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With an emphasis on the delivery of services using a System of Care philosophy incorporated with the Multiple Response System the agency shall provide, arrange for, and coordinate interventions and services, as needed that shall focus on child safety and protection, family preservation and the prevention of further abuse or neglect. When the county Department of Social Services (DSS) initially becomes involved with a family during the CPS assessment phase, the social worker’s chief focus is on the child’s safety and protection. After a Substantiation of abuse, neglect, dependency, or a finding of Services Needed, the primary concern continues to be the child’s safety and protection. The agency is responsible for making reasonable efforts to maintain the child safely in the home, but when safety in the child’s own home cannot be assured, the agency is mandated to take immediate action to protect the child by providing safe, nurturing substitute care.
CPS In-Home Services begin at the conclusion of the CPS Assessment, where all of the information gathered during the fact finding process shall be incorporated into one case decision and one Report to Central Registry / CPS Application (DSS-5104) and a decision has been made to Substantiate abuse, neglect or dependency or there is a finding of Services Needed . Please refer to Chapter VIII; Section 1408 - Investigative and Family Assessments for guidance on completing a CPS Assessment. All required Structured Decision Making Tools shall be completed. All individuals making reports shall receive the required written notices within five working days of the completion of the assessment.
The CPS Assessment case decision shall be reported to:
Any new allegation and/or incident that meet the legal definitions of abuse, neglect or dependency received at any time during the course of CPS In-Home Services shall be documented as a new report and the agency shall conduct a prompt and thorough CPS Assessment.
If a case is open for In-Home Services following a Substantiation or a finding of Services Needed and new allegations of abuse, neglect or dependency are received by the agency, those allegations reported should be screened independently. If accepted, the report should be assessed independently of the In-Home Services case.
If the new allegations are accepted as an Investigative Assessment and during the course of the assessment it is determined that the new allegations identify risk and safety issues that would require In-Home Services, the finding should be to Substantiate. The new allegations should be assessed independently of the original report regardless of the length of time that the In-Home case has been open. The identified safety and risk factors should be incorporated into the existing In-Home Family Services Agreement (DSS-5239). An example of this would be an In-Home Services case opened as the result of Substantiation for physical abuse. New allegations are received regarding physical abuse, and the assessment is taken as an Investigative assessment.
As a result of the assessment of the physical abuse allegations, it is determined that there are safety and risk factors related to the allegations. Relative to the new allegations, the agency makes the case decision to Substantiate. The In-Home Family Services Agreement is amended to address the new issues in addition to the original ones. If the assessment determines that the there are no safety or risk factors, the agency’s new case decision would be to Unsubstantiate.
The social worker would notify the family of the decision not to substantiate the new allegations but explain that the ongoing CPS In-Home Services would continue based on the Substantiation on the original allegations until successful completion of the In-Home Family Services Agreement. If the new allegations are accepted as a Family Assessment and during the course of the assessment, it is determined that the new allegations identify risk and safety factors that would require CPS In-Home Services, the additional finding would be Services Needed.
If at the completion of the assessment, the only needs that are identified are those that were uncovered during the previous assessment and none related to the new allegations, the case decision should be additional Services Not Recommended. An example of this would be an In-Home Services case that is open for services needed related to in appropriate discipline. A new report is accepted for a family assessment with allegations related to improper supervision. During the assessment, risk and safety factors related to the new allegations are found. The new case decision should be to make a finding of additional Services Needed. The social worker would work with the family to make needed amendments to the In-Home Family Services Agreement. If during the assessment, no risk and safety factors related to the new allegations are uncovered, the finding would be additional Services Not Recommended. There should be concise documentation in the record stating that the risk and safety factors related to the original assessment continue and services shall continue to reduce the original risk level through the provision on In-Home Services. Throughout the assessment, there should be communication with the family explaining that the new assessment is not meant to re-assess the original report and that the service being provided to reduce the original risk level will continue through the provision of In-Home Services.
Please note that the In-Home Services case may be open because of an Investigative Assessment but new allegations are received and accepted as a Family Assessment. If new safety and risk factors are uncovered, the case decision would be additional Services Needed. If no new safety and risk factors are uncovered then the decision would be additional Services Not Recommended. The reverse situation may also exist. A CPS In-Home Services case is open because of a previous CPS Family Assessment that resulted in a finding of Services Needed. A new report with allegations resulting in the decision to accept the case for an Investigative Assessment occurs.
