This policy guide was updated from the 05/02/19 version to provide additional clarification regarding referral investigations and home visit requirements.
POLICY
More than 50 percent of monthly visits with a child placed in a group home or a licensed, certified, or approved resource family home must take place in the child’s home or placement. The CSW must inform the child that they can request a visit outside the home or group home. If a child requests to have a visit outside the home, that visit will not replace the visit in the home. Face-to-face contacts with either the child and/or parent outside of the home should be the exception, rather than the rule.
Visits held outside the home or group home require that the contact and the next scheduled court report state:
The reason the visit was held outside the home and the location of the visit.
No more than two (2) consecutive visits held outside the child’s residence are allowed.
Children in Out-of-Home Care
During visits with children placed in group homes or resource family homes, including the homes of relatives and nonrelative extended family members, CSWs are required to have a private discussion with the child outside the presence and immediate vicinity of the caregiver. However, if a child is not interviewed in private, the CSW must document why the interview was not in private and list the name(s) of the individual(s) present. The contents of these discussions are not to be shared with the caretaker unless:
The CSW believes the child may be in danger of harming him/herself or others.
The CSW believes disclosure is necessary in order to meet the needs of the child.
The child consents to the disclosure.
The fact that this private discussion took place must be documented in the Contact Notebook/Delivered Service Log.
i.e. CSW made face-to-face contact with child John Doe and completed a private interview in (list location of the interview) example: the living room of the child’s home.
In addition, it is the CSW’s responsibility to document a thorough analysis of the visit, included but not limited to:
If the child is non-verbal and/or too young to make a statement, enter the child’s name, followed by “The child is non-verbal” or “The child is too young to make a statement.” Descriptions of the child’s behavior, interactions with others and affect in relationship to their developmental or chronological age are the appropriate substitutes for a verbal statement.
In order to demonstrate appropriate services are provided, if the interview is conducted in any other language other than English, document the language spoken and how that accommodation was made. For example, mother is mono-language Spanish and family was interviewed by Spanish speaking CSW, or translation services were provided by NAME/CBO here.
CSWs must continue to re-assess for safety threats and all forms of child abuse/neglect during each visit with the child. CSWs must document whether there are any new concerns related to child abuse/neglect.
If there are new safety threats that were not previously alleged, the CSW must contact the Child Abuse Hotline after discussing the new safety concern with the SCSW.
CSWs must conduct a visual inspection of the child and document the child’s appearance. CSWs must then determine whether a visual inspection of a child may necessitate disrobing or rearranging the clothing of the suspected child victim(s).
It is the CSW's responsibility to monitor that the home continues to be free from safety hazards and meets the basic safety needs of the child.
If there are new individuals in the home or someone new is regularly present in the home, the CSW must inform the RFA CSW/SCSW and conduct a Live-Scan and CLETS on the individual(s). RFA Division CSW/SCSW or RFS Division CSW/SCSW information may be obtained through CWS/CMS.
Youth over the age of 14 must also have a Juvenile Automated Index (JAI) clearance if there is reason to believe they have a criminal record.
Children Residing Out of State
California is a participant in the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) and therefore has reciprocal relationships with states and territories governing the protection and support of children placed across state lines.
The California sending agency must document in CWS/CMS all monthly visits made to a California child by caseworkers in a receiving state. No visits are required by the California-based agency if all of the following apply:
The child is residing out-of-state under provisions of the ICPC.
The child is receiving services from the receiving state. To include monthly contact by receiving state social worker.
The CSW is documenting the receipt of written or verbal reports from the receiving state at least every six months.
The child is not placed in a group home, in which case visits must be made every month.
Agencies receiving out-of-state children for placement in California are responsible for complying with the visit and reporting requirements specified in the ICPC.
An out-of-state placement for a NMD may be considered if the NMD will be participating in one of the following activities in the state in which they would like to reside:
Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential, or
Enrolled in an institution which provides post-secondary or vocational education, or
Participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to employment, or
Employed for at least 80 hours per month, or
Incapable of doing any of the activities described in subparagraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, due to a medical condition, and that incapability is supported by regularly updated information in the case plan of the nonminor.
If the other state agrees to provide courtesy supervision to an NMD residing out-of-state, the CSW should request documentation of those visits. Some states will not accept an ICPC request or provide either services or supervision to a dependent in foster care beyond age eighteen (18). In the event that a state will not continue or accept a new ICPC request, ICPC may not be used as the vehicle to provide supervision of and/or services to the NMD. In addition to an ICPC, the two other options to ensure provision of services and supervision include:
The Department may contract with a local child welfare agency or
If services cannot be procured through a local child welfare agency, the CSW or designee, will visit the NMD monthly and provide services within the parameters of local laws of the receiving state, and in consultation with County Counsel.
If the above options are not available and the CSW is unable to practice social work in the receiving state due to the receiving state's laws, the CSW is to consult with County Counsel and the respective Service Bureau Administration.
Nonminor Dependents (NMD)
Monthly visitation and service requirements apply to NMDs placed both in- and out-of-state. Counties may request courtesy supervision through the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) for NMDs who are attending college or residing in an appropriate out-of-state placement.
However, not all states will accept an ICPC request or provide services/supervision for children in foster care beyond age 18. All efforts must be made to make arrangement for the supervision of NMDs, even if it requires contracting with a private agency in another state. Visits must be face to face; video conferencing and Skyping are not considered acceptable methods for conducting monthly visits.
CSWs must contact the ICPC unit at (213) 765-2680 prior to placing a NMD out-of-state or recommending that a foster youth be placed out-of-state as a NMD in order to verify how the monthly contacts can be completed.
Because placement options for NMDs may involve roommates, CSWs must remain flexible in scheduling visits so as to respect the NMD’s privacy while still meeting the federal requirement of visitation in the place of residence.
Purpose of Required Contacts
Contact with the Child -- Referral Investigations
The purpose of the social worker's contact with the child during a referral investigation is to determine the following:
If child abuse/neglect occurred
If the child’s immediate safety is a concern and, if it is, the interventions that will ensure the child’s protection while keeping the child within the family or with family members(e.g., kinship care or subsidized guardianship), if at all possible
The purpose of the social worker's contact with the child is to assess the safety and well-being of the child and to achieve the following:
Verify the location of the child.
Monitor the child’s physical, emotional, social and educational development, and their mental/behavioral health needs.
