Dependency Law Finder

(1) To reduce the stigma of child-on-child sexual abuse and reduce further harm to the child victim(s), the child protective investigator shall use a family-centered, trauma-informed approach to conduct the assessment process.

(2) Referrals for services shall not be initiated when, in the determination of the protective investigator, the reported incident contains elements of normal sexual exploration that is voluntary, spontaneous, and typically involves same-age children.

(3) Referrals for services shall be initiated when sexual behaviors are documented to be repetitive, unresponsive to adult intervention and supervision, equivalent to adult criminal violations, and pervasive – representative of a wide array of developmentally unexpected sexual acts.

(4) Case planning and determination of treatment needs are to be conducted through a multi-disciplinary staffing approach involving the child’s parents, child protective investigative staff, law enforcement, representatives of the child protection team of the Department of Health or Children Advocacy Centers, and community-based care providers under contract with the Department to provide ameliorative and treatment services as appropriate.

(5) In those situations where the parent or legal guardian does not agree with the multidisciplinary staffing recommendations for further assessment or treatment for the juvenile sexual offender or child exhibiting inappropriate sexual behavior, the child protective investigator will staff the case with Children’s Legal Services for consideration of filing a petition for dependency to address the child’s on-going need for therapeutic interventions.