If the result of the Investigative Assessment uncovers new safety and risk factors, the new case decision would be to Substantiate. If no new safety and risk factors are uncovered, the new case decision would be Unsubstantiated. If the case decision is to Substantiate or find Services Needed the social worker should work with the family to amend the In-Home Family Services Agreement accordingly. If the new case decision is unsubstantiated or a finding of additional Services Not Recommended, there should be concise documentation in the record stating that the risk and safety factors related to the original assessment continue and services shall continue to reduce the original risk issues through the provision on In-Home Services. Throughout the CPS assessment, there should be communication with the family explaining that the new assessment is not meant to re-assess the original report and that the service being provided to reduce the original risk level will continue through the provision of In-Home Services.
It is important to note that while approaching families in a manner consistent with System of Care and MRS, using family centered practice principles remains imperative. In-Home Services social workers maintain a single focus while preparing for two different outcomes. This section provides information on the laws, policies, and good practice standards regarding the provision of CPS In-Home Services.
CPS In-Home Services:
Social workers assume many roles with parents/caretakers during CPS In-Home Services. Being familiar with community resources, they act as a resource. Social workers act as models, demonstrating how to acknowledge anger and how to work out differences so that anger does not escalate to violence. Social workers act as coaches, providing feedback about the missteps, but also providing praise for the positive steps. Social workers act as mentors, giving information, instruction, guidance and mentoring regarding parenting skills. Social workers are teachers, helping parents learn to problem-solve, think through situations, make decisions and experience both failure and success.
Social workers also represent the authority of the State when this becomes necessary, as when the parent harms the child. At this point, the social worker must assume the role to protect the child legally. This authority undergirds all of the work with the parent/caretaker.
Social workers also work with children/youth during CPS In-Home Services. Children have information about how their family is progressing from their perspective. Children should be involved in setting goals as well as reporting on the progress towards achieving those goals. While conversations with children will necessarily be different from those with adults, we do not want to overlook the value of their input. In order to effectively communicate with children in this way, it is important that social workers possess an understanding of developmental stages and be willing to communicate with the child in the way that is most comfortable for the child.
The provision of CPS In-Home Services has the following goals:
The use of the structured tools is meant to guide CPS social workers and families through the assessment. Social workers are encouraged to bring these tools to every home visit so that a discussion surrounding these issues can take place. Completing these tools with the family makes the CPS process transparent and allows families to be a part of the process and to feel that they are part of the assessment. Keep in mind that the home visit is more than just completing the tools. Completing the tools is just one piece of what should be happening on home visits.
1. The North Carolina Family Risk Assessment (DSS-5230)
The North Carolina Family Risk Assessment (DSS-5230) shall be completed and documented at the following intervals:
The Family Risk Assessment is a useful tool to assess initial risk. When completed with the family it serves as a mechanism to partner with the family. Often families are harder on themselves, while it brings their behavior that is causing the risk into focus. This can lead to rich discussion with the family that might not otherwise occur.
2. The North Carolina Family Assessment of Strengths and Needs DSS-5229
The North Carolina Family Assessment of Strengths and Needs (DSS-5229) shall be completed at the following intervals:
a. For CPS In-Home Services cases:
Completing the North Carolina Family Assessment of Strength and Needs (FASN) is yet another way in which CPS social workers can involve families. The FASN serves as the basis for the In Home Services agreement. This is an opportunity for the family to have input on what services are determined to be necessary.
It is also to involve families in a comprehensive discussion that recognizes strengths. When the family is allowed to participate, it is easier to view DSS as a partner in the process, and to develop meaningful service agreements. It is easier to gain a families cooperation if they are able to “see” what it going on. Involving them in the identification of strength and needs allows this to occur.
b. Child/Family Well-Being
In cases that were substantiated or have a finding of services needed and opened for more than thirty days from the date of case decision, there shall be documentation in the case record, on the North Carolina Family Assessment of Strengths and Needs and on the Family Services Agreement that includes but is not limited to the following items as they are applicable. If they are not applicable, please note that:
Child/Family Education Needs:
1) Special education classes, when applicable;
2) Normal grade placement, if child is school age;
3) Services to meet the identified educational needs, unless no unusual educational needs are identified;
4) Early intervention services, unless these services are not needed;
5) Advocacy efforts with the school, unless the child is not school age or there have been no identified needs that are unmet by the school; and
6) How the educational needs of the child/family have been included in the case planning, unless the child is not school age or has no identified education needs.