Inquire about any medications the child is taking (i.e ask if child is experiencing any side effects, ensure that prescriptions are filled timely, etc.)
To the extent possible, engage and involve the child and caregiver in the development of the case plan.
Gather information about the child to identify needed services to be included in the case plan and monitor the effectiveness of those services in meeting the child’s needs.
Ensure the child is able to maintain a relationship with siblings, relatives, and adults who are important to the child.
Assist the child in preserving and maintaining their culture this includes religious and ethnic identity and sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE).
Establish and maintain a helping relationship between social worker and child to provide continuity and a stability point for the child.
Solicit the child’s input on their future and discuss current and future placement plans and progress with the child.
Evaluate and assess the child’s educational needs and progress and the potential need for educational services such as an Individual Education Plan.
Monitor the health of the child.
Contact with the Parent/Legal Guardian
The purpose of the social worker's at least monthly contact with the parent/guardian is to:
Verify the location of the parent.
Assess the underlying needs of the parent(s) to formulate an individualized case plan aimed at strengthening parental safety behaviors.
Promote reunification of the family if possible by gathering information to assess the effectiveness of services provided to meet the needs of the parent, and to monitor the progress of the parent in meeting identified goals.
Establish and support an appropriate family time plan by addressing the frequency and timing of family time along with addressing barriers to family time.
Establish and maintain a helping relationship between the social worker and the parent.
Counsel the parent as to the child’s current placement and case progress.
Encourage and monitor the frequency and quality of family time.
Contacts with the Out-of-Home Care Provider
The purpose of the social worker's contact with the out-of-home care provider is to:
Monitor and assess the quality of care provided, the location and safety of the child, and the ability of the provider to meet the child’s cultural, educational, medical, and health needs.
Gather information to assess the effectiveness of services provided to meet the identified case plan goals for the child, and to maintain a case plan that is responsive to current and future needs.
Verify and synthesize data and information for court reports.
Establish and maintain a helping relationship between the social worker and the care provider.
Maintain open communication with the care provider to ensure they feels informed, valued, and supported.
Counsel the out-of-home care provider as to case progress.
Contact with Service Providers
CSWs are to have ongoing contact with any other professional working with the child, parents/guardians, and out-of-home care provider who can provide insight on the needs or progress of the family.
The purpose of this contact is to:
Provide continuous assessment and tracking of the family’s progress on case plan goals within the family and behavior changes to determine if there any appropriate or needed changes to the case plan. (i.e. a liberalization of the type and/or frequency of family time, decrease in frequency of drug testing or alternatively, a more intensive or different modality of intervention.
Collaborate towards the most effective and efficient identification and meeting of the child’s or parent’s needs.
Assess whether the parent is able to following through with Court ordered services and/or case plan services (e.g. obtain written or telephonic progress reports, emails, etc.) and assess progress in programs.
Document reasonable efforts to serve the family.
Collateral Contacts
CSWs are to make necessary collateral contacts with persons having knowledge of the condition of the children that will help in understanding the nature and extent of the alleged child abuse/neglect, and in the ongoing assessment of the risk to, and safety of, the child. Residents within the family home should be interviewed, (but are not to be solely considered as collaterals) in the disposition of a referral or to assess for safety as part of ongoing case management.
Examples of pertinent collateral contacts include:
Child aged 0-59 months
If applicable, at least one professional service provider (licensed day care provider or pediatrician); tribal representative
School Age Child
Educational professionals and/or all levels of school personnel when applicable
Referrals with open cases or history of open cases or referrals
Current or previous CSW(s)
Other examples
Neighbors, Teachers, Physicians, Therapists, Law Enforcement (Parole Officers, Probation Officers, etc.), Fire Department, Paramedics, Regional Center case workers, all County personnel, DMH, DPSS, tribal representative, etc.
Contact Requirements
Emergency Response
Contact With
Contact Requirement
Child
At least one (1) in-person contact with each child/youth is required, regardless of allegation conclusion, if the referral is going to be closed.*
If the referral remains open for longer than thirty (30) days from the initial contact, a minimum of one (1) additional in-person contact is required every thirty (30) days thereafter. More frequent contact may be necessary to ensure child safety and well-being. These visits should always include a private interview with the child. In situations where there is history of abuse/neglect or other concerns of future harm and risk by the perpetrator, unannounced visits to the home are strongly recommended or as Court ordered.
If the referral will be promoted to a case, the following requirements apply:
A minimum of two (2) contacts (including the initial in-person response) with the child(ren)/youth are required when the case plan has been completed within the first 21 calendar days of the initial in-person contact with the child/youth.
A minimum of three (3) face-to-face contacts (including the initial in-person response) are required when the case plan is completed between 22 and 29 calendar days from the date of the initial in-person contact with the child/youth.
Parent/ Guardian/
Caregiver
At least one (1) face-to-face contact is required in the first thirty (30) days.*
If the referral remains open for longer than thirty (30) days from the initial contact, a minimum of one (1) additional in-person contact is required every thirty (30) days thereafter. More frequent contact may be necessary to ensure child safety and well-being. These visits should always include a private interview with the child.
* Child abuse investigations must be completed within thirty (30) calendar days of the initial face-to-face contact.
When a referral is going to be closed after only one (1) in-person contact, the CSW and SCSW must have a case conference within three (3) business days to discuss the investigative work plan and next steps. SCSWs must document the details of the case conference, work plan, and rationale for closure with one (1) visit in the CWS/CMS Contact Notebook (i.e., select "Consult with Staff Person" as the Contact Purpose, select "Staff Person/Staff Person" as the Contact Party Type, click the + sign to add Participants and change the Select Participants/Participant Type drop-down menu to "Staff Persons," and select the specific staff members involved).
If any barriers to timely closure of a referral arise during the investigation, they should be immediately discussed with the SCSW and documented by the Supervising Children's Social Worker (SCSW) in CWS/CMS.
If a referral has not been closed within the required thirty (30) day period, additional follow-up actions (including, but not limited to, additional contacts, interviews, phone calls, documentation gathering to justify the disposition, etc.) should be discussed in a case conference with a SCSW. (This case conference must be docmented in CWS/CMSby the SCSW.) Since not all referrals will require the same investigative steps, in light of the flexibility allowed by the Individualized Investigation Narrative, CSWs and SCSWs should use sound social work practice and critical thinking skillsand guidance from the safety and risk assessments in determining any remaining actions needed to conclude the investigative process. A work plan should be updated a minimum of every thirty (30) days, or more if the initial work plan requires modifications.
