Current as of: Dec. 2011 (1) When a child under supervision or in an active child protective investigation is believed to be missing, caregivers shall make the efforts to locate the child. (a) If missing under child emergency circumstances, request local law enforcement to open a missing child report and obtain a case number; (b) Notify the Services Worker or Child Protective Investigator (CPI), who will contact the parents, and provide the case number if a missing child report was made; (c) Inspect the child’s personal belongings to determine what items are missing; (d) Contact the child’s parents, relatives, known family members, school teachers, friends, or companions of the child, and if appropriate, the child’s place of employment; (e) Check places the child is known to frequent; and (f) Document all information obtained, including the names, addresses and phone numbers of persons contacted. (2) When a Services Worker or CPI is informed that a child under supervision or in an active child protective investigation is missing, the Services Worker or CPI shall: (a) Immediately contact law enforcement if the caregiver has not done so; (b) Gather the information required in paragraphs (1)(c)-(f), above, unless already completed by the caregiver and satisfactory to the Services Worker or CPI; (c) Notify the child’s parents or legal custodian, guardian ad litem, attorney ad litem, and attorney for the child and therapist of the missing status of the child; and (d) File notice with the court regarding the missing child. (3) Notification to law enforcement includes local law enforcement, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Missing Children Information Clearing House and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. (4) The Services Worker or CPI shall ensure that the Missing Child Report Form, which is located in the Missing Child Tracking System, is completed and entered into the Missing Child Tracking System per district/region, zone or contracted service provider policies and procedures. (5) The Services Worker or CPI shall actively continue to search for the child and shall document all efforts on a weekly basis for the first three months the child is missing and monthly thereafter. (6) When the child is located, the Services Worker or CPI shall immediately notify the child’s parents, legal custodian, out-of-home caregivers, guardian ad litem, law enforcement, the court, and any other person or agency contacted as part of the search for the missing child. (7) The Services Worker or CPI shall interview the child within twenty-four hours of the child’s return to determine the child’s need for further services and/or change in placement. Laws implemented by this Rule: Florida Statutes § 39.202, 39.604 This Rule authorized by: Florida Statutes § 39.012, 39.0121 ________________________________________________________________________
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