5245 Responsibilities When Child Is Missing from Placement

 

A. When a child or youth in the custody of the Secretary is missing from placement due to being a runaway, being abducted, or missing for an unknown reason, the Child Welfare Case Management Provider (CWCMP) shall report the missing child to the Special Response Team in PPS Administration by sending an email to  DCF.SpecialResponseTeam@ks.gov.

 

B. Children or youth missing from care are at risk of victimization and exploitation. Certain behaviors and conditions can increase the risk to youth who are missing from care. When a youth falls into a high-risk category, this should be communicated to law enforcement and NCMEC so resources for high risk missing children or youth can be utilized. Regular communication with law enforcement and NCMEC should be maintained.  A youth is considered to be high risk when one or more of the following criteria are met:

1.missing from care for 14 consecutive days

2. prior victim of sexual abuse or labor, trafficking or sexual exploitation; 

3.substance abuse history that substantially endangers their safety (cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, etc.);

4.history of self-harming behaviors or suicidal ideation;

5. medical or mental health condition that will place the youth’s mental and physical health at risk without required treatment or medication;

6. challenges in intellectual, developmental disabilities, or behavioral problems;

7. pregnant;

8. under the age of twelve (12);

9. has been or is believed to have been abducted;

10. other articulable circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to believe the child or youth is at imminent risk.    

C. Responsibilities for when Children or Youth are Missing: 

1. Within two (2) hours after receiving information on a missing or abducted child or youth, report to law enforcement authorities (for law enforcement to enter into the National Crime Information Center-NCIC database of the Federal Bureau of Investigation).

2. Within 2 hours, notify  DCF.SpecialResponseTeam@ks.gov and include all information available about the child and the circumstances.

3. Within 24 business hours, after receiving information on the missing or abducted child or youth report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, by entering information online or calling 1-800-THE-LOST.

4. Within 24 hours, provide the law enforcement agency, DCF Special Response Team, CWCMP Special Response Team, and NCMEC with the following information (as available):

a. complete the CWCMP Child/Youth Absent from Care Checklist that includes a current photo/ and physical description of the child or youth, to include a description of the clothing worn at the time the child or youth was last seen, hair and eye color, height, weight, complexion, eyeglasses or contact lenses, braces, condition of their teeth, body piercings, tattoos and other unique physical characteristics;

b. contact information of the child or youth; including information about cell phone numbers, email addresses, social networking platforms, aliases, pronouns, and nicknames;

c. suggested locations, friends, or addresses where the child could be located, including parents and relatives, and previously recovered locations;

d. medical, physical, emotional, mental health (conditions, diagnoses), behavioral health, and medication information that may impact the child’s or youth’s decision-making process and health, including any past suicidal attempts or ideations or any other endangerments or risks, such as gang activity, weapon possession, online enticement, substance use, commercial or /sexual exploitation;

e. personal possessions the child or youth may have with them.

5. Coordinate with case management teams to:

a. contact the child’s or youth’s parent(s) or caregiver(s), within 48 hours, to see if whereabouts are known, make them aware of the child or youth missing from placement, elicit their assistance in locating the child or youth, provide frequent updates on search efforts, and consult regarding whether to issue a press release;

b. notify the court of the child’s or youth’s missing status;

c. contact the child’s school to make them aware of the child’s missing status and ask for their assistance in locating the child;

d. obtain information on friends, other relatives of the child or youth and others who may have information (teachers, counselors, coaches, CASA, etc.) through all available means including social media, to obtain information from them and also gain their assistance in locating the child or youth; if assistance is needed in locating the child’s or youth’s relatives, contact DCF to request a search of all systems;

e. provide emotional support to the parents or caregivers, siblings, and placement provider;

6. Attend weekly Special Response Team staffing meetings.

7. Contact the youth’s community supervision officer (community corrections or court services) if the youth has been identified as crossover youth;

D. Ongoing Efforts

1. Missing 1-5 days

At least daily efforts shall be made to complete the following actions to obtain updated information:

a. contact parents or caregivers, siblings and placement provider;

b. follow up with law enforcement to check on the status of the investigation;

c. check social media for any updates;

d. contact friends and other relatives of the child or youth, through all available means including social media, to obtain updated information and assistance in locating the child or youth; if assistance is needed in locating the child’s relatives, contact DCF Special Response Team (to request a search of all systems;

e. contact the child’s school to check attendance, and determine if any staff have information or knowledge of the child’s whereabouts;

f. attempt to contact the missing child or youth via mobile devices and social media;

g. contact with the youth’s community supervision officer (community corrections or court services);

h. update PPS Administration Special Response Team at DCF.SpecialResponseTeam@ks.gov and the assigned foster care liaison on all the efforts made to locate the youth and any status changes weekly.

i. in the case of an unserved ex-parte order, the daily efforts listed above shall be made by the assigned DCF Special Response Team worker while maintaining communication with the CWCMP Special Response Team worker.

2. Missing over 5 days

At least weekly efforts shall be made to complete the following actions to obtain updated information: 

a. maintain contact parents or caregivers, siblings and placement provider;

b. maintain contact with law enforcement to check on the status of the investigation;

c. continue to monitor social media;

d. continue to check with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for updates, posters, and additional resources;

e. continue to contact friends and other relatives of the child or youth, through all available means including social media, to obtain updated information and assistance in locating the child or youth; if assistance is needed in locating the child’s relatives, contact DCF Special Response Team to request a search of all systems.

f. continue to contact the child’s or youth’s school to check attendance, and determine if any staff have information or knowledge of the child’s or youth’s whereabouts.

g. continue attempts to make contact the missing child via mobile devices and social media.

h. maintain contact with the youth’s community supervision officer (community corrections or court services.

E. When the Child Returns 

1. re-assess the child's or youth’s safety, permanency, and well-being, including whether they were a victim of sex or labor trafficking or other unsafe behaviors (self-harm, substance abuse, etc.); (refer to Appendix 2I – Interview Guide for Runaway and Truant Children)

2. notify law enforcement immediately, no later than 2 hours after the child returns or is located;

3. follow up with case teams on notifying parents, placement, school, courts, community supervision officer (community corrections or court services),  DCF Foster Care Liaison, and the Special Response Team at DCF.SpecialResponseTeam@ks.gov in PPS Administration, of child’s or youth’s return as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours from knowledge of child’s or youth’s return;

4. conduct an interview with the child or youth upon return;

1. 1. 1. determine the primary factors that contributed to the child or youth being absent from placement;
      2. gather details about where they were, who was with them, why they left, how they left, etc.;
      3. determine the child’s or youth’s experiences while absent from care including conducting a human trafficking screen if the child or youth has been absent for more than seven days or has been absent multiple times in the past six months. If the youth is suspected to be a victim of human trafficking an Immediate Response Assessment shall be completed;
      4. if there is disclosure or clear concern shown form the Immediate Response Assessment, Law Enforcement shall be notified, and a report filed with the Kansas Protection Reporting Center.
      5. discuss strategies to address running behaviors and prevent future episodes.

5. In collaboration with the child’s or youth’s case team, re-assess the placement, treatment, and permanency plans and make changes as appropriate.