4.11.1 Case Hand-Off and Transitional Visits | 4.11.2 Case Hand-off: | 4.11.3 Transitional Visit: | 4.11.4 Case Opening Date | 4.11.5 Front-End Services

4.11 Termination/Aftercare

At the conclusion of every investigation, the CPSW shall disengage or terminate this stage of the department's involvement. During the termination discussion with the family, the worker shall summarize his or her activities; review the safety plan, service providers (if applicable) and the recommended determination of the investigation. The discussion shall be documented on a CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT INTERVIEW NOTES (CANTS 17-A).

If service provision (community referral, permanency services, etc) will continue beyond the investigation, the CPSW must document the aftercare plan on a CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT INTERVIEW NOTES (CANTS 17-A).

The aftercare plan will specify the nature and purpose of the service, the frequency of the service, the condition or circumstance the service is intended to manage, the recipient and the provider of the service.

4.11.1 Case Hand-Off and Transitional Visits

The decision regarding a family's initial service needs shall be made as early in the investigation as possible and prior to the completion of the investigation. The CPSW in conjunction with the supervisor shall make case opening decisions whenever a family is assessed as moderate to high risk and temporary custody is not required. The family case shall be opened for permanency services. Referring a family to an intact, permanency worker at DCFS or a private agency is a two-step process with specific actions for the CPSW and his or her immediate supervisor.

The DCP supervisor shall initiate contact with the follow-up supervisor or designee (immediately the same day the opening decision is made) to inform him or her of the case assignment and to schedule the initial conference. The name of the permanency worker responsible for servicing the family will be provided to the DCP supervisor at this time.

4.11.2 Case Hand-off:

The case hand-off comprises two components and should occur prior to the transitional visit when possible, but no later than 48 hours (or 2 business days) after the initial call to the intact supervisor regarding case assignment. The components of the case hand-off are: 1) a conference or staffing and 2) the hand-off of case documents.

1) The conference or staffing is a process during which the DCP and follow-up workers and supervisors specifically focus on involved safety and risk issues. Other areas of discussion must include:

• any safety plan development and the need to continue that specific plan
• any CERAP completed by the CPSW
• immediate focus of service needs as identified by the CPSW
• initiated services (provider, start date, contact person, recipient of the service, circumstance or condition the service is intended to correct/manage, etc.)
• family composition and dynamics
• current conditions of the home
• professionals who may be involved
• support system

2) The hand-off of case documents for non-emergency cases includes minimally, the following paperwork:

· CFS 1410, Case Registration/Case Opening Form;

· A copy of the CANTS 1;

· A copy of all investigative notes to date;

· A copy of the Child Endangerment Risk Assessment Protocol (CERAP) signed by the investigative supervisor;

· A copy of the Risk Assessment Protocol (this will replace the CFS 1440, Family Assessment Factor Worksheet) signed by the investigative supervisor; and

· CANTS 19, Data check

· Substance Abuse Screen

· Norman Certification, if appropriate

· Domestic Violence Screen, if appropriate

If the CPSW has initiated paid services, (e.g., family advocate, protective day care, counseling, etc.), the required paperwork must be completed and forwarded to the permanency unit within 24 hours (one business day) of the onset of services. The date of case opening will be the same day that paid services were initiated. In all other situations, the date of case opening will be the day of the transitional visit between the CPSW, permanency worker and family.

4.11.3 Transitional Visit:

The CPSW has responsibility for coordinating the scheduling of the transitional visit (also referred to as the face-to-face meeting) with the permanency worker and the parents/caregivers. The transitional visit for non-emergency cases is to occur within 2 business days (unless regional protocol varies) of assignment to intact permanency staff in the home of the family with the CPSW and receiving permenancy worker in attendance. After the CPSW introduces the permanency worker to the parent(s), the workers shall review with the parent(s)/caregivers(s):

• the reason for continued Department involvement (i.e., indicated finding)
• any safety plan that was developed and the possible need to modify the plan
• risk factors
• strengths and resources available to the family
• the family's expectation of DCFS and perception of the problem
• the Department's expectations of the family
• full disclosure of benefits and possible consequences of cooperating with services
• recommended services (if referrals have not been made)
• referrals for service

If the client is not home at the time of the transitional visit, it is the responsibility of both workers to make additional joint attempts to meet with the family. If a non-emergency case is involved (no safety plan in place), the workers will staff the case with their supervisors to determine the most appropriate date for a subsequent visit that will occur within the next five days.

In cases where a safety plan is in place because the child was assessed as unsafe, the second attempt for the CPSW and permanency worker to visit the family shall occur immediately on the next business day, but no later than two days following the initial attempt. Decisions as to how many joint attempts should be made to transition the permanency worker with the family shall be discussed with both supervisors and depend upon the circumstances in the case.

It is the expectation that the CPSW will always transition the permanency worker with the family. If this does not occur, justification shall be thoroughly documented by the CPSW on the CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT INTERVIEW NOTES (CANTS 17-A) and the permanency worker on the CFS 492. The workers' respective supervisors must sign the case note.

For emergency cases, the transitional visit with both workers and the parent/caregiver present will occur immediately on day of assignment to intact and no later than first thing on the morning of the next business day following a weekend or holiday. Case documents should be provided to the permanency worker within 24 hours of the transitional visit.

4.11.4 Case Opening Date

The date of case opening will be the date of the transitional visit with the parent, and shall not be later than three days following the date of referral to the permanency team.

4.11.5 Front-End Services

The CPSW will handle the following types of cases:

• Investigations of child abuse and neglect referrals and
• Short-term intact services that can be successfully and safely completed within 60 days of the IOR or SOR. These cases typically must be opened to access funding (e.g., Norman services).
• is important that the CPSW has done a thorough assessment for the service need and reasonable timeframe for the service provision in order to determine that the provision of services does not exceed the 60 day timeframe to complete the investigation, as this is the maximum life of an investigation. If the family situation or significant risk issues exist beyond 60 days, but the risk factors do not rise to the classification of Level 4 through Level 6 intervention, the CPSW and supervisor must assess the case for Short-Term Child Protective Services as identified in the Levels of Service Intervention subsection.

4.11.1 Case Hand-Off and Transitional Visits | 4.11.2 Case Hand-off: | 4.11.3 Transitional Visit: | 4.11.4 Case Opening Date | 4.11.5 Front-End Services