22VAC40-730-40: Involvement of regulatory agencies

The authority of the local department to investigate valid complaints of alleged child abuse or neglect in facilities or foster homes overlaps with the authority of the public agencies that have regulatory responsibilities for these facilities to investigate alleged violations of standards.

For valid complaints, the local department shall contact the appropriate regulatory authority and share the complaint information. The regulatory authority will appoint a staff person to participate in the investigation to determine if there are regulatory concerns.

1. The child protective services (CPS) worker and the regulatory staff person shall review respective needs for information and plan the investigation based on when these needs coincide and can be met with joint interviews or with information sharing.

2. The investigation plan must keep in focus the requirements to be met by the CPS worker and regulatory authority as well as the impact the investigation will have on the facility's staff, the victim child, and the other children at the facility.