Contact requirements are the minimum and visits should be completed as frequently as necessary to ensure the parent, child and caregiver's safety and well-being. In situations where there is history of abuse/neglect or other concerns of future harm and risk by the perpetrator, unannounced visits to the home are strongly recommended or as Court ordered.
Attempted Contacts on Referrals
Prior to closing a referral where attempts to locate the family have been unsuccessful, CSWs must clearly document all reasonable efforts conducted to locate the family. All viable leads must be followed-up on and attempts to locate the family should be made as indicated below at different times of the day and night.
Referral Response Time
Second Attempt
Additional Attempts
Immediate*
Within twenty four (24)** hours of the first attempt
Daily, until face-to-face contact is made or until all possible resources have been exhausted.
Five (5) Day*
Within three (3) business days of the first attempt
At least once a week until face-to-face contact is made or until all possible resources have been exhausted.
*If a reliable source states that the child will not be available for a period of time (e.g., child is on vacation) an attempt to see the child must be made within one (1) business day following the child’s anticipated return.
**When additional attempts cannot be made because the following day is a weekend or holiday, the SCSW must obtain approval from the ARA to forward the referral to ERCP or obtain approval to “downgrade” the next attempt to the next business day.
Court Family Maintenance
Contact With
Time Frame
Contact Requirement
Child
First 3 Months
At least two (2)face-to-face contacts every 30 days
Child
After first 3 months
At least one (1) face-to-face contact a month
Parent/ Guardian
First 3 Months
At least two (2) face-to-face contacts a month
Parent/ Guardian
After first 3 months
One (1) face-to-face contact each month
Exceptions:
Following the initial three (3) months, contacts with Parent/Guardian can occur once every two (2) months if all of the following apply:
Parent/Guardian has no severe physical or emotional problems that affect his/her ability to parent the child
Parent/Guardian is visited at least once a week by a non-departmental social worker or public health nurse and has agreed in writing to provide the CSW with reports
The CSW ensures that all verbal or written reports are received and filed in the case record and documented in CWS/CMS
Written supervisory approval has been obtained
Voluntary Family Maintenance (VFM) Cases
Contact With
Time Frame
SDM Risk Level *
Contact Requirement
Child (age 0-5)
Duration of VFM case
Any
At least two (2) face-to-face contacts per month
Child (age 6 and up)
First 3 months
Any
At least two (2) face-to-face contacts per month
Child (age 6 and up)
After first 3 months
Low / Moderate
At least one (1) face-to-face contact each month
Child (age 6 and up)
After first 3 months
High / Very High
At least two (2) face-to-face contacts per month
Parent/ Guardian**
First 3 Months
Any
At least two (2) face-to-face contacts per month
Parent/ Guardian**
After first 3 months
Low / Moderate
At least one (1) face-to-face contact each month
Parent/ Guardian**
Duration of VFM case
High / Very High
At least two (2) face-to-face contacts per month
The Structured Decision Making (SDM) Risk Assessment helps child welfare agencies to determine whether a family is more or less likely to have another contact with child welfare if no intervention is provided. Families classified as High/Very High Risk have significantly higher rates of subsequent referral and substantiation than families classified as Low/Moderate Risk, and they are more often involved in serious abuse or neglect incidents. For this reason, families with High or Very High Risk findings on the SDM Risk Assessment should be connected with intensive in-home services whenever possible, to help mitigate the risk (e.g., Intensive Family Preservation, Family Preservation, Partnerships for Families, Wraparound, etc.).
Family Reunification/Permanent Placement
While monthly face-to-face contact with parents may not be necessary if Family Reunification is terminated, consider that parents will likely continue having court ordered Family Time, they may continue in services, and the law requires an on-going assessment of the role of the parent and quality of the relationship between the parent and child when seeking permanency for the child. (See Caden C.)
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Manual of Policies and Procedures allows visitation exceptions for children in out-of-home care. However, to ensure the safety of children, the Department has decided not to utilize and approve face-to-face exceptions for children receiving FR or PP services.
Contact with
Contact Requirement
Child or NonminorDependent (NMD) residing in out-of-home placement with relative, foster family or legal guardian.
At least one face-to-face contact each calendar month.
Nonminor Dependent (NMD) residing in a Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP).
At least one face-to-face contact each calendar month.
Child or NMD residing in group home or Community Treatment Center.
At least one face-to-face contact each month with at least a two-week time frame between visits.
Child or NMD residing out-of-state.
Visitation requirements same as for in-state placements; however, ICPC may be utilized. Contacts by receiving agency to be documented in CWS/CMS.
Child residing in home of non-dependency legal guardian.
If child is receiving permanent placement services, is in placement with a legal guardian and dependency has been dismissed, or the child has never been a dependent, one face-to-face contact every 6 months is required.
Cases may only need a private face-to-face visit every six (6) months, but may require a work plan to identify more frequent contact if the child has special or unique needs or the circumstances of the case change. The work plan must be documented in the CWS/CMS Contact Notebook.
These visits should always include a private interview with the child and caregiver, regardless of when the case has been without jurisdiction.
This visitation schedule is to be reflected in the case plan.
A minimum of one (1) monthly telephone contact is required.
Child or NMD whose whereabouts are unknown.
No visits required if ALL of the following apply:
Child has an approved case plan and is a dependent of the court.
Court has been informed of the child’s absence.
CSWs continue to document all efforts to locate the child and it is confirmed and documented in the case record every thirty (30) days that the child’s whereabouts remain unknown.
The Contact Visitation Waivers field on the Case Management Services Page shows that the child’s whereabouts are unknown.
Parent/Legal Guardian
One (1) face-to-face contact every calendar month, including with incarceratedparent who is part of the case plan.
Additionally, contact is to be maintained with the correctional counselor.
Parent/Legal Guardian who is unavailable for monthly visits.
CSW must complete the DCFS 670, an individually drafted letter or telephone the parent or guardian at least once a month.
Parent/Legal Guardian whose whereabouts are unknown.
No visits required if due diligence report is filed with the court.
Parent/Legal Guardian not part of the case plan.
No visits required.
Out-of-Home Caregiver
At least once every six (6) months with written or telephone contact at least once a month.
Exceptions:
Monthly written or telephone contacts with the parent/guardian are sufficient in lieu of face-to-face contacts if all of the following apply:
The case plan contains documentation justifying less frequent visits.