Child/Family Physical Health Needs:
1) Whether the child/family has received preventive health care and if not, the efforts the agency will take to ensure that this care is obtained;
2) Whether the child/family has received preventive dental care and if not, the efforts the agency will take to ensure that this care is obtained;
3) Whether the child/family has up-to-date immunizations and if not, what efforts the agency will take to obtain them;
4) Whether the child/family is receiving treatment for identified health needs and if not, what efforts the agency will take to obtain the treatment;
5) Whether the child/family is receiving treatment for identified dental needs and if not, what efforts the agency will take to obtain the treatment.
Child/Family Mental Health Needs:
Whether the child/family is receiving appropriate treatment for any identified mental health needs and if not, what efforts the agency will take to obtain such treatment.
If the family needs assistance in meeting any of these identified needs, the social worker should attempt to provide information, services or referrals to meet the need. For example, if the parent has not provided preventive dental care for the child because of finances, the social worker would provide the name and telephone number of a local dentist that accepts Medicaid.
Please Note: The lack of adherence to the Well Being issues would not be a reason to initiate court proceedings against the parent if it was not a part of the substantiation or finding of services needed or seen as a risk/safety concern.
If issues need to be addressed, they may be included in the Family Services Agreement, but they are not reasons to keep the case open when it would otherwise be closed for services.
3. The Case Decision Summary / Initial Case Plan (DSS-5228)
The Case Decision Summary / Initial Case Plan (DSS-5228) shall be completed at the time of the case decision and serves as the Initial Case Plan. For a complete discussion of the Case Decision Summary please refer to Chapter VIII; Section 1408 - Investigative and Family Assessments.
4. Family Risk Reassessment with CPS In-Home Services
Most of the information necessary for completing the North Carolina Family Risk Reassessment (DSS-5226) is gathered throughout the course of the Investigative or Family Assessment. This, along with the North Carolina Family Assessment of Strengths and Needs will assist the CPS In-Home Services social worker in determining risk of future abuse and/or neglect as well as assist in formulating the Family Services Agreement. The Family Risk Reassessment assists the social worker in determining the required service level intensity. Failure to complete thorough assessments can jeopardize the child’s safety and affect the quality of other decisions made during CPS In-Home Services and delivery. The process is a continuous one.
Family Risk Reassessment updates shall be completed when the child remains in the home and CPS In-Home Services are being provided, or when the agency has legal custody and the child has not been removed from the home. The Family Risk Reassessment shall be completed at the following intervals with the family, when CPS In-Home Services are being provided:
The Family Risk Reassessment process provides an opportunity for the CPS In-Home Services social worker and the family to reevaluate progress or lack of progress around those particular areas of concern that have been determined to affect the risk of harm to the children. The Family Risk Reassessment is used to guide decision making following the provision of services of clients while assessing a change in behavior that mitigates the identified risk factors.
While the initial assessment projects a risk level prior to the agency service provision, the reassessment takes into account the provision of services. The reassessment of each family provides an efficient mechanism to assess changes in family risk due to the provision of services.
At reassessment, a family may be continued for services or the case may be closed.
In arriving at an assessment of risk, the social worker should assume that overall risk is a balance between factors that escalate risk of abuse/neglect and family strengths. The balance should be assessed based on number, degree, and interaction of risk factors and strengths. Patterns, or clusters, of risk factors commonly found in serious child abuse and neglect cases should receive added weight in making an overall assessment of risk. These clusters of risk factors are mutually reinforcing and, therefore, increase the risk of abuse/neglect with which they are associated. Similarly, family strengths that combine to indicate and/or support social competence and a capacity for forming positive interpersonal relationships should receive special attention in determining an overall level of risk. See http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/311351_vulnerable_families.pdf for a brief discussion regarding risk issues.
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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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