EXCERPT, DIVISION OF CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES POLICY
& PROCEDURES MANUAL, POLICY V-E
POLICY V-E: INTENSIVE FAMILY SERVICES
10/2010
Intensive Family Services (IFS) are time-limited intensive
counseling, skill building, support services and referrals to resources that
target the needs of the family. The service is primarily intended for families
whose children are in imminent risk of an out-of-home placement, but may
include under certain circumstances families who have already experienced an
out-of-home placement and reunification is planned. Services are aimed at
ensuring the safety of all family members while helping the family learn how to
stay together successfully. The goal is to safely keep children with their
families, when possible, by providing services aimed at restoring families in
crisis to an acceptable level of functioning. IFS may be prodded by Division
staff or by contractors. Efforts are made to consistently maintain an IFS
provider for each county in the state.
PROCEDURE V-E1: Screening
10/2010
Prior to referral, the Family Service Worker will, for new
Cases:
A. Complete the CFS-6009:
Family, Strengths, Needs, and Risk Assessment in CHRIS. Indicate whether IFS is
considered to be an appropriate service.
B. Complete a case staffing and the CES-6010:
Case Plan in CHRIS. Indicate whether IFS is considered to be an appropriate
service.
C. Refer the family to the
County Supervisor for a final determination of referral need.
Prior to referral, the Family Service Worker will for existing
cases:
A. Update the CFS-6009 and the
CFS-6010. Indicate whether IFS is considered to be an appropriate
service.
B. Refer the family to the
County Supervisor for a final determination of referral need.
The County Supervisor will:
A. Determine if the family's children are at
imminent risk of out-of home placement or the family's children have recently
experienced an out-of-home placement and reunification is planned.
B. Decide if the family is appropriate for a
referral for IFS.
PROCEDURE V-E2: Referral
10/2010
The Family Service Worker will:
A. Refer families to the IFS Practitioner on
the CFS-345: Intensive Family Services Referral Form.
B. Accompany the IFS Practitioner to a joint
introductory session with the family.
C. Provide the IFS Practitioner with a copy
of the completed CFS-6009 and other pertinent information about the family as
appropriate.
The IFS Practitioner will:
A. Within 24 hours of receipt of the
referral, hold a joint introductory session with the family and the Family
Service Worker.
B. Within 72 hours
of receipt of the referral, complete an assessment of the family to determine
if IFS is appropriate and the short-term crisis intervention services can be of
benefit to the family. Outcomes will be measured through the North Carolina
Family Assessment Scale, which is a validated, evidence-based assessment tool
with performance indicators. This baseline assessment will guide the family's
treatment plan.
C. Within 72 hours
of receipt of the referral, recommend to the County Supervisor if the family is
appropriate for IFS on the CFS-345: Intensive Family Services Referral
Form.
D. Assessment for IFS will
focus on:
1) The potential that the health and
safety of the child and other family members can be assured by frequent home
visits, counseling, and other support services.
2) The potential that meeting the critical
needs of the child will increase to an acceptable level.
3) The potential that the parents or
caregivers can recognize the needs of the child and their ability to nurture
and protect the child.
4) The
parents or caregivers are present and are willing to accept help.
PROCEDURE V-E3: Service Provision
10/2010
If IFS is appropriate, the County Supervisor will:
A. Add IFS to the Service Log.
B. Delete IFS from the Service Log after
termination of IFS.
The IFS Practitioner will:
A. Provide services based on the results of
the assessment tool.
B. Provide
services on a frequent, often daily, basis within the family's home.
C. Be available to the family 24 hours a day,
Seven days a week by telephone.
D.
Provide services at times convenient to the family.
E. Provide services to no more than four
families at a time.
F. Provide a
mixture of counseling and support services, as appropriate to the family's
needs.
G. Devote 75% of work time
to direct contact with the family.
H. Document the Services provided to the
family. Documentation includes:
1) A completed
CFS-345: Intensive Family Services Referral Form and assessment of the family
within 72 hours of receipt of the referral from the County Supervisor
2) A completed individualized Family Action
Plan within 2 weeks of initiation of IFS
3) Dated narratives on the types of services
provided and the family's progress
4) Completed CFS-347: IFS Family Counselor's
Time Record
5) A Transition Plan
describing the family's continued needs after IFS and the linkages established
to meet those needs 2 weeks prior to the termination of IFS
6) A final report on the family's progress
and continued needs within one week of termination of IFS
7) Any additional reports requested by the
Division
I. Provide
follow-up services once a month for three months after termination of IFS, and
again at six months after termination of IFS
J. Provide brief reports to the County
Supervisor on the status of the family.
