumstance Short Term Emergency Care (Emergency or Illness) must be processed and assessed in accordance with policies 3.1 Intake: Receiving Intake Reports and 3.2 Intake: Making an Intake Decision.

  5. Participate in a supervisory staffing to discuss the intake disposition. Be prepared to discuss how the information gathered meets or does not meet the criteria for a Special Circumstance STEC.

  6. Notify the County Department’s CICC POC(s) of any assigned Special Circumstance STEC.

  7. Submit the Intake Assessment to the Centralized Intake Specialist Supervisor for approval.

Centralized Intake Specialist Supervisor

  1. Thoroughly evaluate all information gathered and review the Special Circumstance STEC Intake Assessment in Georgia SHINES.

    1. Confirm the circumstances meets the criteria for Short Term Emergency Care (Emergency or Illness).

    2. Verify the Intake Assessment is classified as a Special Circumstance Short Term Emergency Care (Emergency or Illness).

    3. Document a justification to support the case assignment decision.

  2. Staff the Intake Assessment with the Centralized Intake Specialist in accordance with policy 19.6 Case Management: Supervisor Staffing.

  3. Screen-in the Intake Assessment when the information gathered meets the criteria for a STEC.

    1. Stage progress the Intake Assessment to a Special Circumstance Short Term Emergency Care.

    2. Assign the Special Circumstance to the County Department’s CICC POC.

  4. Screen-out the Intake Assessment when the information gathered does not meet the criteria for Special Circumstance Short Term Emergency Care (Emergency or Illness).

    Intake Assessments that do not meet the criteria for a Special Circumstance Short Term Emergency Care (Emergency or Illness) must be processed and assessed in accordance with policies 3.1 Intake: Receiving Intake Reports and 3.2 Intake: Making an Intake Decision.

Practice Guidance

DFCS may use a STEC to support families experiencing a short-term emergency or illness. When the child enters foster care through STEC, DFCS has the same rights and powers regarding the child(ren) as the parent, guardian, or legal custodian, including the authority to consent to medical care. DFCS must diligently search for relatives or fictive kin who can temporarily care for the child. The parent, guardian or legal custodian has the right to have the child returned at any point during the seven-day STEC period.

STEC requests due to the physical and legal custodian’s emergency or illness assessed to indicate child abuse shall not be processed as Special Circumstance STEC and shall be assessed in accordance with policy 3.1 Intake: Receiving Intake Reports.

Forms and Tools

N/A