The parent/guardian is visited once a month according to the case plan by:
Another staff member of the county.
A staff member from another services agency.
A physician or other health professional.
Written reports from these services are documented in CWS/CMS.
Written supervisory approval has been obtained.
For court-supervised or voluntary cases, visitation with the parent/legal guardian can occur once every six months if the visitation schedule has been approved on the case plan or court report form by the court or by the ARA, RA and Bureau Chief.
Case Transfers
Face-to Face Contact With
Time Frame
Purpose of Contact
Parent/Caregiver
Maximum of 15 calendar days prior to electronic transfer of a case.
To verify the assigning address.
Child/NMD
Within 15 calendar days prior to electronic transfer of a case.
10 calendar days from electronic assignment of a transferred case.
New CSW to introduce self to family and provide services.
Child Care Facility
Complete a face-to-face contact with the child at the child care site within thirty (30) days of learning of the child care arrangement and once every six (6) months thereafter as one of the monthly contact requirements.
DCFS-supervised children (court and non-court) cannot remain in an unlicensed, non-license exempt child care facility. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Community Care Licensing (CCL) licenses child care facilities. If a CSW discovers a child under DCFS supervision is receiving regular child care (more than four (4) hours one day per week), a determination must be made that the child care provider has been licensed or is license-exempt. Health and Safety Code Section 1596.792 lists all license-exempt facilities.
Documenting Contacts
All contacts, including attempted contacts (i.e., face-to-face, telephone, letter, e-mail, etc.) must be documented in CWS/CMS within three (3) business days of the date the contact took place (this includes the date of the contact). Document all observations, not opinions. In situations where a child’s health or safety is a concern the contact should be entered into CWS/CMS immediately, but no more than three (3) business days from the date the contact took place. If the CSW is unable to meet the requirement, they must inform their immediate supervisor to ensure timely documentation occurs.
The standards for documenting contacts provide CSWs with a framework for documenting observations, activities, actions taken, etc. to ensure child safety, reasonable efforts, timely permanency, and compliance with California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Manual of Policies and Procedures (MPP) Division 31 Sections 31-320 through 31-335. The standards are also designed to support CSWs with court reports and provide other DCFS staff with a clear picture of the case so that they can provide appropriate services. Standards are also helpful to Managers and SCSW’s as they ensure that CSWs have:
Taken all necessary steps to gather information during an investigation
Recorded the findings of their investigation
Evaluated and assessed the safety of the child and his or her environmental, physical, emotional, medical, and educational well-being on an ongoing basis.
The standards set forth in this guide are not meant to limit the level of documentation necessary to verify that the safety and/or quality of life of a child has been adequately assessed.
It is unacceptable to create any blank or incomplete contacts in CWS/CMS under any circumstances. The following standards of documentation must be met, but are not limited to:
Contacts must not be duplicated, in part or entirely (copy and paste) from previous entries into CWS/CMS by the CSW.
If a courtesy CSW conducts the visit on behalf of the primary CSW, then the primary CSW should indicate in CWS/CMS the name of the CSW who conducted the visit on their behalf.
Intern and HSA visits documented in CWS/CMS do not substitute the required child visit by the CSW.
Dependency Investigators are required to document their visits in CWS/CMS.
All contacts, including attempted contacts (i.e., face-to-face, telephone, letter, e-mail, etc.) must be documented in CWS/CMS within three (3) business days of the date the contact took place (this includes the date of the contact). Document all observations, not opinions. In situations where a child’s health or safety is a concern the contact should be entered into CWS/CMS immediately. Document efforts made to inquire about Native American/American Indian Heritage.
The above-mentioned responsibilities are required by all departmental CSWs and SCSWs included but not limited to: ERCP, ER, CS, DI, RAs, ARAs, and all specialized units, etc.
Family Engagement Efforts
In order to meet the Federal requirement of capturing data for Family Engagement Efforts (FEE), the State has issued a list of family engagement activities which should be captured in CWS/CMS as a Contact, under Associated Services. The list of FEE and activity definitions is available in ACIN 67-09.
A Family is Not Seen at the Initial Contact on a Referral
ER CSW Responsibilities
Leave a written message (e.g. DCFS 137) and a business card at the location for the client to contact you.
Make additional attempts as required by policy. Document all attempts made to see the family, as required by policy. If attempts were not made, document the reason why.
Complete a search on the following databases to verify the address or to obtain other possible addresses of the family:
CWS/CMS-check for other addresses listed and names and phone numbers of other potential collateral contacts that may know the family’s current whereabouts.
CalSAWS
WCMIS
FCI-contact the Department(s) listed to obtain any information to ascertain the family’s current whereabouts.
Contact the following individuals if known or any other individual that may assist in locating the family:
Reporting Party
Current or Previous CSW
Family Members/Known Friends
Child’s School
Collateral Contacts listed on the referral
Neighbors
Apartment Manager/Landlord
Probation Officers
Tribal Representatives
Contact/search additional community resources, such as:
Phone directories
Post Office
Law enforcement
Send a certified letter with return receipt (e.g. DCFS 670) to the parents at their last known address and any other possible addresses that were discovered during the search of the aforementioned sources.
Document all efforts made to locate the family in the Contact Notebook, including but not limited to the following:
Attempted face-to-face contacts
Telephone calls, text messages, emails, etc.
Letters mailed to the family or other individuals
If new information is obtained regarding the whereabouts of the family, follow-up on all leads and document all actions completed.
If the family is not located, consult with the SCSW to discuss any further appropriate actions.
Close the referral as inconclusive when all reasonable efforts have been unsuccessful to contact the family.
ER SCSW Responsibilities
Review the referral to ensure that the above steps were completed. Close the referral if appropriate, if not, return to CSW for follow-up action.
Obtaining a Parent/Guardian Contact Exception
CSW Responsibilities
After determining that a case meets the requirements for a modified visitation schedule, make a face-to-face contact with the parent/guardian to explain the waiver process.
Obtain hard-copy documentation of all contacts with the parent/guardian over the past six months from CWS/CMS.
Obtain the last status review court report and the last minute order report.
Submit the above to the SCSW, along with the DCFS 110.
Notify the parent/guardian of whether the visitation waiver is approved and if applicable, inform him/her of the new visitation frequency. Document this contact in the Contact Notebook.
