DFPS CPS Handbook §2281
Reaching Dispositions For The Allegations

CPS September 2019 The caseworker assigns a disposition to each allegation after gathering enough information. Sections 2281.1-2281.5, below, describe the dispositions. Disposition Guidelines Child Protective Investigations (CPI) provides disposition guidelines for the following subjects: Disposition Guidelines for Domestic Violence Resource Guide CPI Disposition Guidelines for Firearm Deaths Forced or Coerced Marriage Resource Guide CPI Disposition Guidelines for Children Dying while left Unattended in a Vehicle CPI Disposition Guidelines for Deaths Involving Co-Sleeping CPI Disposition Guidelines for Drowning Deaths CPI Disposition Guidelines for Suicide Deaths Child Fatality Protocol Handbook Appendix 2472.1-A Determining Overall Disposition and Overall Role provides information about the following: • The way that the dispositions of individual allegations determine the overall disposition of the investigation. • The final investigation roles for people whose initial roles were alleged victim or alleged perpetrator. Dispositions for Certain Types of Cases Bed-Sharing Cases Bed-sharing without any other issues is not abuse or neglect. See CPI Disposition Guidelines for Deaths Involving Co-Sleeping . Forced or Coerced Marriage Abuse (FMAB) Cases CPI is required by law to investigate allegations of forced or coerced marriage abuse (FMAB). However, the IMPACT case management system has not been updated to include the FMAB allegation type. If there are allegations that a child is being forced or coerced to get married or to marry a specific person against his or her will, it is likely that the behavior of the parents, other family members, or other caregivers meets the definition of other types of abuse or neglect. These other allegation types are available in IMPACT. In order to make a Reason to Believe finding under one of the other types of abuse or neglect, the elements of that allegation type must be present in the case. The default allegation for an FMAB case in which no other factors are present is Neglectful Supervision . If the caseworker makes a Reason to Believe finding for one of the other types of abuse or neglect, the caseworker also makes a Reason to Believe finding for Neglectful Supervision . If the caseworker determines that the child is being forced or coerced into a marriage, the caseworker documents the reasons why the case meets the definition of FMAB. This documentation goes in the Narrative and in the Allegation Detail section of the allegation that the caseworker is using. A caseworker who is investigating an allegation of FMAB contacts the program specialist for investigations and alternative response at CPI state office. The purpose of this contact is to report the case for tracking purposes. See Disposition Guidelines in the Forced or Coerced Marriage Abuse Resource Guide for more guidance on conducting this type of investigation.