7.25 Termination of Services

Planning for the termination of services after successful reunification is an integral part of all service planning. From the earliest contact with children and families, the caseworker shall focus on when services to the children and families can safely end. This determination necessarily involves assessment of the family's ability to function and keep the child safe without Department intervention.

Prior to closing a case, the caseworker will:

· Conduct a review of the child's safety which includes

- a child safety and risk assessment protocol (CERAP) to include all members of the household including a CANTS and LEADS check of all adults who reside or frequent the home and the Sex Offender Registry; and

- interviews with relatives, friends or other persons (teachers, doctors, child care providers, etc) who provide a support network for the family. (Consents for release of information must be obtained from parents, if not already obtained, to discuss any case-related matters with collaterals. If a child's mental health records are being obtained, a child over the age of 12 must consent.)

· Review all medical, school, clinical and social service reports;

· Interview and observe the child alone out of the presence of the caregiver;

· Conduct a family meeting to review the results of the above assessments and discuss the possibility of case closure;

· Petition the court in accordance with the instructions in Procedures 306.3, Termination of Child Cases; and

· Complete a final service plan that outlines how the health, safety and well-being of the child will be ensured and what aftercare services are needed.

· Write a closing summary which details the reasons for case opening, services provided, worker's final assessment of the family and the aftercare plan.

Caseworker Activities Related to Case Closure

Casework activities with parent:

· Assess family's ability to function and keep the child safe without Department intervention. (see Policy Guide 99.13 Services for DCFS Substance Affected Families for additional considerations)

· Ensure safety by conducting a CERAP, CANTS and LEADS checks and check the Sex Offender Registry on all adults who reside in the home. (Review the Paramour Policy 302.250 for aditional safety considerations)

· Discuss with the parent the requirement to interview relatives, friends, and other persons who provide a support network for the family to determine whether the child's safety needs are being met.

· Conduct a family meeting to review the results of any clinical assessments and discuss the possibility of case closure.

· Develop a service plan that outlines how the health, safety and well-being of the child will be ensured and what aftercare services are needed; help the family connect to needed community services.

· Discuss with parents their feelings about end of casework relationship.

Casework activities with the child:

· Discuss the implications of case closure with child; assess adjustment of return home.

· Interview and observe child alone out of the presence of the parent.

· Discuss any service needs and make appropriate aftercare referrals.

Casework with providers

· Notify providers of case closure

Table 6.1: Caseworker Activities Prior to Reunification Through Case Closure

Domain

Before Return Home

After Return Home

Ongoing

At Case Closure

Health

· Medical exam within 30 days prior to return home

· Medical records transferred to new provider

· Request results of medical exam and keep report in child's case record

· Discuss with parent how child's health needs will be met after return home; document same in case record (include identification of health care provider after return home and other resources family can use to assist with meeting health care needs)

· Medical exam within 30 days after return home

· Discuss with parent how child's health needs will be met

· Follow-up medical check-up to be conducted quarterly unless not recommended by physician

· Discuss with health care provider the results of the first medical exam following reunification and results of first quarterly exam

· Request medical records until case closure and place in case record

· Discuss with parents how child's health needs are being met

· Continue to monitor health needs as recommended by child's physician

· Review all health records

Safety

· Complete CERAP within 24 hours prior to return home

· Conducts CANTS/LEADS check on all adults in home within 30 days prior to return home

· Face-to-face visit with parent and child within 24-72 hours

· At least weekly contact for first month (at least two must be unannounced home visits)

· In-person home visits at least twice monthly after first 30 days of return home

· See child outside presence of parent at each home visit

· Check at least monthly with persons providing services to family to obtain information and observations about the ongoing safety of the child (obtain consents from parents if necessary)

· Complete CERAP within 5 days after return home

· Conduct CANTS/LEADS check within 5 days (if not done within 30 days prior to return home). If new adult in home, CANTS/LEADS must be done on new adult.

