2462 Immediate Safety Planning
The Child Protection Specialist (CPS) or Child Protective Investigator (CPI) shall use an Immediate Safety Plan to address immediate threats of danger to the child(ren) during the assessment. The Immediate Safety Plan is a temporary, short-term plan to keep the child(ren) safe while building lasting safety.
A. Development of the Immediate Safety Plan
The CPS or CPI may consider the following when developing the Immediate Safety Plan:
1. Immediate Safety Scale
2. PPS 2020 Assessment Map
3. Appendix 2H Immediate Safety Tips Sheet
4. Appendix 2J Caregiver Protective Capacities
5. Appendix 2N Three Houses
6. Child(ren), parent or caregiver, family, and safety network engagement
7. Harm to the child caused by removal of the child(ren) from the care of the parent or caregiver
8. "The Four Questions" sourced from: 4 Questions, 7 Judges, an Iowa based Judicial Pilot Program:
a. What can we do to remove the danger instead of child?
b. Can someone the child or family knows move into the home to remove the danger?
c. Can the caregiver and child go live with a relative or non-related kin?
d. Could the child move temporarily to live with a relative or non-related kin?
B. Engagement
Engagement is critical to the success of building and maintaining safety. The CPS and the family will determine who should be engaged in the safety planning process. Lack of engagement shall be a factor to consider when assessing the viability of the safety plan. The CPS will consider engaging the following in the safety planning:
1. Child(ren)
2. Parents or Caregivers
3. Safety Network
C. Documentation
1. PPS 2021 Immediate Safety Plan
The CPS or CPI may document the Immediate Safety Plan on the PPS 2021 Immediate Safety Plan. When another tool or form is used to document the Immediate Safety Plan (e.g. Advanced Safety Plan PPS 2022, Words and Pictures), it shall be identified as the Immediate Safety Plan and shall consider the same elements and actions of Immediate Safety Planning practices. The CPS or CPI shall give parent or caregiver the original safety plan. The CPS or CPI shall copy the original and upload it into KIDS and provide it to the FACTS Data Unit. With permission from the parents or caregivers, the CPS or CPI may provide a copy of the Immediate Safety Plan and to the safety network and child(ren) (if appropriate).
2. Agreement
The CPS or CPI shall ask all individuals engaged in the development of the safety plan to sign indicating agreement in following the safety plan. The Child Protection Specialist or the Child Protective Investigator may document a verbal agreement.
3. Engagement Efforts
All attempts to engage the child, parent or caregiver, family and safety network in the immediate safety planning process shall be documented.
D. Monitoring and Timelines
1. Monitoring
The Child Protection Specialist or the Child Protective Investigator shall include the frequency and method for how the safety plan will be monitored and by whom to ensure the child(ren), parent or caregiver and safety network remain engaged in the action steps of keeping the child safe. The ongoing assessment and evaluation of the safety plan shall be documented.
2. Timeline
Immediate safety plans are short-term plans and shall not exceed beyond the FBA due date. Plans may range from a few hours to a few days, depending on the family's assessed ability to carry out the plan and availability of resources.
E. Per Claire and Lola’s law enacted July 1, 2019, the department shall not initiate any child protection action (safety planning) or proceeding based solely upon the parent’s or the child’s lawful possession or use of cannabidiol treatment preparation. K.S.A. 65-6235 (c). See PPM 0255 Claire and Lola’s Law.