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Effective: 6/18/2026

G1.12 On Call Activities

Legal Authority

Introduction

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Kentucky Administrative Regulation (KAR) 922 1:330 Section (2) requires that the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) maintain a twenty-four (24) hour on-call response system and child abuse hotline for the receipt of emergency child protective services (CPS) reports after normal business hours.  KAR 922 5:070 Section (2) requires that DCBS make available a twenty-four (24) hour on-call response system for emergency reporting of adult protective services (APS) reports after normal business hours. 

The purpose of the twenty-four (24) hour on-call response system is to receive, screen, assign, and respond to emergency child and adult protection reports of maltreatment and child dependency. 
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Practice Guidance

  • The SSW may be required to provide consent for service provision or medical treatment for a committed child/youth while on call. This should be completed in a timely manner to prevent delays or disruptions in services or treatment. 
  • To ensure that consistent screening decisions are made statewide, CPS reports that are received on-call are documented and screened utilizing the KY SDM® Intake Assessment Tool (located in TWIST) or the After Hours Call Sheet. On-call reports are screened by the county staff who are scheduled to be on call when the report is received. 
  • The SSW may use the state-issued tablet, cell phone, laptop, or computer to assist in obtaining information and making screening decisions in TWIST.
  • The SSW may respond to requests from partner agencies as needed, including completing a check of TWIST or verification of a child/youth’s placement/location.
  • The SDM® tool and manual should not be used for adult protective services (APS) reports. 


Procedure

The Division of Services Regions (DSR):

  1. Shall develop and maintain a schedule in each county for staff who are available after-hours to receive calls, screen, and respond to emergency adult protective services (APS) and child protective services (CPS) reports.   

For CPS reports:

The SSW:

  1. ​Shall be available by phone to take calls and record information from the reporting source during their assigned on-call schedule; 
  2. Uses the After Hours Call Sheet to record information as needed;
  3. Consults with the on-call FSOS (or designee) regarding the screening of the report and to determine an intake status and corresponding response time;  
  4. Along with the FSOS (or designee), will utilize SOP Chapter C2 Child Protective Services (CPS) Intake and Investigation, the KY SDM® Intake Assessment Manual, and the SDM® Intake Assessment Tool (in TWIST) to make the determination;
  5. After consultation with the FSOS or designee, responds to the report as needed; and
  6. Sends the report with the screening decision and response time to central intake (CI) for entry into TWIST on the next working day after the report is received.

For APS reports,

The SSW:

  1. ​Shall be available by phone to take calls and record information from the reporting source during the assigned on-call schedule;
  2. Consults with the on-call FSOS (or designee) regarding the screening of the report and determines an intake status and corresponding response time;  
  3. And FSOS or designee will utilize the SO​P Chapter A1 Adult Protective Services (APS) Intake​ to make the determination;
  4. After consultation with the FSOS or designee, responds to the report as needed; and
  5. Sends the report with the screening decision and response time to CI for entry into TWIST on the next working day after the report is received. ​




Documents

Revisions