· Provide crisis intervention services as needed

· In-person visits with child and parent at least twice per month. See child outside presence of caregiver at each home visit

· Check at least monthly with persons providing services to family to obtain information and observations about the ongoing safety of the child

· Conduct CANTS/LEADS check on any new adults living in the home

· Conduct CERAP monthly until case closure

· Conduct CERAP

· Conduct CANTS/ LEADS and check Sex Offender Registry

· Interview and observe the child outside the presence of the caregiver

Education

· Meet with child's current teach to discuss child's school performance and obtain school report

· Inform teacher that reunification is imminent

· Transfer school records; enroll child in new school

· Assist parent in enrolling child in pre-school, early education or day care program

· Include in service plan a description of how the child's educational needs will be met after child returns home

· Monthly contact with child's new teacher during the first quarter of return home; quarterly thereafter until case closure.

· Assist parent in enrolling child in pre-school, early education or day care program (if not already done)

· Confer with child's new teacher or day care provider at least monthly; request that teacher or day care provider notify caseworker if child absent for more than 2 consecutive days

· Quarterly contacts with child's teacher

· Assess child's level of adjustment at school

· Review all educational records

Other

· Update the child's Lifebook

· Quarterly family meetings

· Identify and assist parents in accessing community services, including giving them information on the LANS

· Continue to assess any ambivalence toward the child and how the parent resolves his/her ambivalent

· Review all clinical and social service reports

· Conduct a family meeting and review the results of all assessments and discuss the possibility of case closure

· Petition the court for case closure

· Complete a final service plan that details how the child's health, safety and well-being needs will be met and what aftercare services are needed

· Develop an aftercare plan with family

· Write closing summary


Table 6.1: Caseworker Activities Prior to Reunification Through Case Closure
Domain	Before Return Home	After Return Home	Ongoing	At Case Closure
Health	· Medical exam within 30 days prior to return home · Medical records transferred to new provider · Request results of medical exam and keep report in child's case record · Discuss with parent how child's health needs will be met after return home; document same in case record (include identification of health care provider after return home and other resources family can use to assist with meeting health care needs)	· Medical exam within 30 days after return home · Discuss with parent how child's health needs will be met · Follow-up medical check-up to be conducted quarterly unless not recommended by physician · Discuss with health care provider the results of the first medical exam following reunification and results of first quarterly exam · Request medical records until case closure and place in case record	· Discuss with parents how child's health needs are being met · Continue to monitor health needs as recommended by child's physician	· Review all health records
Safety	· Complete CERAP within 24 hours prior to return home · Conducts CANTS/LEADS check on all adults in home within 30 days prior to return home	· Face-to-face visit with parent and child within 24-72 hours · At least weekly contact for first month (at least two must be unannounced home visits) · In-person home visits at least twice monthly after first 30 days of return home · See child outside presence of parent at each home visit · Check at least monthly with persons providing services to family to obtain information and observations about the ongoing safety of the child (obtain consents from parents if necessary) · Complete CERAP within 5 days after return home · Conduct CANTS/LEADS check within 5 days (if not done within 30 days prior to return home). If new adult in home, CANTS/LEADS must be done on new adult.	· Provide crisis intervention services as needed · In-person visits with child and parent at least twice per month. See child outside presence of caregiver at each home visit · Check at least monthly with persons providing services to family to obtain information and observations about the ongoing safety of the child · Conduct CANTS/LEADS check on any new adults living in the home · Conduct CERAP monthly until case closure	· Conduct CERAP · Conduct CANTS/ LEADS and check Sex Offender Registry · Interview and observe the child outside the presence of the caregiver
Education	· Meet with child's current teach to discuss child's school performance and obtain school report · Inform teacher that reunification is imminent · Transfer school records; enroll child in new school · Assist parent in enrolling child in pre-school, early education or day care program · Include in service plan a description of how the child's educational needs will be met after child returns home	· Monthly contact with child's new teacher during the first quarter of return home; quarterly thereafter until case closure. · Assist parent in enrolling child in pre-school, early education or day care program (if not already done) · Confer with child's new teacher or day care provider at least monthly; request that teacher or day care provider notify caseworker if child absent for more than 2 consecutive days	· Quarterly contacts with child's teacher · Assess child's level of adjustment at school	· Review all educational records