Identifying and Arranging Appropriate Services for Children and Families
0080-506.10 | Revision Date: 08/27/20
Overview
This policy guide reviews services available to children and families who have come to the attention of DCFS due to allegations of abuse or neglect and/or who are currently involved in the Dependency process. It also outlines the eligibility and referral process for the Victims of Crime Program.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Identification and Selection of Services
Alternative and/or Community Based Services
Psychotherapy and Counseling Specialties
Education and Other Support Services
Services Specific for Children and Youth
Selecting Appropriate Services for Children and Families
Case-Carrying CSW Responsibilities
Arranging the Provision of Services
ERCP/ISW or Case-Carrying CSW Responsibilities
Referring a Dependent Child/Youth to the Victims of Crime (VOC) Unit
Referring a Non-Dependent Child or Family under DCFS Supervision to the VOC Unit
Monitoring and Evaluating the Provision of Services
Case-Carrying CSW Responsibilities
Version Summary
This policy guide was updated from the 07/10/14 version to include additional information regarding the Intensive Service Foster Care (ISFC) program, formerly known as Intensive Treatment Foster Care (ITFC).
Identification and selection of services for a family must be based on the level of safety in the home, assessment of the family’s needs and strengths, and the available community resources. CSWs must work closely with the family and service providers in selecting and/or arranging services deemed necessary and appropriate to best address the needs of the child(ren) and family.
The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) requires CSWs to provide an Indian family with active efforts in casework. Active efforts include providing remedial services and rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian family and should be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Active efforts include using ICWA placement preferences properly for the child's temporary home, beginning with contacting the family and tribe to begin identifying a home. Refer to Procedural Guide 1200-500.05, Adopting and Servicing Children Under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
The needs of a family and current service component must be considered when determining the most appropriate services for a child and/or family, based on the SDM Family Strengths and Needs Assessment tool, including:
Alternative and/or Community Based Services may be available for families in need of preventative services who have referrals found to be inconclusive or substantiated with a low-to-moderate risk. The provision of alternative and/or community based services may include a community-based network of formal and/or informal support services, Child and Family Team Meetings, Up-Front Assessments (UFA) and/or Multidisciplinary Assessment Team (MAT) services.
Investigations and assessments are completed in collaboration with experts in the area of mental health, substance abuse, and/or domestic violence. The assessments actively engage families, assist in the decision-making process, and identify services. They also connect families with treatment and ancillary services in the community in an effort to prevent unnecessary out-of-home placement.
Psychotherapy, by itself or in combination with drug treatment, is a service that can help people overcome or manage various mental health issues. Other more severe mental illnesses may be treated with a combination of psychotropic drugs and psychotherapy. If a psychotherapist (LCSW, LMFT or Ph.D.) recommends a referral for a psychotropic medication evaluation, the CSW must facilitate a referral to a psychiatrist, as therapists and counselors cannot prescribe psychotropic medication.
When the court orders a client to complete treatment related to substance abuse, domestic violence, and/or sexual abuse, and/or the need to receive these services has been identified, a referral to counseling programs with staff specifically trained in the needed area(s) is required. Types of counseling services include:
Family members may benefit from additional support services including, but not limited to:
Additional services for child and youth may include:
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Type of Service |
Services Provided / Benefits to Child(ren) |
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Early Childhood Programs |
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Educational Enrichment |
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Mentoring Services |
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System of Care (SOC) |
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Wraparound |
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The Victim of Crime (VOC) program provides compensation to qualified victims of specified crimes for losses suffered as a result of those crimes.
A person will be eligible for compensation if he/she is:
AND
For derivative victims, the following conditions must apply:
For both victims and derivative victims, all of the following must apply:
The total award for, or on behalf of, each victim or derivative victim cannot exceed thirty five thousand dollars ($35,000), unless there are additional federal funds available.
In such a case, the award may be increased to seventy thousand dollars ($70,000). The following individuals may be reimbursed for the expense of his/her outpatient mental health counseling up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000):
Other eligible expenses that may be reimbursable are as follows:
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Eligible Expense |
Amount Not Exceed |
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Expenses for installing or increasing residential security |
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Expenses related to cleaning the scene of the crime (Residential expenses only) |
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Moving expenses to ensure personal safety and emotional well-being |
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Medical expenses |
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Funeral and burial expenses incurred as a result of the crime |
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Child care expenses (e.g. for a licensed child care provider) |
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The Bureau of Children & Family Services’ Community-Based Support Division’s Victims of Crime Section is the centralized processing section for all DCFS-initiated VOC applications/claims. All VOC applications for DCFS dependent children must be processed by the DCFS VOC Section and signed by the VOC Section Program manager. The eligibility process can take up to ninety (90) business days.
Community Family Preservation Networks (CFPNs) are also VOC providers. They can provide counseling for DCFS children and families even if they do not qualify for the Family Preservation Program (Family Centered Services). For the CFPNs to get reimbursed by the VOC Program, however, the victim must meet the VOC requirements.
The Mental Health Service Providers Directory is available upon request by contacting the VOC Section or the Community Development Coordinator in your office.
