a) Service Identification
When a decision has been made to proceed with case registration/opening and DCFS child welfare services will be provided directly or through purchase, specific services are to be identified on the CFS-497 (refer to AP#5, Child Welfare Case Record and Uniform Recording Requirements and Procedures 305, Client Service Planning).
b) Family Preservation
Placement prevention services shall be provided whenever the child is not in imminent danger of harm if left in the home. The placement prevention services may include: 24-hour emergency caretaker, homemaker services, day care services, crisis counseling, individual and family counseling, emergency family shelter, self-help groups, parenting training or other placement prevention services. Service decisions shall be made by the DCFS worker with the input of the family and any involved purchase of service provider.
c) Family Reunification
When a child has been removed from his parent's home a combination of child welfare services is generally provided to promote the child's return home. The child will be provided a placement service and, if old enough to be involved, will be provided appropriate counseling services. Day care may also be provided. The parent(s), in addition to counseling, may be provided with other non-placement services.
d) Adoption or Attainment of a Permanent Living Arrangement
When a child is, by plan, not to be returned to his parent(s) the child shall be involved, to the extent possible, in planning for his future. Counseling services are to be directed toward legal adoption or securing another type of permanent living arrangement to enable the child to have a new family or to remain with a relative or foster family with whom the child has been placed through the transfer of legal guardianship.
e) Youth Development
Youth for whom DCFS is legally responsible who are 16 years of age or older and for whom services directed toward family preservation, family reunification, adoption, permanent foster care and long term placement have been unsuccessful or are inappropriate shall be considered for youth development services. Additionally, unmarried mothers for whom the Department is not legally responsible may receive youth development related services. The following programs which fall under the youth development service goal are described in detail in Appendices F through N of these Procedures; they include:
· Youth in Transition
· Youth in College
· Supervised Independent Living
· Department Scholarship
· Pregnant and Parenting Teens
· Youth Employment and Training
· Transition Planning for Adolescent Wards
· Transition Planning for Wards with Developmental Disabilities