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Risk assessment is an ongoing process that starts at the time a case is accepted for a CPS investigative assessment and continues until case closure. The risk assessment process helps social workers define service needs of the family and forms the basis for the Family Services Agreements. For County Departments of Social Services, the Safety Assessment (dss-5231), Family Risk Assessment (dss-5230), Family Assessment of Strengths and Needs (dss-5229), Risk Reassessment (dss-5226) and Reunification Assessment (dss-5227) organize critical information to help guide the social worker’s professional judgment regarding the health and safety of all children living in the home.
The Family Services Agreements are the tools that guide service delivery to families for preventing placement. Risk assessment is the basis for the development of the Family Services Agreements. Risk factors and family strengths identified in the Family Risk Assessment, Strengths and Needs Assessment, Risk Reassessment and Reunification Assessment shall be reflected in Family Services Agreements. Objectives and activities shall be directed toward alleviating the risk factors.
The Case Decision Summary / Initial Case Plan (dss-5228) is completed at the time a case decision is made to substantiate abuse, neglect, or dependency or a finding of Services Needed is made and remains in effect until the appropriate Family Services Agreement is complete. The Case Decision Summary-/Initial Case Plan documents the critical needs within the family that caused agency involvement and the immediate activities that the agency will conduct or arrange to address these needs and to protect the safety of the child in the home.
The appropriate Family Services Agreement is completed within 30 days of a case decision to substantiate abuse, neglect, or dependency, or a finding of services needed and it replaces the Case Decision Summary / Initial Case Plan. The In-Home Family Services Agreement (dss-5239) is used when family preservation is the plan. The Out of Home Family Services Agreement (dss-5240) is used when family reunification is the plan. If the child is in DSS custody and remains in his/her home, the Out of Home Family Services Agreement is used.
(Refer to Section 1201, Family Services Agreements for more information.)
Prior to placement, social workers shall involve the extended family and the kinship network in providing support and resources for parents and children. Multiple Response encourages social workers to partner with families. Allowing parents and their kinship network to share in the decision surrounding the safety of the children goes along way towards obtaining they buy in of the parents and the kinship network, thus sharing power. Parents facing the potential removal of their children from their homes should be given a reasonable opportunity to come together with their kinship network to plan for and provide safety, care, nurture, and supervision for their child. The agency shall remain involved with the family providing placement and the birth family until the child’s ongoing safety is assured and the placement is legally secure (which means that the relative or kin caregiver has the legal authority to make parental decisions on behalf of the child) or until the DSS files a petition for custody.
Kinship relationships are self-defined. Many families value non-relatives as kin, such as godparents, friends and neighbors with whom they have a family-like relationship. Social workers can help families identify who they consider to be part of their kinship network.
The agency should help to mobilize the family’s extended family and kinship network in the process of:
Social workers shall also conduct comprehensive searches for missing parents prior to placement. The early identification of a child’s legal and biological parents is critical to the planning for the child, to the development of resources for the child, and provides the groundwork necessary if the case is brought to the Court’s attention. It is also critical for finding both maternal and paternal kinship/relative supports for the child.
Multiple Response and System of care clearly demonstrates that Community-based support for families is the key to strengthening and preserving families and effectively preventing the removal of children from their homes. Community-based support for families should begin prior to the removal of children from their homes. County Departments of Social Services should involve the community in building resources for a family and improving parents’ ability to provide adequate parental care and supervision for their children.
Prior to foster care placement, social workers shall help families build their resources and support systems within the community. Social workers should help parents learn how to access available services provided by other agencies and how to obtain the resources they need. Social workers should also refer families to other community agencies for services that meet the identified needs of the family.
Community Child Protection Teams are a vital resource in accessing community-based support for families. These teams represent community agencies, organizations and community action groups. The teams are mandated by law to review cases and advocate for community resources. By collectively reviewing the needs of a family and by offering solutions to a family crisis, these teams can help prevent out-of-home placement.
(Refer to The Yellow Pages for more information about Community-Based Support for Families.)
Family Support and Family Preservation Services are intervention services designed to help families regain optimal functioning and alleviate family crises that may lead to out-of-home placement of children. These services are a resource for families that want to prevent the removal of their children. These services are family-focused, as well as home- and community-based.
Family Support Services, Family Preservation Services and Intensive Family Preservation Services are administered by the Division of Social Services, but may be provided under contract by other public and private agencies.
Foster care staff may refer families for Family Support Services, Family Preservation Services, or Intensive Family Preservation Services, depending on the family situation and the availability of the resource in a specific county. Families may be birth families, foster families, or adoptive families at risk of disruption.
At this time these services are not available in all counties. If social workers do not know whether or not such services exist in their community, they may contact the state office for Community Based Programs at (919) 733-2279.
Family Preservation Services help parents to maintain children safely in their own home, support families preparing to reunite or adopt, and assist families in obtaining services and supports in a culturally sensitive manner. A broad range and variety of services may be offered, and may differ by region based on each community’s defined priorities.
There must be response within three days to referrals for FPS. It is suggested that the referral source be contacted within two working days with information regarding the capability to respond to referral. If the family cannot be served immediately, they may be placed on a waiting list, if appropriate. An initial contact (telephone or face-to-face) must be attempted within three working days. If contact has not been made within four working days, the referral source must be informed of this and can take action accordingly.
Caseloads range from two to eight families at a time. Families can be served for up to six months. This standard is set to allow flexibility in response to individual family service needs while at the same time endorsing the principles of a time limited intervention service model.
In order to provide the level of supervision and support necessary for FPS, it is recommended that programs maintain a maximum supervisor to staff ratio of 1:10.
Families eligible for intensive family preservation are those with one or more children ages birth through 17 years who are determined to be a danger to themselves or others, or are endangered by persons in the home, and the endangerment is sufficient to put the child(ren) at imminent risk of out-of-home placement with the social services, mental health/developmental disabilities/substance abuse services, or juvenile the justice system.
Intensive Family Preservation Services are directed only to families in which one or more children are at imminent risk of placement. Eligibility for services must be certified through documentation of the following referral/acceptance criteria:
There must be immediate response to referrals for IFPS. If the IFPS provider has an opening and the referral information indicated that IFPS seems to be an appropriate option, a visit should occur no later than 48 hours. If the family is accepted for IFPS, services must begin immediately.
Caseloads are small, with a legal maximum of four families at any given time. Supervisory staff ratio is 1:4.
Both FPS and IFPS workers are required to complete extensive training for service delivery that includes:
All Family Preservation Programs and Intensive Family Preservation Programs are required to provide the following services:
Beyond these required services, it is expected that local IFPS programs will provide or help families obtain a broad range of therapeutic, supportive and concrete services to address the particular objectives in the families’ own treatment plan.
Optional services include tangible services provided by the FPS worker or agency. Some examples are financial assistance, household chores or repairs, and transportation.
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For questions or clarification on any of the policy contained in these manuals, please contact your local county office. |
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