IF A GRANDMOTHER WITH CUSTODY OF HER GRANDCHILD BRINGS THE CHILD IN FOR SERVICES, AND THE CHILD’S MOTHER IS ALSO A CLIENT OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH ADULT RECORD SHOULD THE CHILD BE ASSOCIATED WITH—THE MOTHER’S OR THE GRANDMOTHER’S?

The child should be tied to the grandmother’s record since she has custody and is bringing the child in for services. Similarly, if a foster parent brings a child witness for services, the child should be tied to the foster parent’s record. If the custodial parent is not receiving services, the child’s case should be opened independently of the adult.

Additionally, you can open this child client as an adult record to ensure you can enter offender and other data only linked to adult clients. If this option is taken, make sure you assign this child a child’s ID number (ending with a “c”) even though you are entering this child client as an adult.