If the visitation waiver was approved, update the case plan with the current requirements for face-to-face contacts.
SCSW Responsibilities
Evaluate the appropriateness of modified face-to-face contacts using the following to determine case suitability:
CWS/CMS Medical Profile
Case Contacts
Case Plan
Verify that the case is in compliance with state contact exception requirements.
If the contact exception is approved, return the case to the CSW with a reminder to update the case plan.
If the contact exception is denied, conduct a case review conference with the requesting CSW.
Document all cases with approved contact exceptions, as well as all cases for which approval is denied.
A DCFS Supervised Child is Receiving Child Care from an Unlicensed Provider
CSW Responsibilities
As soon as possible, but no later than one business day after learning of the child care arrangement, report the situation to Community Care Licensing at (310) 337-4333.
Inform the parent/resource parent that the child cannot remain in the child care setting unless the provider applies for and receives a license.
Within fifteen (15) calendar days of learning of the child care situation, make a face-to-face contact with the child in the unlicensed child care facility to ensure they are receiving adequate care.
Inform the child care provider that (s)he must apply for a license within fifteen (15) calendar days of the Community Care Licensing worker’s visit or the child cannot remain in their care.
Inform the parent/resource parent and child care provider that the child may remain in the facility for the fifteen (15) calendar days that the provider has to apply for a license.
If it is determined that the child is not safe in the child care facility, remove the child from the facility and contact the parent/resource parent to pick- up the child.
Notify the parent/resource parent that they must seek an alternative child care arrangement.
In the event there are other children in the child care setting immediately contact law enforcement to inform them of the endangering situation.
Within one business day contact Community Care Licensing and inform them of the situation.
In the event that the biological/adoptive children of the child care provider are the victims or at risk of abuse and/or neglect contact the Child Protection Hotline and make a referral regarding the child(ren).
Verify with Community Care Licensing that the child care provider has applied within the fifteen (15) day time frame.
If the provider fails to apply for a license within the time frame required or the application is denied, assist the parent/resource parent in obtaining alternate child care.
If eligible, refer the family to DCFS Subsidized Child Care by completing the DCFS 324.
Since all mandatory CWS/CMS fields may not be yellow, CSWs and SCSWs should use sound social work practice and critical thinking skills in determining necessary documentation in the investigative process.
Complete the Narrative Section of the Contact Page. The content of the Narrative will vary depending on the type of services being provided to the family: Emergency Response, Family Reunification, Family Maintenance or Permanent Placement. Below are baseline standards that must be documented in the Narrative Section:
Document the purpose of the contact. For example:
“To investigate allegations of child abuse…”
“Contacted by Dr. David Jones by telephone where he reported that…”
All contacts or attempted contacts including the person’s name and relationship to the child or family.
Document the language spoken each time in the contact any time the language is other than English.
When referring to an individual or entering an individual’s statement, use their name. In the case of a reporting party or collateral contact, use the individuals name and their relationship to the family.
“Mary stated that…” rather than “the child stated that...”
“David Joes, the family therapist stated that…”
CSWs must conduct a visual inspection of the child and document the child’s appearance. CSWs must then determine whether a visual inspection of a child may necessitate disrobing or rearranging the clothing of the suspected child victim(s).
If the child is non-verbal and/or too young to make a statement, enter the child’s name followed by “The child is non-verbal” or “The child is too young to make a statement.” Descriptions of the child’s behavior, interactions with others and affect in relationship to their developmental or chronological age are the appropriate substitutes for a verbal statement.
Document whether the face-to-face contact was announced or unannounced visit. Initial ER investigation contacts must be unannounced visits, with the exception that an attempted contact was previously made and a visit was scheduled with the family.
Document if the visit occurred outside the residence. Explain the reason the visit occurred outside the residence and document the location of the visit (if applicable).
Document whether or not a private conversation took place with the child (if applicable).
If you entered the home:
Describe the home environment including the status of all individuals in the home and the appearance of the home.
Document how consent to enter the home was given in the Contact Notebook. Include whether any other people were present at the time that consent was given.
Describe and detail any prior child welfare history with the family including any child welfare history a parent had as a child (if applicable).
Document any health issues, mental health issues, substance abuse issues, etc. of all family members (if applicable).
Document your assessment of the allegations (if applicable).
CSWs must continue to re-assess for safety threats and all forms of child abuse/neglect during each visit with the child. CSWs must document whether there are any new concerns related to child abuse/neglect. If other safety threats not previously alleged are present using the structure and definitions of the SDM Safety Assessment, the CSW must determine if the allegations must be added to the referral.
Document services, referrals, or interventions offered to the parent, caregiver, or child (if applicable).
Visits with clients must be completed and documented only by the assigned CSWs or by County DCFS employees. Intern visits/HSA visits and documentation must not substitute the child visit required by the assigned CSW. Contacts entered by DIs may substitute the monthly child visit required by the assigned CSW.
Contacts must not be duplicated, in part or entirely (copy and paste) from previous entries into CWS/CMS by the CSW.
If a courtesy CSW conducts the visit on behalf of the primary CSW, then the primary CSW should indicate in CWS/CMS the name of the CSW who conducted the visit on their behalf.
Intern and HSA visits documented in CWS/CMS do not substitute the required child visit by the CSW.
Document your efforts to inquire about Native American/American Indian Ancestry.
If the information needs to be edited or additional information needs to be entered after completing and saving a contact, enter the date of the update at the bottom of the narrative section and add the supplemental information (e.g. “On (enter date), the following supplemental information was added.”). The original language of the contact must not be altered or modified.
The timeframe to add supplemental information to a contact is within 30 calendar days from the date the initial contact was entered in CWS/CMS.
The exception to the 30 calendar day rule is applicable when the SCSW and/or Manager is recommending a change such as e.g. closing a referral.
When this occurs, the SCSW and/or Manager must document in CWS/CMS why supplemental information is being entered more than 30 calendar days from the date the initial contact was entered in CWS/CMS.
It is required that contacts be unique and complete, and documented timely into CWS/CMS.
The above-mentioned responsibilities are required by all departmental CSWs and SCSWs included but not limited to: ERCP, ER, CS, DI, RAs, ARAs, and all specialized units, etc.
HSC Section 1536.1 – Defines a placement agency and states when a placement agency must report concerns to Community Care Licensing and the responsibilities of CCL to investigate.
Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Sections 16516.5 &16516.6 – Requires that foster children placed in group homes or any licensed, certified or approved foster home be visited regularly by a social worker or probation officer, away from the immediate vicinity of the caregiver(s), and that the contents of the discussion be kept in confidence by the social worker or probation officer, except under certain circumstances such as the child’s consent or the believe that the child may be in danger of harming oneself or others. Prohibits more than 2 consecutive monthly visits from being held outside the residence, if the visits does not occur in the place of residence, requires the social worker or probation officer to document in the case file and in the court report the location of the visit and the reason for the visit occurring outside the place of residence. The social worker or probation officer is required to advise the foster child that he or she has the right to request that the private discussion occur outside the group home or foster home.
A non-specific file number generated by the Emergency Response Command Post (ERCP) identifying a placement case that is transferred from ERCP directly to a regional Family Maintenance and Reunification (FM&R) or generic (G) file.
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health's (DMH) 24 hour, 7 (seven) day a week hotline: Emergency psychiatric services are coordinated through ACCESS. ACCESS offers information regarding all types of mental health services available in Los Angeles County. CSWs may request a joint response with FRO by contacting ACCESS at (800) 854-7771.
The term includes physical injury or death inflicted upon a child by another person by other than accidental means, sexual abuse as defined in Section 11165.1, neglect as defined in Section 11165.2, unlawful corporal punishment or injury as defined in Section 11165.4, or the willful harming or injuring of a child or the endangering of the person or health of a child, as defined in Section 11165.3, where the person responsible for the child's welfare is a licensee, administrator, or employee of any facility licensed to care for children, or an administrator or employee of a public or private school or other institution or agency. 'Abuse or neglect in out-of-home care' does not include an injury caused by reasonable and necessary force used by a peace officer acting within the course and scope of his or her employment as a peace officer.
The team is made up of former RUM (Resource Utilization Management) staff who have experience in finding placement for high risk/needs children. APT Specialist CSWs can assist Regional CSWs expedite the process in finding placement/replacement after hours and/or when all other efforts have been unsuccessful.
Active investigation means the activities of an agency in response to a report of known or suspected child abuse. For purposes of reporting information to the Child Abuse Central Index, the activities shall include, at a minimum: assessing the nature and seriousness of the known or suspected abuse; conducting interviews of the victim(s) and any known suspect(s) and witness(es) when appropriate and/or available; gathering and preserving evidence; determining whether the incident is substantiated, inconclusive, or unfounded; and preparing a report that will be retained in the files of the investigating agency.
A mandatory statewide program that provides financial support to families in order to facilitate the adoption of children who would otherwise be in long-term foster care. The intent of this program is to remove limited financial resources as a barrier to adoption.
State licensed adoption practitioners who are authorized to help the adopting family in obtaining consents from birth parents in non-relative independent adoption.
An order/decision which is contrary to a DCFS recommendation and which DCFS believes, if carried out, will jeopardize the safety of a child; and an order/decision which adversely affects the administrative and/or operational functioning of DCFS. This includes, but is not limited to, orders, which are contrary to DCFS policy and/or state or federal regulations; and/or, penalizes DCFS for the actions or inaction of a CSW and/or DCFS.
CSW is requesting a ruling on the warrant on a weekend, holiday, or during non-court hours. (Same as expedited but the matter cannot wait until the next court day for a ruling.)
The adoption of a child in which DCFS is a party to or joins in the petition for adoption. DCFS has custody of the child and approved the applicant assessment (adoption home study).
Foster care financial assistance paid on behalf of children in out-of-home placement who meet the eligibility requirements specified in applicable state and federal regulations and laws. The program is administered by DCFS.
An identified or unidentified man who: could be or claims to be the father of the child; or is claimed by the birth mother to be the child’s father; or is identified on the child’s birth certificate prior to January 1, 1997 and does not meet the definition of a presumed father.
Benefits equal to the rate that a Regional Center vendorized home receives for a child that requires the same level of care. These rates are established by the California Department of Development Services and only available for the foster care and Adoption Assistance Benefits (AAP) set prior to the establishment of the dual agency rate.
A hearing in which the court has ordered all affiliated parties to appear to address a matter before the court.
Appellate review refers to the power of a higher court to examine the decision or order of a lower court for errors. Appellate procedure consists of the rules and practices by which appellate courts review trial court judgments. Appellate review performs several functions, including: the correction of errors committed by the trial court, development of the law and precedent to be followed and anticipated in future disputes, and the pursuit of justice.
This is the term used for an agency adoption to determine AAP eligibility.
An assessment usually conducted by a child welfare of adoption agency of the suitability of a prospective adopting family prior to an adoptive placement.
A motion for rehearing or reconsideration seeking to alter or amend a judgment or order.
A family participating in DPSS CalWORKs
When a report has been made about a child alleging abuse and/or neglect and the child's sibling(s) are also at risk of abuse and/or neglect.
A foster parent, relative or nonrelative extended family member (NREFM) who has applied to adopt the child residing in his or her care. S/he is considered to be "attached" to the child because of an existing relationship.
Disease-carrying microorganisms that may be present in human blood. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Depending on the disease, they may be transmitted by direct skin contact to blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. Feces, urine, vomit, sputum, and nasal secretions may be infectious only if they also contain blood.
A redeemable certificate used as a substitute for currency. Transit companies other than the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) issue bus passes.
A permit or authorization to ride at will, without charge. Passes are valid for the current month. Transit companies other than the MTA issue bus passes.
A piece of metal used as a substitute for currency.
California's food stamp program
California Statewide Automated Welfare System. The California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) Project and Consortium is the automated welfare business process in California which will serve all 58 California counties by 2023. The implementation of CalSAWS will merge California’s most recent three (3) county-level consortia welfare systems and will support six (6) core programs: California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) known as CalFresh in California, Medi-Cal, Foster Care, Refugee Assistance, and County Medical Services. It encompasses the following functions: eligibility determination, benefit computation, benefit delivery, case management and information management. CalSAWS is replacing the LEADER Replacement System (LRS), which replaced LEADER (Los Angeles Eligibility, Automated Determination, Evaluation, and Reporting) and sixteen (16) other legacy systems in 2016.
A system to determine if the subject of an inquiry by DCFS, law enforcement, the District Attorney or any other appropriate inquiring agency possesses a criminal record. DCFS may only request a CLETS clearance when related to child protective services issues.
