Licensure Investigations – The following will be followed for allegations and reports

Licensure Investigations – The following will be followed for allegations and reports of maltreatment of a child in the care of a Partner Provider: 1. Reporting. All allegations of maltreatment in care, abuse, neglect, corporal punishment, must be reported to the Mississippi Centralized Intake and Assessment (MCIA) 1-800-222-8000 or via the Online Reporting Tool (www.mdcps.ms.gov) regardless of whether the child is in the custody of MDCPS. 2. Allegations Occurring in Congregate Care Facility. MDCPS will conduct a separate licensure investigation in all Congregate Care Facilities to determine whether the Partner Provider is in compliance with MDCPS's licensure standards within thirty (30) days following a safety investigation. a. If licensure standards violations are found, the Partner Provider must submit to MDCPS a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) within 10 days, including timeframes for undertaking the actions. b. MDCPS will review the CAP and either approve it or return a request for revision. If the Partner Provider refuses to implement the CAP satisfactorily or fails to comply with the CAP and timeframes approved, MDCPS may revoke the license. c. When a Partner Provider is placed on a CAP, MDCPS will monitor the facility for an identified timeframe to include announced or unannounced visits which will occur at the discretion of MDCPS. d. In the event the allegation/investigation identifies an employee(s) involved in licensure violations and/or maltreatment, the employee may have no contact with children in MDCPS care pending the outcome of the investigation. 3. Allegations Occurring in Child-Placing Agency. Child Placing Agencies will conduct a separate investigation following receipt of maltreatment report in the identified foster home to determine whether the Partner Provider is in compliance with MDCPS's licensure standards. This separate investigation will be conducted within thirty (30) days following the safety investigation. A copy of the investigation findings shall be provided to MDCPS upon request. a. MDCPS will send the Partner Provider a Licensure Investigation Form to any Child-Placing Agency after receiving notification of an investigation. This must be completed and returned within thirty (30) days. b. If any licensure standard violations are found, the Partner Provider must submit to MDCPS a Corrective Action Plan (CAP), including timeframes for undertaking the actions. c. MDCPS will review the CAP and either approve it or return a request for revision. If the foster home refuses to implement the CAP satisfactorily or fails to comply with the CAP and approved timeframes, the Child-Placing Agency may revoke the license. MDCPS may request copies of all documents within the Partner Provider file(s), including but not limited to criminal background, fingerprint, central registry and sex offender checks. d. When a foster home is placed on a CAP, MDCPS and the Child- Placing Agency will monitor the foster home for an identified timeframe to include announced or unannounced visits which will occur at the discretion of the Child-Placing Agency and MDCPS. Child-Placing Agencies shall respond to all CAP’s within ten (10) business days following receipt of CAP. e. In the event that the allegation/investigation identifies a foster parent(s) or household member(s) involved in licensure violations and/or maltreatment, the Partner Provider shall submit a written safety plan accordingly to be approved by MDCPS.