CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES

Family services recognize the inherent integrity and value of the family. Provision of family services is considered when there is a need for SRS assistance beyond the initial 45 working days of intake assignment. Additionally, the services identified as needed do not require the high level of intensity of Family Preservation services, which are services for families who require more frequent contact, including the availability of staff twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week;

The difference between Family Services and Family Preservation is the degree of the crisis, specifically related to safety, family functioning, and the potential removal of a child. Family Services is directed at alleviating specific situations which if services are not offered, may develop into a crisis situation. Services are delivered to the family as a unit rather than to individual family members. However, individual family members may also receive specific services. Services may be court ordered, recommended by SRS, or requested by the family.

Family Services include the following characteristics:

Services strengthen the family and promote the safety and well being of the children;
Services are delivered primarily in the family home or community;
Services are committed to reinforcing the strengths of the family members, empowering the family to solve problems, and become self-sufficient;
Services enhance parenting skills, family and personal self-sufficiency, functioning of the family, and reduce stress on families; and,

Services, which require monitoring, help families locate and use additional assistance including, but not limited to, the development and maintenance of community support systems, counseling and treatment services, housing, child care, education, job training, emergency cash grants, state and federally funded public assistance, and other basic support services.

Practice Note:

Examples of Family Services cases:

Cases in which SRS assistance has been initially identified during the assessment as needed and it is anticipated that the assistance will go beyond the initial 45 working days of intake assignment.
Intake and assessment cases in which SRS has provided assistance and it is necessary for assistance to continue beyond the initial 45 working days of intake assignment.
Custody cases where the child/children are at home, and the family is receiving services from SRS, and no Child Welfare Community Based Services Provider is involved.
Non-custody cases where the child/children are at home and the family is receiving services from SRS, and no Child Welfare Community Based Services Provider is involved.
Post-finalization adoption cases no longer on the caseload of a Services Provider or in after care with a Child Welfare Community Based Services Provider, where SRS is providing supportive services to the family.

Examples of what is not a Family Services Case:

Cases in which SRS makes a referral to a community agency, and SRS has no follow-up or monitoring responsibility;
Any cases where the family is referred to a Child Welfare Community Based Services Provider for Family Preservation or Reintegration/Foster Care
Cases where one child in the family is in foster care,
ICPC cases.
Cases in which there are incidental activities/expenses related to a child in placement.

4010 Range of Services

The scope of the services provided or accessed for the family will be based on the assessment of the family's need, the family's eligibility, and available resources.

Services may be offered by SRS staff or through referrals to other community agencies or entities, including utilizing SRS community services programs and/or Family Services funds. Services are provided without regard to income and may be voluntary. Families may be court ordered to apply for services.

4020 Forms for Case Opening

The forms required to open/maintain a Family Services case are:

CFS 1000 Face Sheet
CFS 1001 Report/Request for Services
CFS 1002 Response Determination
CFS 2030A Agency Response FBA Assessment Only (NA for non-abuse/neglect cases)
CFS 2030B Safety Assessment (NA for non-abuse/neglect cases)
CFS 2030D Risk Assessment (NA for non-abuse/neglect cases)
CFS 2030E Child in Need of Care – Non Abuse or Neglect Assessment (NA for abuse/neglect cases)
CFS 2030F FBA Summary
CFS 3050A Permanency Plan
CFS 3050B Permanency Objectives
CFS 3050C Participant Signatures
CFS 3050D Child and Youth Plan, completed in its entirety if child is in custody; only the "Child Well Being Status" section if child not in custody
Appendix 3G Services and Service Codes
CFS 3050 F-2 Visitation Plan, completed if child is in custody only
CFS 3050 G Permanency Plan Review, completed at least once during the timeframe of the permanency plan

4030 Purchase of Services or Resources

Services or resources that will assist in strengthening the family and promoting the protection and well being of the child(ren) may be purchased for families. Allowable services or resources to be purchased and method of purchase are found in the Handbook of Services. Cash will not be given to the family. Payment shall be executed according to established payment procedures as presented in the CFS Eligibility and Payment Manual. See Section 2200 in Eligibility and Payment Manual

If the service or resource being considered for purchase requires the development and completion of a family service plan by the provider of that service or resource, the SRS Social Worker and Supervisor may accept it in place of the CFS 3050 series. However, acceptance of the provider's family service plan can only occur if the child(ren) is not in custody and it must be completed within twenty working days of the start date of the Client Service Agreement. The SRS Social Worker will be required to complete the following and attach it to the service provider's plan:

CFS 3050C Participant Signatures - only the "For SRS use only" and the review and approval section.
CFS 3050D Child and Youth Plan, the "Child Well Being Status" section only
Appendix 3G Services and Service Codes

4040 Family Services Case Progress

Assessing the success of the plan is continual and is both a formal and informal process. At least once in between conference dates, the progress of the family shall be measured by the achievement of goals set forth in the Family Services Achievement Plan, CFS 3050 B, specifically by utilizing the CFS 3050H, Permanency Plan Review. If purchasing services on behalf of the family, progress shall also be measured through the review and monitoring of the purchase of services process. A formal review of the objectives, the continued appropriateness of the tasks and time frames, and any modifications should occur every 170 days until case closure. The formal review shall include all relevant persons.

