441—176.7(235B) Appropriate evaluation or assessment.
	176.7(1) After receipt of a report alleging dependent adult abuse which meets criteria as outlined in subrule 176.3(1), a dependent adult abuse evaluation or assessment will be initiated and will be assigned to an adult protection worker. The adult protection worker will make an effort to observe and examine the dependent adult as authorized by subrule 176.6(3) and evaluate the dependent adult’s safety.
	a. 	For cases where there is information that the alleged perpetrator has access to the adult subject, reasonable efforts shall be made to observe the adult subject and evaluate the adult subject’s safety within 24 hours of commencing the assessment of the report alleging dependent adult abuse.
	b. 	For cases where there is information that the alleged perpetrator clearly has no access to the adult subject, or for cases where services are in place to mitigate any safety concerns, reasonable efforts shall be made to observe the adult subject and evaluate the adult subject’s safety within 72 hours of commencing the assessment of the report alleging dependent adult abuse.
	c. 	When reasonable efforts have been made to observe the adult subject within the specified time frames and the worker has established that there is no need to observe and no risk to the adult subject, the observation of the adult subject may be delayed or waived with supervisory approval.
	176.7(2) After receipt of the report alleging dependent adult abuse, the adult protection worker shall conduct an evaluation or assessment to determine whether the information as reported, other known information, and any information gathered as a result of the worker’s contact with collateral sources or other collateral contacts would tend to corroborate the alleged abuse.
	176.7(3) In the event the information gathered in the evaluation or assessment fails to corroborate the allegation of dependent adult abuse as defined in Iowa Code section 235B.2(5)“a,” the worker, with approval of the supervisor, may terminate the evaluation or assessment and submit the report.
[ARC 6966C, IAB 4/5/23, effective 6/1/23]