Section 20. General

Part II. Policy

Article 1
Out of Family Investigation Policy

Valid complaints of child abuse or neglect involving caretakers in out of family settings are for the purpose of this chapter valid complaints in state licensed and religiously exempted child day programs, private and public schools, residential facilities, hospitals, or institutions. These valid complaints shall be investigated by qualified staff employed by local departments of social services.

Staff shall be determined to be qualified based on criteria identified by the department. All staff involved in investigating a valid complaint must be qualified.

This regulation is limited in scope to the topics contained herein. All issues regarding investigations, findings and appeals are found in Child Protective Services, 22VAC40-705, and as such are cross referenced and incorporated into and apply to out of family cases to the extent that they are not inconsistent with this regulation.

In addition to the authorities and the responsibilities specified in department policy for all child protective services investigations, the policy for investigations in out of family settings is set out in 22VAC40-730-30 through 22VAC40-730-130.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR615-45-5 § 2.1, eff. January 26, 1994; amended, Volume 19, Issue 03, eff. November 20, 2002; Volume 30, Issue 06, eff. January 1, 2014.

Statutory Authority

§ 63.2-217 of the Code of Virginia.