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Understanding the North Dakota
Child Abuse Information Index
What Is It?
The North Dakota Child Abuse Information Index -
maintained by the North Dakota Department of Human
Services - is a list of all
reports of suspected child abuse and neglect where a decision is made
that services are required to provide for the protection and treatment
of an abused or neglected child. A person who is the subject of a report
of suspected child abuse or neglect is notified of the
report and that an assessment is in process.
How Does It Work?
Child abuse and neglect reports are assessed by social workers
employed by County Social Services and a child protection team assists
with the decision making to decide if services are required for a
family. The subject has the right to appeal the decision. The names of the subjects are placed on
the Child Abuse Information Index when there is a decision made that
services are required for the protection and treatment of an abused or
neglected child.
All information gathered during the assessment is confidential unless
otherwise ordered by the court. If the outcome of the assessment is a
decision that services are required, the records are maintained on the
Child Abuse Information Index for ten (10) years and then expunged. If
the decision is made that no services are required the name of the
subject is not placed on the Index but records are maintained at the
County Social Service office.
How NDSU Extension Youth
Protection Policy Uses This Information?
If a name submitted by Extension for clearance through the Index
indicates a "services required" case, North Dakota Youth Protection
Services will contact the Extension staff member who requested the
clearance.
Convicted Sex Offenders and Offenders
Against Children - Public List
The North Dakota Office of Attorney General maintains a Convicted Sex
Offenders and Offenders Against Children - Public List. This list is
updated monthly and includes convictions over the past ten years. This
is a public list and does not require an authorization for checking.
Because this list is lengthy, the Center for 4-H Youth Development will
check it for you. To check a name against this list, send a written copy
of the name (sample letter 8) to the Office Manager of the Center for
4-H Youth Development. The request will be returned to the county office
or the Extension Director's office, in the case of prospective employee
screening, indicating if the name appeared on the list. Keep this clearance on file
with other written information about the applicant.
February, 2002
Updated January, 2003
Please direct your questions to:
Brad Cogdill, Chair
Center for 4-H Youth Development
Family Life Center 219, Box 5016
Fargo, ND 58105-5016
Phone (701)231-7253
FAX (701)231-8568
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