Section 395-9-003 - RESPONSE ASSIGNMENT PROCESS003.01SCREENING. The Department will screen each Intake Accepted for Assessment for the presence of Exclusionary Criteria and each Intake Accepted for Assessment that includes no Exclusionary Criteria for the presence of Review, Evaluate, Decide (RED) Team Criteria.003.02RESPONSE ELIGIBILITY. The Department will determine eligibility for Alternative Response based upon the presence or absence of Exclusionary Criteria and Review, Evaluate, Decide (RED) Team Criteria. If an Intake Accepted for Assessment includes: (A) One or more Exclusionary Criteria, it is ineligible for Alternative Response;(B) No Exclusionary Criteria and no Review, Evaluate, Decide (RED) Team Criteria, it is accepted for Alternative Response; and(C) One or more Review, Evaluate, Decide (RED) Team criteria and no Exclusionary Criteria, and the Review, Evaluate, Decide (RED) Team reaches a decision that it is eligible for Alternative Response, it is accepted for Alternative Response.003.03REVIEW, EVALUATE, DECIDE (RED) TEAM REVIEW. The Review, Evaluate, Decide (RED) Team will review and evaluate an Intake Accepted for Assessment that includes Review, Evaluate, Decide (RED) Team Criteria to determine whether it is eligible for Alternative Response. 003.03(A)REVIEW, EVALUATE, DECIDE (RED) TEAM REVIEW PROCESS. The Review, Evaluate, Decide (RED) Team will meet at least once each business day, unless there are no intakes to review. To determine whether an intake will be eligible for Alternative Response, the Review, Evaluate, Decide (RED) Team will consider the factors set forth in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-712.01, and the following: (i) The household's past history or current involvement with the Department, including completed assessments and services provided by household;(ii) The criminal history of any Household Member; and(iii) The allegations and information included in the current intake.003.03(B)REVIEW, EVALUATE DECIDE (RED) TEAM DECISION. The Review, Evaluate, Decide (RED) Team will assign an intake accepted for assessment to Alternative Response unless the team determines the child may be seriously endangered by the child's surroundings and removal may be necessary.003.04RESPONSE ASSIGNMENT. Each Intake Accepted for Assessment that is eligible for Alternative Response will be assigned to Alternative Response. The Department will assign all other intakes accepted for assessment to Traditional Response.003.05REASSIGNMENT FROM ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TO TRADITIONAL RESPONSE. The Department will automatically transfer a family from Alternative Response to Traditional Response if :(A) A safety threat is present that cannot be managed through an in-home safety plan;(B) It cannot assess child safety;(C) Law enforcement notifies the Department that they have cited the Caretaker for the child abuse or neglect alleged in the Intake Accepted for Assessment;(D) The Caretaker receiving Alternative Response requests Traditional Response; or (E) It learns a Household Member allegedly caused the death of a child. 003.06TRADITIONAL RESPONSE REASSIGNMENT. If a family is reassigned to Traditional Response individuals may be subject to having their name placed on the Central Registry. Individuals will receive written notice if their name is placed on the Central Registry in accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat § 28-713.01(2).395 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 9, § 003
Amended effective 5/12/2021Amended effective 9/7/2021