California Regional Centers are nonprofit private corporations that contract with the State Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to provide or coordinate services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities.
CalWORKs is a welfare program that gives cash aid and services to eligible needy California families. The program serves all 58 counties in the state and is operated locally by county welfare departments. If a family has little or no cash and needs housing, food, utilities, clothing or medical care, they may be eligible to receive immediate short-term help. Families that apply and qualify for ongoing assistance receive money each month to help pay for housing, food and other necessary expenses.
The child's parent has been incarcerated, hospitalized or institutionalized and cannot arrange for the care of the child; parent's whereabouts are unknown or the custodian with whom the child has been left is unable or unwilling to provide care and support for the child.
Parent or guardian's mental illness, developmental disability or substance abuse. The child's parent or guardian is unable to provide adequate care for the child due to the.
The non-accidental commission of injuries against a person. In the case of a child, the term refers specifically to the non-accidental commission of injuries against the child by or allowed by a parent(s)/guardian(s) or other person(s). The term also includes emotional, physical, severe physical, and sexual abuse as defined in CDSS MPP Section 31-002(c)(9)(D).
The CACI is a system that allows Children's Social Workers to access in written form to any child abuse records of individuals through the Department of Justice (DOJ) listing names and other identifying information compiled from child abuse reports submitted to DOJ by mandated child abuse reporting agencies which maintain information regarding allegations of abuse and/or neglect. This is primarily utilized to evaluate relative and nonrelative extended family members as prospective caregivers.
California’s version of the federal health care program called Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT). It provides comprehensive medical, mental health and dental diagnostic and treatment services for all Medi-Cal eligible persons aged newborn to 21 years who request them. States are required to inform the families of eligible children about CHDP; assist with referral and transportation to providers; and, follow-up to ensure that necessary diagnostic and treatment services are provided.
Includes the intentional touching of the genitals or intimate parts or the clothing covering them, of a child, or of the perpetrator by a child, for purposes of sexual arousal or gratification. This does not include acts which are reasonably construed to be normal caretaker responsibilities, demonstrations of affection for the child, or acts performed for a valid medical purpose.
A general term for a device that can be installed in a vehicle and is designed to restrain, seat, or position children who weigh 50 pounds or less.
A group of individuals, as identified by the family, and convened by DCFS, who are engaged through a variety of team-based processes to identify the strengths and needs of the child or youth and his or her family, and to help achieve positive outcomes for safety, permanency, and well-being.
CFT Meetings are structured, guided discussions with the family, their natural supports and other team members. The meetings are designed to specifically address the family's strengths, worries that the family, agency or team members have regarding the child's safety, permanence and well-being. The family and team members develop a plan that builds on strengths, meets needs and considers the long-term views.
The term "child’s attorney" refers to the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles (CLC) attorneys as well as the Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers (LADL) attorney appointed to represent the child in dependency proceedings. In addition, the term also refers to a paralegal, social worker or any other person working for that attorney. This also includes a youth’s delinquency attorney.
A non-profit corporation whose attorneys represent children in dependency court matters.
Support staff responsible for providing required notification to the child’s attorney, as detailed in a blanket minute order issued by the Presiding Judge of the Dependency court.
Collateral contacts are individuals or agencies with information that can assist the CSW in understanding the nature and extent of the alleged child abuse/neglect and in assessing the risk to and safety of the children. Collateral Contacts include professionals working with the child or parent and have regular contact with the family. Examples include: teachers, parole officers, physicians, DPSS, DMH, therapists, hospitals, and probation.
Sexual activity involving a minor under the age of eighteen (18) in exchange for something of value (i.e., food, shelter, money). [See PEN sections 11165.1(d)(2) and PEN 236.1(c)]. Exploitation includes instances when a minor exchanges sexual acts with a “John/date” even when there is no known trafficker/pimp; Examples of CSEC: Internet-based exploitation, pornography, stripping, erotic/nude massage, escort services, private parties, interfamilial pimping, child being exploited on the streets. CSE is a form of child abuse that mandated reporters must call in to the Child Protection Hotline for each new incident/episode. This includes reporting new AND repeated incidents of CSE on open cases.
The division within the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) responsible for licensing foster care facilities, i.e., foster family homes, foster family agencies, group homes and small family homes. Additional responsibilities include investigating any reported incident of child abuse, neglect or exploitation in such facilities and/or violations of licensing standards.
Offers counseling, nutrition classes, drug education and counseling, parenting classes, pre-natal care, continuing education, pre-employment training, family planning, group outings, and aerobic and weight training classes
Questions that may confuse a young child because they reference more than one response option. For example, 'Is it right or wrong to lie?'; 'Is your shirt green or yellow?'; 'Would your mom give you candy or punish you if you told a lie?'
Lowered resistance to infection.
Concurrent Planning aims to support timely permanence for children. Safe reunification is DCFS' first priority, but in the event that this is not possible, Concurrent Planning ensures that the identification of an alternative placement plan for children who cannot safely return home is in place from the beginning. Working with a labor/management group, the department implemented changes to Concurrent Planning which support the safety and permanence for children and families from the first day they enter out-of-home care. These system changes include focusing on identifying relatives and siblings and developing 'resource families' who are committed to working toward reunification and providing legal permanence if safe reunification is not successful. Concurrent Planning also engages families and draws on their strengths and uses ongoing assessments and case planning.
An assessment document as prescribed in Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 366.21(I), 366.22(b) and 361.5(g). The CPA is initiated by the case carrying Children's Social Worker and completed by the APRD CSW when adoption home study for attached children or matching/recruitment activities for unattached children are initiated.
Adoption petition was filed by the court and stamped with the filing and the action number.
Placement of a child six years and younger in a group home prior to the Disposition Hearing due to a special need for an in-depth evaluation that can only be completed in a "congregate care" facility. The placement cannot be more than 60 days unless and extension of the placement is included in the case plan and approved by the ARA. The child’s total time spent in the placement shall not exceed more than 120 calendar days.
When a party to a lawsuit needs to postpone a matter that has been calendared for a hearing or trial, the proper procedure is to apply to the court for a continuance (postponement to a later date).
CPM is a shared model of practice developed to better integrate services and supports for children, youth and families. The model emphasizes child-centered, family-based practice to identify strengths/needs, collaborative case planning and decision making that considers the long-term view for the family, and development of a support network (team) that will continue to be available to the family even after termination of formal services. The five key practice domains include Engaging, Teaming, Assessing, Planning & Intervening and Tracking.
