1201 Child Placement Services

II. THE OUT OF HOME FAMILY SERVICES AGREEMENT

The Out of Home Family Services Agreement shall guide all of the agency’s work in providing child placement services at all stages of a placement case. The Out of Home Family Services Agreement completed using System of Care and Multiple Response principles involves the child and family during planning and recognizes that each family has strengths and is unique in its own way. System of Care and Multiple Response tells us that services to the family should be collaborative and community based.The value of the Out of Home Family Services Agreement cannot be overemphasized. This instrument serves as the framework upon which the agency’s work with the family and child is based, and drives the agency’s work with the family from intake through case closure and aftercare services. Far from “just another piece of paperwork,” the information contained in a well-prepared Out of Home Family Services Agreement:

• assures attention to critical needs in the family;
• guides overall planning and service delivery for families and children;
• provides structure for the involvement of all parents and relatives;
• documents objectives that parents must meet for reunification and documents behaviorally specific activities necessary to meet objectives;
• assigns responsibility for activities;
• documents the level of progress of the family toward reunification;
• meets the requirements of Federal and State law;
• provides documentation necessary to draw Federal IV-E funding for agency staff;
• provides documentation for the Court; and
• documents reasonable efforts by the agency, in preparation for termination of parental rights.

The Out of Home Family Services Agreement reflects both the strengths and needs of the child and family identified in the Family Assessment of Strengths and Needs and the Family Reunification Assessment. The Out of Home Family Services Agreement documents what must change in order for the parents to meet the needs of the child. Basic goal planning steps include:

• involving the entire family in the process;
• identifying goals that are both realistic and achievable;
• using family strengths when outlining objectives and activities to attain the goals;
• spelling out the steps necessary for success;
• documenting who will do what and when they will do it; and
• providing for review.

Clear, relevant Out of Home Family Services Agreements identify the desired changes and provide documentation of the changes that have or have not occurred. The purpose of the Out of Home Family Services Agreement planning process is:

• to clarify with the family the reasons for DSS involvement;
• to focus on the safety and permanency needs of the child;
• to identify resources within the entire family that will help the child achieve a safe, permanent home;
• to involve the family in identifying areas that need improvement;
• to clarify expectations for behavioral change with all persons involved; and
• to acknowledge the family’s strengths and commitment to their child.

The agreement must address the services to be provided or arranged, the visitation plan designed to maintain links with the family, expectations of the family, agency, placement provider and community members, target dates, and expected outcomes. Please refer to dss-5240 for instructions.