Department of Human Services
Chapter 407
Division 47
OFFICE OF TRAINING, INVESTIGATIONS AND SAFETY - CHILD ABUSE
407-047-0490
Investigations in Child Care: Notifications at the Conclusion of an Investigation
After an abuse determination is made and the abuse investigation report has been approved, OTIS must make and document the following notifications:
(1) OTIS must notify law enforcement of the abuse determination and may provide a unredacted copy of the abuse investigation report.
(2) OTIS must make diligent efforts to notify the reporter, if contact information was provided, of the following information:
(a) Whether contact with the child was made, and
(b) Whether OTIS determined abuse occurred.
(3) OTIS must notify the legal guardian of the alleged victim of the abuse determination.
(4) If not a respondent, OTIS must notify the owner, executive director, operator, central administrator, or designated authority of the child care.
(5) OTIS must notify the respondent when:
(a) A report is determined to be "Unfounded" or "Unable to Determine" (see OAR 407-047-0470), OTIS must provide written notice to the respondent.
(b) A report is determined to be “Founded” (see OAR 407-047-0470), OTIS must send a Notice of Abuse Determination (as described in ORS 183.415) to the respondent by:
(A) Regular mail and certified mail with return receipt requested.
(B) Alternative methods such as fax or electronic mail only when the respondent has requested an alternate method.
(C) A copy of the Notice of Abuse Determination must also be provided to the respondent's attorney, if applicable.
(6) OTIS must notify Department of Early Learning and Care must provide a unredacted copy of the abuse investigation report.
(7) OTIS must notify the Department of Human Services: Self-Sufficiency Child Care Policy Unit must provide a unredacted copy of the abuse investigation report when the child care is a regulated subsidy program.
(8) Others as required or otherwise authorized including, but not limited to:
(a) Appropriate personnel within the Department.
(b) The tribe (as provided under OAR chapter 413, division 115) when the OTIS investigator knows or has reason to know the alleged victim is an Indian child.
(c) Disability Rights Oregon, when a report of abuse is alleged to have occurred at a school or in an educational setting and the report involves a child with a disability (ORS 419B.035(1)).
(d) The Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS), when a report involves a home certified by ODDS or a child receiving services from ODDS.
(e) The Teacher Standards and Practices Commission must be provided copy of the unredacted abuse investigation report if the Department believes the child care caregiver, household member, contractor, or volunteer is licensed or registered by the commission.
(f) Any individual, administrative hearings officer, court, agency, organization, or other entity when determined necessary under ORS 419B.035(3).
(9) Any deviations from making required notifications must be approved by an OTIS supervisor and justification documented in the investigative report.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 409.050
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 419B.005 - 419B.050 & Senate Bill 757 (2023 OL Chapter 188)
History:
DHS 18-2023, amend filed 12/22/2023, effective 01/01/2024
DHS 15-2023, minor correction filed 12/11/2023, effective 12/11/2023
DHS 29-2022, amend filed 07/20/2022, effective 08/01/2022
DHS 5-2021, amend filed 03/31/2021, effective 04/01/2021
DHSD 5-2020, adopt filed 06/01/2020, effective 06/01/2020