Section 10. Investigation Requirements - General

A. The safety of the child is the overriding concern throughout the casework relationship with the family. If the safety of the child is ever in conflict with the preservation of a family unit, the child’s need for protection always takes precedence. PSD shall request immediate assistance from law enforcement if necessary to assess and secure the safety of the child. B. The PSD worker shall conduct the investigation in a manner that protects the privacy of the child and family. C. The PSD worker shall make efforts to engage the family in the investigation and assessment process to gather the information required to identify the danger indicators, child vulnerabilities, safety planning capacities and ongoing risks to the child. D. The PSD worker shall interview collateral contacts during the investigation. E. The PSD worker shall visit the home during an investigation. This requirement may be waived in specific circumstances that include but are not limited to: (1) the parent, guardian or custodian refuses the worker entrance; (2) the home has been determined to be unsafe by law enforcement or public health; or (3) the family is homeless. F. The PSD worker shall complete the New Mexico child safety assessment and risk assessment tools in all investigations. These are tools used by the PSD worker in determining the investigation disposition. G. The PSD worker shall make efforts to provide or arrange for services for the child and family during the investigation to enhance the family’s capacity to safely care for their child.