DCFS staff shall utilize available sources to advocate for financial assistance and other services which meet the basic needs of families in preventing the placement of children or assist in the return of placed children back to the home. Such services shall be provided directly, obtained by referrals and/or purchased by providers.
a) Housing
When a child is at risk of placement or cannot be returned home due to inadequate housing/shelter and the family has been certified as members of the "Norman" class, a referral for housing advocacy services may be requested using the CFS 370-5, Request for Cash and/or Housing Assistance form. To obtain housing advocacy services, the caseworker should complete the first page of the CFS 370-5 and send it to their supervisor. A DCFS supervisor that has been authorized to certify families into the Norman class or a Norman Liaison must give final approval. POS supervisors must obtain approval from a Norman Liaison. The authorized DCFS Supervisor or Norman Liaison should fax the form to the housing advocacy provider.
The Housing Advocacy providers are community based organizations statewide with whom the Department has contracted to provide housing services to Norman Class members. The services the Housing Advocacy providers can be expected to offer include:
1) Referral to emergency or domestic violence shelter, if needed;
2) Assistance in securing affordable housing;
-- consumer education for the family on how to look for housing;
-- housing location to help the family identify vacancies;
-- secure affordable housing-advocacy on behalf of family to help them secure housing or utilities and determine that it is affordable;
3) Assistance in applying for income assistance to meet initial or ongoing rental obligations;
4) Linkages to community resources to meet subsistence needs such as food or clothing or energy assistance;
5) Follow-up with the family to identify housing problems before they reach the crisis stage.
Housing Advocacy providers will be expected to work closely with DCFS workers and to submit a closing report describing what services were provided and whether the client was successfully placed in permanent housing.
b) Utilities
The State offers a program to assist families to secure or maintain utility services. This program is administered by the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs and operated through local community agencies. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides both Home Energy Assistance and Weatherization Assistance.
1) Home Energy Assistance
The primary purpose of this program is to assist low income households to better afford the rising cost of energy through direct financial assistance, energy counseling, outreach and education.
Families may receive a one-time payment to meet their heating costs, and can receive energy counseling or education through the local administering agency.
Families may also be eligible for Emergency Assistance. Emergency Assistance is available to households only after heat or medically necessary cooling has been shut off and if a family has made a good-faith effort to maintain service or provides a portion of the amount needed to reconnect (no more than 10% of the family's income).
Emergency Assistance will be provided within 48 hours from application or within 18 hours if the crisis is life threatening.
Families should be referred to the Local Administering Agency.
2) Home Weatherization Assistance Program
Under the provisions of this assistance program, families may receive repair of home heating units. When appropriate and/or cost effective, weatherization and repair of the dwelling structure is completed to help reduce high utility bills. These services are provided by local community agencies contracted through the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.