5101:2-34-32.1 PCSA REQUIREMENTS FOR A DESERTED CHILD INVESTIGATION.

(A)      UPON RECEIPT OF A REPORT THAT A PARENT HAS DELIVERED A CHILD TO AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL WORKER, PEACE OFFICER, OR HOSPITAL EMPLOYEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 2151.3516 OF THE REVISED CODE, A PCSA SHALL:


(1)      CONSIDER THE CHILD TO BE A DESERTED CHILD AS DEFINED BY RULE 5101:2-1-01 OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.


(2)      CONSIDER THE CHILD TO BE IN NEED OF PUBLIC CARE AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES.


(3)      MAKE FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WITH THE CHILD WITHIN ONE HOUR OF RECEIPT OF THE REPORT.


(4)      COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WITHIN ONE HOUR OF FACE TO FACE CONTACT WITH THE CHILD:


(a)      IF NECESSARY, TRANSPORT THE CHILD OR ARRANGE FOR TRANSPORTATION OF THE CHILD TO THE NEAREST APPROPRIATE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT; AND


(b)      MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CHILD TO BE EXAMINED BY A PHYSICIAN TO ASSESS THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF THE CHILD AS WELL AS ASSESS INDICATIONS OF ABUSE AND/OR NEGLECT.


(5)      PRIOR TO PLACEMENT IN SUBSTITUTE CARE, OBTAIN A COPY OF THE REPORT FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION COMPLETED BY A PHYSICIAN AS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (A)(4)(B) OF THIS RULE DOCUMENTING THAT ALL IMMEDIATE MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS PROVIDED TO THE CHILD.


(6)      ACCEPT AND TAKE EMERGENCY TEMPORARY CUSTODY AND PLACE THE CHILD IN SUBSTITUTE CARE PURSUANT TO RULE 5101:2-42-04 OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.


(7)      INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE CHILD PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS RULE.


(B)      TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION CONCERNING A DESERTED CHILD, THE PCSA SHALL:


(1)      CONTACT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CHILD TO DETERMINE:


(a)      THE TIME THAT THE CHILD WAS DELIVERED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS RULE;


(b)      ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE CHILD THAT THE PARENT WHO DELIVERED THE CHILD MAY HAVE GIVEN; AND


(c)      WHETHER THE PARENT WHO DELIVERED THE CHILD COMPLETED THE JFS 01672 "VOLUNTARY MEDICAL HISTORY."


(2)      OBTAIN THE JFS 01672 "VOLUNTARY MEDICAL HISTORY", IF AVAILABLE.


(3)      SECURE ALL CLOTHING OR OTHER ARTICLES THAT WERE LEFT WITH THE CHILD;


(4)      CONTACT THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES TO DETERMINE IF A CHILD MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CHILD DELIVERED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS RULE HAS BEEN REPORTED MISSING:


(a)      LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES;


(b)      OHIO'S MISSING CHILDREN'S INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE; AND


(c)      NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN.


(5)      CONDUCT ANY NECESSARY ACTIVITIES TO OBTAIN A BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD FOR THE CHILD.


(C)      THE PCSA SHALL DOCUMENT IN THE CASE RECORD THAT ALL ACTIVITIES LISTED IN PARAGRAPHS (A) AND (B) OF THIS RULE WERE COMPLETED.


(D)      THE PCSA SHALL COMPLETE THE DESERTED CHILD INVESTIGATION WITHIN THIRTY DAYS FROM THE RECEIPT OF THE REPORT.


(E)      THE CHILD SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO BE ABUSED OR NEGLECTED PURSUANT TO RULE 5101:2-1-01 OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IF:


(1)      THE CHILD HAS SUFFERED A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL WOUND, INJURY OR THE CHILD'S CONDITION IS OF A NATURE THAT REASONABLY INDICATES ABUSE OR NEGLECT;


(2)      IT IS DETERMINED THAT SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE PARENT DELIVERED THE CHILD PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS RULE; OR


(3)      THE CHILD IS DETERMINED TO BE MORE THAN SEVENTY-TWO HOURS OLD AT THE TIME THE CHILD WAS DELIVERED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS RULE.


(F)      IF THE CHILD IS DETERMINED TO BE ABUSED OR NEGLECTED, THE PCSA SHALL:


(1)      COMPLETE ACTIVITIES LISTED IN PARAGRAPHS (A)(2) THROUGH (A)(6) OF THIS RULE;


(2)      MAKE ALL POSSIBLE ATTEMPTS TO IDENTIFY AND LOCATE THE PARENT(S); AND


(3)      CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT/ INVESTIGATION PURSUANT TO RULES 5101:2-34-32 AND 5101:2-34-33 OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.


EFFECTIVE DATE: : December 1, 2001

REVIEW DATE:

CERTIFICATION: Thomas J. Hayes

DATE : November 16, 2001

Promulgated Under: Revised Code Chapter 119.

Statutory Authority: Revised Code Sections 2151.421, 5153.16

Rule Amplifies: Revised Code Sections 2151.3518, 2151.421, 5153.16