Maintain confidentiality. See POLICY I-F:
CONFIDENTIALITY.
POLICY V-E: INTENSIVE FAMILY SERVICES
09/2010
Intensive Family Services (IFS)-are time-limited intensive
counseling, skill building, support services, and referrals to resources that
target the needs of the family. The service is primarily intended for families
whose children are in imminent risk of an out-of-home placement, but may
include under certain circumstances, families who have already experienced an
out-of-home placement and reunification is planned. Services are aimed at
ensuring the safety of all family members while helping the family learn how to
stay together successfully. The goal is to safely keep children with their
families, when possible, by providing services aimed at restoring families in
crisis to an acceptable level of functioning. IFS may be provided by Division
staff or by contractors. Efforts are made to consistently maintain an IFS
provider for each county in the state.
PROCEDURE V-E1: Screening
09/2010
Prior to referral, the Family Service Worker will, for new
cases:
A. Complete the CFS-6009:
Family, Strengths, Needs, and Risk Assessment in CHRIS. Indicate whether IFS is
considered to be an appropriate service.
B. Complete a case staffing and the CFS-6010:
Case Plan in CHRIS. Indicate whether IFS is considered to be an appropriate
service.
C. Refer the family to the
County Supervisor for a final determination of referral need.
Prior to referral, the Family Service Worker will for existing
cases:
A. Update the CFS-6009 and the
CFS-6010. Indicate whether IFS is considered to be an appropriate
service
B. Refer the family to the
County Supervisor for a final determination of referral need.
The County Supervisor will:
A. Determine if the family's children are at
imminent risk of out-of home placement or the family's children have recently
experienced an out-of-home placement and reunification is planned.
B. Decide if the family is appropriate for a
referral for IFS.
PROCEDURE V-E2: Referral
The Family Service Worker will:
A. Refer families to the IFS Practitioner on
the CFS-345: Intensive Family Services Referral Form.
B. Accompany the IFS Practitioner to a joint
introductory session with the family.
C. Provide the IFS Practitioner with a copy
of the completed CFS-6009 and other pertinent information about the family as
appropriate.
The IFS Practitioner will:
A. Within 24 hours of receipt of the
referral, hold a joint introductory session with the family and the Family
Service Worker.
B. Within 72 hours
of receipt of the referral, complete an assessment of the family, to determine
if IFS is appropriate and the short-term crisis intervention services can be of
benefit to the family. Outcomes will be measured through the North Carolina
Family Assessment Scale, which is a validated, evidence-based assessment tool
with performance indicators. This baseline assessment will guides the family's
treatment plan.
C. Within 72 hours
of receipt of the referral, recommend to the County Supervisor if the family is
appropriate for IFS on the CFS-345: Intensive Family Services Referral
Form.
D. Assessment for IFS will
focus on:
1) The potential that the health and
safety of the child and other family members can be assured by frequent home
visits, counseling, and other support services.
2) The potential that meeting the critical
needs of the child will increase to an acceptable level.
3) The potential that the parents or
caregivers can recognize the heeds of the child and their ability to nurture
and protect the child.
4) The
parents or caregivers are present and are willing to accept help.
PROCEDURE V-E3: Service Provision
If IFS is appropriate, the County Supervisor will.
A. Add IFS to the Service Log.
B. Delete IFS from the Service Log after
termination of IFS.
The IFS Practitioner will:
A. Provide services based on the results of
the assessment tool.
B. Provide
services on a frequent, often daily, basis within the family's home.
C. Be available to the family 24 hours a day,
seven days a week by telephone.
D.
Provide services at times convenient to the family.
E. Provide services to no more than four
families at a time.
F. Provide a
mixture of counseling and support services, as appropriate to the family's
needs.
G. Devote 75% of work time
to direct contact with the family.
H. Document the services provided to the
family. Documentation includes:
1) A completed
CFS-345: Intensive Family Services Referral Form and assessment of the family
within 72 hours of receipt of the referral from the County Supervisor
2) A completed individualized Family Action
Plan within 2 weeks of initiation of IFS
3) Dated narratives on the types of services
provided and the family's progress
4) Completed CFS-347: IFS Family Counselor's
Time Record
5) A Transition Plan
describing the family's continued needs after IFS and the linkages established
to meet those needs 2 weeks prior to the termination of IFS
6) A final report on the family's progress
and continued needs within one week of termination of IFS
7) Any additional reports requested by the
Division
I. Provide
follow-up services once a month for three months after termination of IFS, and
again at six months after termination of IFS
J. Provide brief reports to the County
Supervisor on the status of the family.
Maintain confidentiality. See POLICY I-F:
CONFIDENTIALITY.
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