§ 14-3-204 — Duties of local child protective agency

(a) The local child protective agency shall:
(i) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 179, § 2.
(ii) Receive, assess, investigate or arrange for
investigation and coordinate investigation or assessment of all
reports of known or suspected child abuse or neglect;
(iii) Within twenty-four (24) hours after
notification of a suspected case of child abuse or neglect,
initiate an investigation or assessment to verify every report.
The representative of the child protective agency shall, at the
initial time of contact with the individual subject to a child
abuse and neglect investigation or assessment, advise the
individual of the specific complaints or allegations made
against the individual. A thorough investigation or assessment
and report of child abuse or neglect shall be made in the manner
and time prescribed by the state agency pursuant to rules and
regulations adopted in accordance with the Wyoming
Administrative Procedure Act. If the child protective agency is
denied reasonable access to a child by a parent or other persons
and the agency deems that the best interest of the child so
requires, it shall seek an appropriate court order by ex parte
proceedings or other appropriate proceedings to see the child.
The child protective agency shall assign a report:
(A) For investigation when allegations contained
in the report indicate:
(I) That criminal charges could be filed,
the child appears to be in imminent danger and it is likely the
child will need to be removed from the home; or
(II) A child fatality, major injury or
sexual abuse has occurred.
(B) For assessment when the report does not meet
the criteria of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
(iv) If the investigation or assessment discloses
that abuse or neglect is present, initiate services with the
family of the abused or neglected child to assist in resolving
problems that lead to or caused the child abuse or neglect;
(v) If the child protective agency is able through
investigation to substantiate a case of abuse or neglect, it
shall notify the person suspected of causing the abuse or
neglect by first class mail to his last known address of his
right to request a hearing on the agency's determination for a
final determination before the office of administrative hearings
pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act;
(vi) Make reasonable efforts to contact the
noncustodial parent of the child and inform the parent of
substantiated abuse or neglect in high risk or moderate risk
cases as determined pursuant to rules and regulations of the
state agency and inform the parent of any proposed action to be
taken;
(vii) Cooperate, coordinate and assist with the
prosecution and law enforcement agencies;
(viii) When the best interest of the child requires
court action, contact the county and prosecuting attorney to
initiate legal proceedings and assist the county and prosecuting
attorney during the proceedings. If the county attorney elects
not to bring court action the local child protective agency may
petition the court for appointment of a guardian ad litem who
shall act in the best interest of the child and who may petition
the court to direct the county attorney to show cause why an
action should not be commenced under W.S. 14-3-401 through
14-3-439;
(ix) Refer a child receiving department services who
is under the age of six (6) years to the department of health,
division of developmental disabilities preschool program for
educational and developmental screening and assessment; and
(x) Make reasonable efforts to determine if the
person responsible for the welfare of a child in a suspected
case of child abuse or neglect is a member of the armed forces
or if the child is enrolled in the defense enrollment
eligibility reporting system of the United States department of
defense.
(b) The local child protective agency may appeal an
adverse determination of the office of administrative hearings.