0260 Child Safety, Placement and Needs Assessment for Human Trafficking/Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (HT/CSEC) Concerns
The Child Welfare Case Management Provider (CWCMP) grantees are responsible to complete the Child Welfare Human Trafficking Immediate Response Assessment. Immediate Response Assessments are made at the request of law enforcement, Juvenile Intake and Assessment Services (JIAS), the court, CWCMP case team, or Special Response Team member who have reason to believe a child has been subjected to an act which would constitute human trafficking or aggravated human trafficking (HT), as defined by K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-5426, and amendments thereto, or commercial sexual exploitation of a child (CSEC), as defined by K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-6422, and amendments thereto, or the child committed an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute selling sexual relations, as defined by K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 21-6419.
A. Child Safety, placement, treatment, and service need assessment tools:
B. When any law enforcement officer takes into custody any child and reasonably believes the child is a victim of human trafficking, aggravated human trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation of a child; the law enforcement officer shall contact the department for children and families to begin an assessment to determine safety, placement and treatment needs for the child. K.S.A 38-2232(b)(2).
1. Safety- whether HT or CSEC is suspected. Assessing safety includes whether the alleged perpetrator has access to the child the protective capacity of caregivers, and whether there are concerns of self-harm or suicidal ideation.
2. Placement - appropriate placement of the child to ensure safety. This may include a recommendation for Staff Secure Placement per K.S.A. 38-2242 and K.S.A. 65-535 which provides a secure placement promoting a safe and therapeutic environment. Placement could also be in a foster home, kinship placement, or residential placement.
3. Treatment and Service Needs - appropriate services to meet the physical, social, and emotional health needs of the child. This may include immediate medical treatment, substance abuse treatment assessments, and mental health assessments at the time the child is recovered. These services may be recommended and provided for families to support the child remaining in the home if determined safe or may be provided during the child’s stay in a staff secure setting per K.S.A. 65-535.
C. Immediate Assessment - When a Juvenile Intake and Assessment (JIAS) worker, who has conducted the Kansas JIAS HT Screening Instrument, and believes the child to be a victim of CSE/HT shall contact the KPRC and follow prompts to facilitate a DCF IRA. Whether requested by law enforcement or JIAS the CWCMP Immediate Response Team responder will respond to conduct the assessment.
1. The CWCMP IRT worker upon receipt of referral shall contact the reporter by phone, acknowledge the referral, request information about the situation and provide the following:
a. name
b. contact information
c. estimated time of arrival to the assessment location.
2. CWCMP IRT staff shall respond and complete the IRA within:
a. Four (4) hours if in Judicial Districts 12, 15, 16, 17, 20, 23, 25
b. Two (2) in all other Judicial Districts
c. Virtually, if inclement weather or other circumstances make travel difficult. Virtual assessments are only to be used in limited circumstances as determined appropriate by the team leader or supervisor.
1. The CWCMP IRT worker shall request an update from the referrer immediately prior to conducting the assessment.
2. After the assessment is completed the CWCMP IRT worker shall provide the front page of the assessment to the referral source and discuss:
a. IRA results;
b. observations during the IRA;
c. placement options for the victim.
3. Final assessments shall be typed and entered into the CWCMP CSE-IT online system.
4. Send a copy of the final assessment to the Human Trafficking Program Manager DCF.SpecialResponseTeam@ks.gov
E. The court requested CPSN Assessment occurs anytime the court requests the assessment for a child in the custody of the Secretary pursuant K.S.A 38-2287(a). Upon request, a member of the CWCMP Immediate Response Team shall respond within 10 calendar days to complete the CPSN Assessment using the DCF Child Welfare Human Trafficking Court Ordered Assessment/CSE-IT Tool. Upon completion, a summary of the assessment results and appropriate recommendation(s) shall be provided to the Court.
1. In the field, written assessments are acceptable. The final assessment needs to be typed before being submitted.
2. Once the final assessment is completed the information needs to be entered into the CWCMP CSE-IT Online account.
3. Send a copy of the final assessment to the Human Trafficking Program Manager to DCF.SpecialResponseTeam@ks.gov
F. Case workers, case team, or a member of the Special Response Team (SRT) may request their agency conduct an assessment using the Child Welfare Human Trafficking Immediate Response Assessment/CSE-IT Tool.
1. The request will be made to the supervisor of the CWCMP IRT.
2. In the field, written assessments are acceptable. The final assessment needs to be typed before being submitted.
3. Once the final assessment is completed the information needs to be entered into the CWCMP CSE-IT Online account.
4. Send a copy of the final assessment to the Human Trafficking Program Manager at DCF.SpecialResponseTeam@ks.gov