Applications for reimbursement, including those for crimes against minor victims, must be filed within either.
The Board can, for good cause, grant an extension of the time period, when applicable, based on several relevant factors, including but not limited to, the following:
Case-Carrying CSW Responsibilities
ERCP/ISW or Case-Carrying CSW Responsibilities
DCFS/VOC Program
425 Shatto Place, Room 501
Los Angeles, CA 90020
Via email: DCFS_VOC_REFERRALS@dcfs.lacounty.gov
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Question Follow Up Matter |
Contact Number |
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Referrals and status updates |
VOC Staff
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Problems or questions regarding processed VOC claims |
VOC Coordinator
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Inquiry |
Contact |
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Non-dependent children’s VOC applications processed by the Victim-Witness Assistance Program offices |
The Victim Service Representative who assisted the family. |
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Other problems or general questions (e.g. claims processed by other agencies) |
California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board Victims of Crime Program (800) 777-9229 |
Case-Carrying CSW Responsibilities
ABCDM 228, Applicant’s Authorization for Release of Information
CDRC, Request for Victim Services and Restitution Collection
DCFS 5410, Victims of Crime Program Checklist and Suspect Information
Declaration in Support of Access to Juvenile Records
0070-521.10, Assessment of Drug & Alcohol Abuse
0070-532.10, Assessing Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse
0070-537.10, Assessment of Domestic Violence
0070-548.00, Community Response Services, Alternative Response Services and Up-Front Assessments
0070-548.01, Child and Family Teams
0070-548.04, Intensive Services
0080-504.10, Case Plans
0100-525.41, The Wraparound Services Program
0100-570.10, Intensive Services Foster Care
0400-503.10, Contact Requirements and Exceptions
0500-501.20, Release of Confidential DCFS Case Record Information
0600-500.05, Multidisciplinary Assessment Team (MAT) Assessments and Meetings
0600-508.00, Foster Youth Substance Abuse Treatment Protocol and Program
0600-509.00, Dependency, Drug Court (DDC)/Family Substance Abuse Treatment Program (FSATP)
0900-520.10, Requesting Public Transportation for Clients: Eligibility and Ordering/TAP Cards/EZ Pass TAP Cards/ Tokens/Coupons: Eligibility and Ordering
0900-521.10, Service-Funded Activities (SFA)
California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Manual of Policies and Procedures (MPP) Division Section 31-201 – Requires that the social worker complete an assessment for each child and evaluate relevant information when child welfare services are to be provided.
CDSS MPP Division Section 31-301.1 – States that the individual child's case plan shall be the guiding principle in the provision of child welfare services. The social worker shall ensure that the provision of all services is consistent with the case plan goals. Further, contracted services should only include activities not to be performed by the social worker, as mandated by the Division 31 regulations.
CDSS MPP Division Section 31-310 – States that a Social Worker shall assist the child(ren) and family in understanding the court process, agency procedures and the reason for the provision of services. Further the CSW is to ensure that the child(ren)'s needs are met and their physical and emotional condition(s) monitored.
Government Code (GOV) Section 13951 – Defines “Crime,” “Derivative Victim,” “Injury,” “Law Enforcement,” “Pecuniary Loss,” “Peer Counseling,” “Reimbursable Expenses,” “Service Provider”, and “Victim.”
GOV Section 13953 – Summarizes the time frame within which a victim can file a claim and the circumstances by which the Board may grant an extension.
GOV Section 13954(d) – Summarizes the confidentiality and guidelines for the dissemination of information to the Board regarding the incident. States that, upon request, a copy of the petition, reports of the probation officer, and any other documents, filed in a juvenile court proceeding can be given to the probation officer, judge, referee, or other hearing officer. Additionally, the board and victim centers receiving records may not disclose a document that personally identifies a minor to anyone other than the minor who is identified, his/her custodial parent or guardian, the attorneys for those parties, and any other persons that may be designated by court order.
GOV Section 13955 – Sets forth the eligibility requirements for a person to receive compensation.
GOV Section 13957 – Sets forth the requirements for the Board to grant pecuniary losses to an individual.
Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 16500.5(a)(1)(A)(I) – Declares the intent of The Legislature to encourage the continuity of the family unit by providing family preservation services.
WIC Section 16501(g) – Describes family maintenance services are activities designed to provide in-home protective services to prevent or remedy neglect, abuse, or exploitation, for the purposes of preventing separation of children from their families.
WIC Section 16501(h) – Describes family reunification services as activities designed to provide time-limited foster care services to prevent or remedy neglect, abuse, or exploitation, when the child cannot safely remain at home, and needs temporary foster care, while services are provided to reunite the family.
WIC Section 16501(i) – Describes permanent placement services as services provided on behalf of children for whom there has been a judicial determination of a permanent plan for adoption, legal guardianship, or long-term foster care.
WIC Section 16501.1 – Addresses the child welfare services case plan as the foundation and central unifying tool. The case plan ensures that the child and family receive appropriate services and that the child receives proper placement services, if applicable. This section also addresses reasonable efforts made to prevent out-of-home placement and/or make it possible for a child to return home, unless the court determines that reunification services shall not be provided.