Chapter VIII:Protective Services 1412 - CPS IN-HOME SERVICES

A. STUCK CASES

B. CHRONIC NEGLECT CASES

IX. EXPANDED PRACTICE

A. STUCK CASES

At times, the social worker will encounter a CPS In-Home Services case that gets “stuck.” These are situations where the risk remains moderate and the family is not making any progress or simply not cooperating. If there are no high-risk issues present, the following course of actions should occur:

• Discussion between the social worker and supervisor.
• With the Assessment Tools as a guide, evaluate the:

1. Safety - Have other reports been received, assessed, and a finding of substantiated or “in Need of Services” found? Are there current safety issues?

2. Future Risk- Using the Risk Re-assessment, what is the risk, in what areas and how does risk affect the children now and since working with them?

3. Family Strengths/Needs- Using the Family Strengths and Needs Assessment, what identified family issues remain unaddressed?

• Utilize the Child and Family Team meeting to determine possible resolutions to bring down the risk and allow the family to achieve their objectives.
• If safety and risk issues warrant, file a petition to have the case adjudicated in Juvenile Court.
• After discussion of the issues, it is decided to close the case at moderate risk, all services offered to the family as well as their response and any progress should be documented.
• A letter should be sent to the family notifying them of the closure decision, and indicating that their lack of progress will be considered if future protection issues should arise.

B. CHRONIC NEGLECT CASES

Counties also experience families that have been provided CPS In-Home Services in past, have closed CPS Services to the family, and a new report is made and accepted to be assessed. A CFT shall be held within 30 days when the assessment decision is to substantiate the report or find the family in need of services.

CPS In-Home Services shall be provided again to the family. This cycle may happen several times leading to a description of the incidents or choices the family makes as being chronic, a frequent recurrence of neglect.

When conducting the Child and Family Team meeting, it is important to allow each participant to discuss their concerns of the recurring neglect as well as if they are able to support altering them for the better in hopes of providing safe care for the child.

One of the underlying beliefs of the family-centered approach continues to be that the safety of the child is the first concern. The social worker should explain that the primary goal is to maintain the child safely in the home of the caregiver, but if the child’s safety is compromised, the agency will take steps to ensure the safety of the child. This may include filing a petition for custody or removal of the child from the home.