Publication Date: January 1, 2026
The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) has the duty to receive and investigate reports of child abuse and neglect for the purpose of determining whether the report is valid and whether action is required to protect the child. K.S.A. 38-2226(a). An "Investigation" is the initial phase of the assessment for reports alleging child abuse or neglect. In an investigation, facts are obtained and evidence is gathered and secured in order to reach a conclusion on the validity of the report and what actions, if any, are needed to protect the child. The purpose of the assessment is to assist families, when needed, to live together safely and within the requirements of law.
A. Reports from Law Enforcement: Per K.S.A 38-2231(d) When a report from law enforcement is assigned to investigate allegations of suspected abuse or neglect, the Child Protection Specialist (CPS) or Child Protective Investigator (CPI) shall;
1. Initiate an investigation by completing a safety determination within 24 hours of the Kansas Protection Report Center receiving the report as set forth in PPM 2110 and PPM 2310, and
2. Within 24 hours of contact with persons subject of the investigation, the CPS or CPI shall respond to the referring law enforcement agency with the status of the investigation. The status update shall include the following:
a. The name and contact information of the assigned CPS,
b. The event number of the assigned report,
c. The allegations the CPS is investigating,
d. The immediate safety determination per PPM 2310 (safe, safe with an immediate plan, or unsafe) or attempts made.
B. Parent and Alleged Perpetrator Rights:
1. At the initial contact with the family and alleged perpetrator, the DCF staff conducting the investigative interview shall inform the family and the alleged perpetrator that the Kansas Code for Care of Children requires DCF to make inquiry when a child is alleged to be abused or neglected. The family and alleged perpetrator shall be informed of the specific actions or inactions that have been reported as suspected abuse or neglect, without disclosing the identity of the reporter.
2. The family and alleged perpetrator shall be informed that they are not required to cooperate with the agency and what the possible next steps may be. The pamphlet entitled “What You Need to Know About Investigations of Child Abuse or Neglect” PPS 2010 shall be given to the family and alleged perpetrator.
C. Living Arrangement: DCF staff shall determine the living arrangement at the time the alleged incident occurred, for each alleged victim of an abuse/neglect report. The living arrangement shall be documented on the Agency Response
D. Verified Incident Date: DCF staff shall verify the incident date for each alleged victim of an abuse/neglect report for the current assigned report. The verified incident date is the date the alleged victim reports the incident in the current report occurred.
1. If there is more than one alleged victim, incident, or abuse/neglect type the most recent incident date shall be used as the verified incident date.
2. In situations where the alleged abuse/neglect incident is on-going (i.e. physical neglect), the date of the report as documented on the PPS 1001 in the “Report Date” field shall be used as the verified incident date.
3. In situations where the alleged victim is unable to verify an incident date, the interviewer shall ask questions to narrow down a possible year, month, and day, to obtain the closest estimate of the verified incident date. If the verified incident date is estimated, select the “Estimated Date” box on the Agency Response screens in KIDS.
4. If through investigation it is determined no incident occurred the date of the report as documented on the PPS 1001 in the “Report Date” field shall be used as the verified incident date.