Supporting the prior CP history and criminal history not being documented in subsequent investigations as required by the local agency's process was the fact that the worker's focus on this case was on getting mom, who was using and pregnant, into treatment, which was the identified priority in this case.  As a result, she did not focus on looking into father #2's history.  She also noted that there is a significant amount of documentation required on each case.  A checklist was developed based upon the additional documentation requirements established by the Department of Humans Services (i.e. BIA, ICWA, MIFPA, CMR new click cross report to law enforcement, Help Me Grow, SEY) .  This is further impacted by the constant changes in documentation that are required for investigations per DHS's guidelines. The number of documentation tasks further influenced father #2's child protection history and criminal history not being documented as it was difficult for staff to complete all of the required documentation on every case. Staff did report that MNCIS was checked and communication with collateral contacts occurred and neither produced concern for father #2. Additionally, creating systemic barriers to identifying documented information within SSIS related to a father is that the local agency opens cases in SSIS under the mother, which is consistent with normative practice across the state. 

Competing caseload tasks further supported the CP history and criminal history not being documented as there was also a report that father #1 was a predatory offender which became a higher priority due to the allegation.  As a result of this, the worker was also managing the complexity of this case that required filing a required TPR.  Due to the mother being in treatment and in the process of being committed and father #2 caring for the children, the case did not require court when being opened so there was not a need to do a formal or licensing/kinship placement, which further influencing staff not identifying and documenting criminal and child protection history.

Further impacting staff not identifying and documenting criminal and child protection history were inconsistent practices among workers regarding the process of locating criminal and child protection history for all parents in SSIS and MGA.
Competing caseload tasks further influenced child protection history and criminal history not being documented as here was also a report that father #1 was a predatory offender.  As a result of this, the worker was also managing the complexity of this case that required filing a required TPR.  Due to the mother being in treatment and in the process of being committed and father #2 caring for the children, the case did not require court when being opened so there was not a need to do a formal placement or licensing/kinship.

The worker also stated she originally had the case due to the initial allegations and her co-worker who was open on a companion case, found the prior maltreatment determination regarding father #2.  The worker on the companion case indicated it is her practice to do a person search of all parents on her cases in SSIS and MGA to ensure that full backgrounds are known. 

