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DISCLAIMER: The Division of Family Services is in the process of merging and converting the “Policy Manual” and “User Manual” into individual numbered policies that include policy, procedures, FOCUS and forms. Please refer to the numbered policies before looking at the old manuals. Once the migration is completed the old manuals will be removed from the website. Note: the “Adoption Assistance Manual” and the “Structured Decision Making Systems for Child Protective Services Policy and Procedures Manual” are remaining as current practices and should continue to be used. If you discover conflicting information or need clarification, please contact us by emailing DSCYF_DFS_Program_Team@delaware.gov.
Structured Decision Making ® System for Child Protective Services Policy and Procedures Manual
POLICY 102 – DFS Definitions
POLICY 103 – Confidentiality & Consent to Release Information
POLICY 104 – Constituent Concerns
POLICY 105 – Supervision and Case Conference
POLICY 106 – Continuous Quality Improvement
POLICY 107 – Child Abuse & Neglect (CAN) Panel
POLICY 108 –Records Request & Redacting
POLICY 201 – SDM Intake: Intake Receiving, Screening and Response Times
POLICY 202 – Confidentiality of Reporter Identity & Report Line Recording
POLICY 203 – Home Alone
POLICY 204 – Serious Injury/Child Death Reports
POLICY 205 – Investigation of Department Employees or Relatives
POLICY 206 – Dependency Reports from DPBHS and DYRS
POLICY 207 – Reporting Professional Board Members
POLICY 301 – Family Assessment & Intervention Response (FAIR)
POLICY 302 – Standard Investigation- Tier 1 & 2 (include MDT)
POLICY 303 –Treatment Response
POLICY 304 – Safety Assessment & Agreement (SDM) POLICY 305 – Risk Assessment (SDM)
POLICY 306 – Risk Reassessment (SDM)
POLICY 307 – Reunification Reassessment (SDM)
POLICY 308 – Relative/Non-Relative Home Assessment
POLICY 309 – Referral to the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC)
POLICY 310 – Family Strengths & Needs Guide (FSNG)-SDM
POLICY 311 – Interstate Investigation (Courtesy Visits)
POLICY 401 – Engaging Families
POLICY 402 – Locating Parents
POLICY 404 – Foster Care (Client) Contacts
POLICY 405 – Diligent Efforts for Contacts
POLICY 406 – Collateral Contacts
POLICY 407 – Family Team Meeting
POLICY 408 – Family Service Plan (FSP)
POLICY 409 – Planning with Both Parents
POLICY 410 – Child Plan for Children in Care
POLICY 411 – Considered Removal Team Decision Making (TDM) Meeting
POLICY 412 – Reunification
POLICY 413 – Concurrent Planning
POLICY 414 – Missing/Abducted/Runaway Children
POLICY 415 – Human Trafficking
POLICY 416 – Limited English Proficiency or Hearing Impairment
POLICY 417 – Transportation
POLICY 418 – Case Transfers
POLICY 419 – Case Closure
POLICY 501- Funding Sources for Families and Children
POLICY 502 – Funding for Children in Custody
POLICY 503 – Post-Permanency Financial Assistance
POLICY 601 – Failure to Report Child Abuse
POLICY 602 – Safe Arms for Babies
POLICY 603 – Compelling Cooperation
POLICY 604 – Temporary Emergency Protective Custody
POLICY 605 – Dependency/Neglect Petition for Custody
POLICY 606 – Dependency/Neglect Hearings
POLICY 607 – Reasonable Efforts
POLICY 608 – Fair Hearing
POLICY 609 – Criminal Proceedings for Children in Care
POLICY 610 – National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
POLICY 611 – Delaware Criminal Justice Information System (DELJIS)
POLICY 612 – Termination of Parental Rights (TPR)
POLICY 613 – Adoption Petitions to the Court
POLICY 614 – Extended Jurisdiction Petition and Hearings
POLICY 615 – Guardianship of Youth Aging Out (Property or Person)
POLICY 616 – Trial Reunification in Permanency Cases
POLICY 701 – Educational Decision Maker
POLICY 702 – Educational Surrogate Parent (ESP)
POLICY 703 – Best Interest Meeting (McKinney-Vento & ESSA)
POLICY 801 – Medical Exams
POLICY 802 – Medical Consent & Care of Children in Placement
POLICY 803 – Hospital High Risk Medical Discharge
POLICY 804 – Advance Health Care Directive
POLICY 805 – Religious Exemptions
POLICY 901 – Infants with Prenatal Substance Exposure & Plan of Safe Care
POLICY 902 – Parental Substance Abuse
POLICY 1001 – Relative Notification
POLICY 1002 – Level of Care –
POLICY 1003 – IV-E Eligibility, Citizenship & Candidacy
POLICY 1004 – Placement Packets for Foster Caregivers
POLICY 1006 – Transition into & from Placement (Ice Breaker)
POLICY 1007 – Sibling Placements and Visitation
POLICY 1008 – Minor Child and Their Child Placements
POLICY 1010 – DDDS Planning
POLICY 1011 – Initial & Annual Photograph of Children in Care
POLICY 1012 – Driver’s License for Foster Youth
POLICY 1013 – Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
POLICY 1014 – Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors
POLICY 1015 – Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC)
POLICY 1016 – Foster Child Hospitalization Report
POLICY 1017 – Trial Reunification and Temporary Home Visits
POLICY 1018 – Foster Care Board Extension
POLICY 1101 – Permanency Planning Committee (PPC)
POLICY 1102 – Exploring Adoptive Resources
POLICY 1103 – Approval of Foster/Adoptive Homes
POLICY 1104 – Pre-Adoption Services
POLICY 1105 – Adoption Placement Supervision
POLICY 1106 – Guardianship and Permanent Guardianship
POLICY 1107 – APPLA – Compelling Reasons/Diligent Efforts
POLICY 1108 – APPLA – Long Term Foster Care Agreements
POLICY 1109 – Multi-Ethnic Placements
POLICY 1201 – Eligibility & Initiation of Independent Living Services
POLICY 1202 – Basic Life Skills Assessment
POLICY 1203 – Independent Living Service Plan
POLICY 1204 – Basic Life Skills Development & Training
POLICY 1205 – Transition Planning Conference
POLICY 1206 – Exit Conference & Planning
POLICY 1207 – Transitional Housing Assistance
POLICY 1208 – Independent Living Aftercare
POLICY 1301 – Recruitment of Foster Family Homes
POLICY 1302 – Approval of Foster Family Homes
POLICY 1303 – Financial Support for Foster Families
POLICY 1304 – Monitoring and Supporting Foster Families
POLICY 1305 –Closure of Foster Families
POLICY 1306 – Emergency Foster Family Homes
POLICY 1307 – Department Employees as Foster Providers
POLICY 1308 – Respite Foster Families
POLICY 1309 – Approval of Kinship Care Families
POLICY 1310 – Monitoring and Supporting Kinship Care Families
POLICY 1311 – Placement with Contracted Providers
POLICY 1312 – Reportable Events
POLICY 1313 – Prudent Parenting Standards
POLICY 1402 – After Hours Response
POLICY 1403 – Standard Complaint Investigation
POLICY 1501 – Child Protection Registry
Mitigating/Aggravating Circumstances Checklist | English |
Hearing Request Form: | |
Level I | English Spanish |
Level II-IV | English Spanish |
Notice of Intent to Substantiate: | |
Level I | English Spanish |
Level II | English Spanish |
Level III | English Spanish |
Level IV | English Spanish |
Charge Pending, Level I | English Spanish |
Charge Pending, Level II | English Spanish |
Charge Pending, Level III | English Spanish |
Charge Pending, Level IV | English Spanish |
Criminal Conviction Based on Same Child Abuse and Neglect Incident | English Spanish |
Dependency, No Abuse/Neglect | English Spanish |
Dependency, Family Court Determination, No Abuse/Neglect | English Spanish |
Letters to Minor Perpetrator: | |
Charge Pending | English Spanish |
Civil Outcome | English Spanish |
Criminal Conviction | English Spanish |
No Evidence to Substantiate, Case Closed | English Spanish |
Unsubstantiated with Concern: | |
Case Closed | English Spanish |
Case Opened for Risk | English Spanish |
Case Opened for Risk, Perpetrator Not Known | English Spanish |
Case Active in Treatment | English Spanish |
Letter to Inform Parent/Custodian About Abuse/Neglect | English Spanish |
Denial Letter: | |
Level I | English Spanish |
Level II-IV | English Spanish |
Request for Substantiation Petition Checklist | English |
Related Topics: DFS, DFS Policies, Family Services, policies
If you are concerned about a child's safety, call the Child Abuse & Neglect Report Line today.
Have a child experiencing a behavioral health crisis? Call our 24/7 Mobile Response Stabilization Services hotline. You are not alone.
If you are concerned about a child's safety, call the Child Abuse & Neglect Report Line today.
Have a child experiencing a behavioral health crisis? Call our 24/7 Mobile Response Stabilization Services hotline. You are not alone.
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