DCFAS/CPS: Inquiry and Initial Noticing Requirements for Social Workers

Greetings, brothers and sisters! On February 28, 2025, your UPE team met with DFCAS/CPS regarding attempting to make sure that the ICWA 020 gets to all families.

The department, in conjunction with the State, is attempting to ensure that families are completing the ICWA 020, and these forms are then placed in CMS/CWS and/or the hard file. UPE made clear that it is not the Social Worker’s responsibility to ensure that the family completes this form; the department recognizes that and states as much in its policy. UPE also wanted to ensure that this form would be included in the Detention Packet so that the Social Worker would not have to look for it. DCFAS said it will be included as stated on page six (6) of the policy.

Next, UPE wanted to know what the department means by the phrase “reasonable diligence?” DCFAS stated reasonable diligence when inquiring about Native American heritage is providing the family with the 020 and asking about relatives. Lastly, we asked: if the parent/guardian states that there is no Native American heritage, does the Social Worker have to keep asking? The department stated no, unless there is new information from the parent.

Thank you for your advocacy, Sarah Singleton, Diahann McNeely, Kristina Silva, Sondra Peters, and Sylvia Garcia

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG!