The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department's Social Services Unit (SSU) is authorized and responsible, as expressly provided throughout this code, to administer the NHBP's protective services and child welfare laws and to establish such programs as are necessary to carry out its purposes. In addition, HHS will have the following authority in order to achieve the purposes of this code:
A. 
Cooperation and grants. HHS is authorized to cooperate fully with any federal, state, tribal, public or private agency in order to participate in any appropriate foster care, shelter care, treatment or training program(s) which may be available, and to receive grants-in-aid to carry out the purposes of this code. This authority is subject to the availability of funds.
B. 
Social services. HHS will utilize such social services as may be furnished by any tribal, federal, state or private agency, provided that it is economically administered without unnecessary duplication and expense and meets the standards stated in this code; and
C. 
Contracts. HHS may negotiate contracts with tribal, federal or state agencies and/or departments on behalf of the Tribal Council, assist in establishing agreements and contacts with public and private entities to delegate investigative and other responsibilities when necessary, for the care and placement of children who are wards of the Tribal Court under this code, subject to the availability of funds and tribal and federal laws governing the custody and control of children.
D. 
Central registry. HHS Social Services Unit will maintain a central registry of reports, investigations and evaluations made.
E. 
Central registry of reports, investigations and evaluations made under this code. The registry will contain all information regarding suspected child abuse or neglect of any child under NHBP jurisdiction. Such information will be preserved in the central registry until the child concerned reaches eighteen (18) years of age, unless the Tribal Court orders the child's records to be preserved for a longer period of time to assist with the protection of other siblings or for other purposes. Information maintained in the central registry will be confidential and may be disclosed only to tribal, state and federal agencies who demonstrate a need of such information for child protection and child welfare purposes. A request for the release of information must be submitted in writing, and such request and its approval will be made a part of the child's file.
(1) 
Central registry confidentiality and access. Access to the central registry is limited to the SSU for purposes of investigations unless a written request for specific information is filed with the SSU by one of the following:
(a) 
A legally mandated public or private child protective agency investigating a report of known or suspected child abuse or neglect.
(b) 
A police or other law enforcement agency investigating a report of known or suspected child abuse or neglect.
(c) 
A physician who is treating a child whom the physician reasonably suspects may be abused or neglected.
(d) 
A person legally authorized to place a child in protective custody when the person is confronted with a child whom the person reasonably suspects may be abused or neglected and the confidential record is necessary to determine whether to place the child in protective custody.
(e) 
A person, agency, or organization, including a multidisciplinary case consultation team, authorized to diagnose, care for, treat, or supervise a child or family who is the subject of a report or record under this act, or who is responsible for the child's health or welfare.
(f) 
A person named in the report or record, if the identity of the reporting person is protected.
(g) 
A court that determines the information is necessary to decide an issue before the court.
(h) 
A grand jury that determines the information is necessary in the conduct of the grand jury's official business.
(i) 
A person, agency, or organization engaged in a bona fide research or evaluation project. The person, agency, or organization shall not release information identifying a person named in the report or record unless that person's written consent is obtained. The person, agency, or organization will not conduct a personal interview with a family without the family's prior consent and will not disclose information that would identify the child or the child's family or other identifying information. The department director may authorize the release of information to a person, agency, or organization described in this subsection if the release contributes to the purposes of this act and the person, agency, or organization has appropriate controls to maintain the confidentiality of personally identifying information for a person named in a report or record under this act.
(j) 
A lay guardian ad litem or other attorney appointed.
(k) 
A child-placing agency licensed, for purpose of investigating an applicant for adoption, a foster care applicant or licensee or an employee of a foster care applicant or licensee, an adult member of an applicant's or licensee's household, or other persons in a foster care or adoptive home who are directly responsible for the care and welfare of children, to determine suitability of a home for adoption or foster care. The child-placing agency will disclose the information to a foster care applicant or licensee or to an applicant for adoption.
(l) 
Juvenile Court staff authorized by the Court to investigate foster care applicants and licensees, employees of foster care applicants and licensees, adult members of the applicant's or licensee's household, and other persons in the home who are directly responsible for the care and welfare of children, for the purpose of determining the suitability of the home for foster care. The Court will disclose this information to the applicant or licensee.
(m) 
A child fatality review team authorized to investigate and review a child death.
(n) 
A county medical examiner or deputy county medical examiner for the purpose of carrying out his or her duties.
(o) 
A child care regulatory agency.
A. 
Receipt and investigation of referrals.
(1) 
Receive and review information from any source regarding suspicions or concerns of child(ren) who may meet the definition of a "protected child" as defined in Article I, § 7.5-2, of this code. The identity of the reporting party will be kept confidential absent an order of the Court.
(2) 
Within twenty-four (24) hours of receiving an allegation of child abuse and/or neglect, SSU will initiate or cause to be initiated an investigation regarding a protected child within the jurisdiction of NHBP to determine the nature, extent, and cause of any condition which is contrary to the child's best interests and the name, age, and condition of other children in the home;
(3) 
Assess the risk to any children in the home or with whom the alleged perpetrator(s) are likely to have contact.
(4) 
Offer or recommend to the family appropriate available services and assistance in obtaining services.
(5) 
Seek the assistance of, and cooperate with, tribal, state or other law enforcement officials when:
(a) 
Abuse or neglect is the suspected cause of a child's death;
(b) 
A child has been or is being subjected to abuse or neglect; or
(c) 
Law enforcement intervention is necessary for the protection of a child, the protective service worker, or another person involved in the investigation.
(d) 
Any alleged perpetrator of the child's injury is not a person responsible for the child's health or welfare but resides in the same home as the child or has significant contact with the child; or
(e) 
A child has committed an act which, if the child were an adult, would be considered a crime.
(f) 
A report which alleges a pregnant woman's abuse of alcohol or a controlled substance under the jurisdiction of the Tribe or this code and if the pregnant woman refuses recommended voluntary services or fails recommended treatment.
(g) 
Emergency removal. In removing a child from the custody of his/her parents, legal guardian, or custodian, pursuant to Article XII, child protective service worker(s) will cooperate with law enforcement officials.
(h) 
Assisting the Tribal Police and other law enforcement authorities in taking a child into temporary custody if necessary pursuant to Article XII.
B. 
Records and reports.
(1) 
Investigation. Maintain a written record of the investigation that includes, at a minimum, information and reports gathered, including dates and witnesses related to the allegations of child abuse and/or neglect.
(2) 
Within thirty (30) days after receiving a referral for removal of a child, submit a written report of the investigation and evaluation which will be included in the official case files maintained by the SSU. The report will include a determination as to whether the report of abuse or neglect was substantiated or unsubstantiated and disposition of placement.
C. 
Substantiated referrals.
(1) 
Assist in developing individualized services plans as well as reunification and concurrent permanency plans which reasonably include contingency plans for each.
(2) 
Assist in determining when a reunification plan has been successful and when it has, for whatever reason, failed. When a reunification plan has failed, provide evaluation of the plan and make remedial recommendations as to any elements of the plan which appear to have failed because of systemic or procedural flaws.
(3) 
Arrange or recommend appropriate assessment and available services to any pregnant woman if a substantiated report is received alleging abuse of alcohol or controlled substance. Services offered may include, but are not limited to, a referral for chemical dependency assessment, a referral for chemical dependency treatment, if recommended, and a referral for prenatal care. Protective services workers also may seek Court-ordered services. Protective services workers will seek Court-ordered treatment if the voluntary services are refused or fail if the allegations of substance abuse are by a showing by preponderance of the evidence that the woman is pregnant and abusing alcohol or controlled substances.
D. 
Unsubstantiated referrals. In cases in which a child abuse or neglect report cannot be substantiated, or those in which informal intervention seems most appropriate, the protective services worker may meet informally with all interested parties to discuss concerns and remedies with the intent of preventing further intervention.
E. 
Central registry of reports.
(1) 
Maintain a central registry of reports, investigations and evaluations made under this code.
(2) 
The registry will contain all information regarding suspected child abuse or neglect of any child under NHBP jurisdiction.
(3) 
Information will be preserved in the central registry until the child reaches eighteen (18) years of age, unless the Court orders the child's records to be preserved for a longer period of time to assist with the protection of other siblings or for other purposes.
(4) 
Information maintained in the central registry will be confidential and may be disclosed only to tribal, state, and federal agencies who demonstrate a need for such information for child protection and child welfare purposes. A request for the release of information must be submitted in writing, and such request and its approval will be made a part of the child's file. (See Article V of this code.)
F. 
Cooperation of law enforcement officials. Law enforcement officials will fully cooperate with protective services worker(s) and the Department in conducting investigations pursuant to this section. Law enforcement will be responsible for identifying and securing evidence and maintaining police procedures and the chain of custody for such evidence.
A. 
Duty to inform.
(1) 
No legal authority. Before offering informal, preventative protective services to a family, a child protection worker will inform the family that he/she has no legal authority to compel the family to accept such services.
(2) 
If family declines. If a family declines informal intervention services, the child protection worker(s) may request authorization from the presenting officer to initiate a protected child determination petition in Court if evidence warrants such action. If evidence remains insufficient to substantiate abuse or neglect the case will be closed.
B. 
No limitation of authority. Nothing in this section limits the authority of protective services worker(s) to act in emergency situations or to obtain a medical evaluation of the child pursuant to Article XII.