During the review of the family service plan, any of the following actions may be found to be appropriate:

Status Quo: When the case plan is succeeding, but has not yet reached the goal, the decision may be to continue services.
Referral to Family Preservation Services: If the situation escalates to a crisis situation that places the child(ren) at risk of being placed out of home, and the family meets the criteria, a referral to the CWCBS Provider of Family Preservation Services may occur.
Referral to Court: When the plan is not sufficiently successful and the child(ren) is at risk, it may be necessary to ask for court
intervention.
Terminate Services: When the plan is successful, goals achieved, and the family is providing a sustained minimum level of care, the decision may be to terminate service. The closure is recorded in the written case plan and the case is closed in the FACTS system.
Refusal of Services: At any time, the family may decide that they no longer wish to receive services. Upon such notification the agency has two options:

A. Accept the family decision after reviewing the child's safety from a professional viewpoint and close the service case.

B. Review the case situation from a professional viewpoint and considering the child's safety and if applicable, referring the case to the county/district attorney for court action.

4050 Duration of Services

Services can be provided for up to 12 months. Services can be provided beyond 12 months if there is a court order requiring that continuation or if an SRS social worker and the social worker's supervisor determine continued need for services.

4100 SRS Social Worker Responsibilities

The SRS Social Worker is responsible to assure the following:

Assessing the family,
Determining service needs,
Determining eligibility for services,
Developing an initial family service plan
Completing a formal review of the family service plan every 170 days until case closure
Providing direct services, if applicable
Preparing necessary reporting documents and reports to the court, if applicable
Recording case activity on Social Service Case Activity Log, YA 1010, or equivalent,
Facilitating communication among relevant resources such as school, court, mental health centers, Native American tribes as applicable, etc.,
Coordinating various services provided to the family,
Meeting a minimum of once a month with the family.
Coordinating staffing with the family and service providers, if applicable.
Referring to other community resources, when indicated and appropriate;
Obtaining status and progress information, and
Monitoring of all purchased services

4110 Transfer of Case Records

Transfer of case records is essential to continuity of services to a family. When a family moves from one service region to another, requiring a change of social worker, the case information shall be forwarded to the CFS Program Administrator or designee of the receiving region.

The sending worker shall:

Record the family's continuing need for services on the Social Service Case Activity Log, YA 1010, or it's equivalent;

The receiving worker shall:

Re-assess the family situation including but not limited to needs, strengths, goals, and appropriateness of current plan;
Update the service plan with the family based on their current circumstances.

4200 FACTS Family Services Procedures

Complete screen navigation requirements for adding family services information are located in the Plan Management section of the FACTS User Manual Volume II, Section 400. Codes for applicable screens in FACTS are located in the USER Manual Volume I, Section 800. Information on case planning activity shall be entered into FACTS within 5 working days from the date of occurrence, action, or agency decision regarding a child or family.

4210 Establishing Family Services as a Case Action Type

A case action service type in FACTS reflects the service action decision located in Section IV of the 2030F, or other documentation of service action decisions subsequent to the initial plan for the family. A case action type is opened and remains open as long as the family or individual is being served under that case action decision or contract. A case is coded in FACTS as a family service case if SRS is providing direct services in accordance with PPM section 4000, and there is no active service being provided by a CW/CBS provider.

4220 Entering A Family Service Case into FACTS

A. All Family Services Cases

To reflect a family services case action decision in FACTS, the following combination of codes is entered. On PLAN, enter an FP plan type for the Head of Household with goal type of maintaining the child in the family (MFM). On RESP, enter a service requested code from any protection, prevention or intervention code as applicable, PR10N service action code and service source as the Primary Social Worker (PSW). Enter the Service Status as IN to mark the case as open and indicate the effective date when service delivery began with that family. When Family Services as a case action is finished, select one of the Service Status closed status types found in the FACTS User Manual Volume I to reflect the end of case activity for family services.

B. Family Services Cases Involving Child Custody

If SRS is providing family services for a child in custody who was either not referred to a CW/CBS provider or for whom custody to the agency extends past the after care responsibility period for the provider , the existing SRS custody only plan (SC) is maintained for the child. This child custody plan is maintained in addition to the above steps of recording the service action for the head of household.

4230 Entering Other Services and Tasks

Additional services that may be purchased or engaged with the family during the delivery of family services are entered as responsibilities on the head of household or child plan as indicated in case planning documents. Enter all possible service actions located on the CFS 3050 series and tasks from case planning documents that are planned, recommended, or initiated. Update these services as needed through the life of the case plan.