An officer of the court who advocates the individual needs and best interests of a child, and provides the court with written recommendations. Persons serving as CASAs are generally community volunteers who participate in a training program, after which they are appointed as an officer of the court to advocate on behalf of a child(ren). CASAs are also referred to as Child Advocates or Guardians Ad Litem (GAL).
Refers to the parent with whom the child(ren) reside(s) (i.e., the parent with physical custody or primary physical custody).
Licensed clinician who provides assistance to CSW in identifying and assessing the needs of children with special needs by ensuring that the caregiver's home meets the child's needs and that all children having special needs have those needs met in accordance with the provisions of the Katie A. settlement agreement.
A deficiency is considered any failure to comply with any provision of the Community Care Facilities Act and/or regulations adopted by DCFS or the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Community Care Licensing Division.
Developmental delay refers to infants and toddlers having a significant difference between the expected level of development for their age and their current level of functioning. (DCFS Glossary)
A disability that originates before an individual attains age 18 years, continues or can be expected to continue, indefinitely, and constitutes a substantial disability for that individual. The term includes mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. It also includes disabling conditions found to be either closely related to mental retardation or to require treatment similar to that required for individuals with mental retardation, but shall not include other handicapping conditions that are solely physical in nature.
Services provided by the Regional Centers, which include diagnostic evaluation, coordination or resources such as education, health, welfare, rehabilitation and recreation for persons with developmental disabilities. Additional services include program planning, admission to and discharge from state hospitals, court-ordered evaluations and consultation to other agencies.
Involves a child who came to the United States for the purpose of adoption through the intercountry adoption process but entered foster care prior to finalization of the adoption regardless of the reason for the foster care placement. The disruption occurs after a child enters the United States under guardianship of the prospective adoptive parents or an adoption agency with a visa for the purposes of completing the adoption process domestically. The disruption must be reported even if the child's plan is reunification with the prospective adoptive parents and the stay in foster care is brief.
Family Code Section 297 defines domestic partners as two adults who have chosen to share one another’s lives in an intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring.
Welfare and Institutions Code Section 18291 (a) states that 'Domestic violence' means abuse committed against an adult or minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, or person with whom the suspect has had a child or is having or has had a dating or engagement relationship. Penal Code Section 13700 (b) states that "Domestic violence" means abuse committed against an adult or a minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, or person with whom the suspect has had a child or is having or has had a dating or engagement relationship. For purposes of this subdivision, "cohabitant" means two unrelated adult persons living together for a substantial period of time, resulting in some permanency of relationship. Factors that may determine whether persons are cohabiting include, but are not limited to, (1) sexual relations between the parties while sharing the same living quarters, (2) sharing of income or expenses, (3) joint use or ownership of property, (4) whether the parties hold themselves out as husband and wife, (5) the continuity of the relationship, and (6) the length of the relationship.
A child who is receiving AFDC- FC, Kin-GAP or AAP benefits and is concurrently a consumer of Regional Center services.
A web-based system used by the DHS Medical Hubs that tracks the health status of children in the child welfare system and facilitates provision of quality medical care. As part of a joint effort between DHS and DCFS, the E-mHub System accepts the electronic transmission of the DCFS Medical Hub Referral Form and returns appointment status alerts and completed examination forms, to DCFS via an e-mail notification. DCFS and DPH PHNs and PHN Supervisors have access rights to EmHub screens pertaining to the health care of children served at the Hubs. Completed examination forms may be accessed through the link in the email notification by using the SITE User ID (employee number) and Password (current password used by employee).
The EX Pass TAP Card/Sticker is a monthly pass good for MTA and local travel on twenty-four (24) different public transit carriers throughout the Greater Los Angeles region. No transfers are necessary between the EZ Pass TAP Card transit carriers.
Are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior. Eating disorders are divided into three categories: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating.
Often seen in families where children are forced or allowed to work under certain illegal conditions outside and inside the home. This form of exploitation prohibits children from attending school and may place them in work environments that are a threat to their general health, safety and security. Although poverty may be a prime motivation for this type of exploitation, other situations may exist.
A stipend available to supplement (not replace) ILP. To qualify for this stipend, a youth must be eligible for ILP, be 18 years of age or older, and whose financial need has been verified by YDS. Current and former foster youth, as well as, Nonminor Dependents may qualify. The stipend may provide for, but not be limited to the following independent living needs: bus passes/transportation, housing rental and utility deposits and fees, education and work-related equipment and supplies, training-related equipment and supplies, auto insurance and driver’s education.
Emancipation allows a youth to be freed from the custody and control of their parents and to have many of the rights and responsibilities of an adult. There are three ways a minor may become emancipated: Get married with parental consent and permission from the court; Join the military; Go to court and have the judge declare you emancipated.
An ex-prate temporary restraining order issued by the Superior Court following a determination by law enforcement that a child is in immediate danger of abuse by a member of a child’s family or household. An EPO may exclude any parent, guardian or member of a child’s household from the dwelling of the person having the care, custody, and control of the child. EPO allow children to remain in their home while allegations of child abuse by the restrained parties are investigated and allow the non-offending parent time to seek assistance from Family Law Court. EPO expire at the close of the second day of judicial business following the day of issuance. EPO may only be extended by application to the appropriate court. See "Ex-Prate Order," "Judicial Business Hours" and "Restraining Order."
The term 'assessment' goes beyond the concept to evaluate a child's safety and risk, and to determine whether and what services are needed to ameliorate or prevent child abuse and neglect. In order to complete a thorough family assessment, any and all safety threats (as listed on the SDM Safety Assessment) that may compromise a child's safety and well-being must be thoroughly assessed, even if those safety threats were not identified on the referral as an allegation.
The term 'investigation' encompasses the efforts of DCFS to determine if abuse or neglect has occurred, if allegations can be substantiated.
"Emotional abuse" refers to nonphysical mistreatment, the results of which may be characterized by disturbed behavior on the part of the child such as severe withdrawal, regression, bizarre behavior, hyperactivity, or dangerous acting-out behavior.
CSW has good cause to request a ruling the same day the request is submitted, and intends to serve the warrant or at least make an attempt the same day it is granted.
Forcing or coercing a child into performing functions which are beyond his/her capabilities or capacities, or into illegal or degrading acts. The term also includes sexual exploitation, economic exploitation, exploitation involving illegal activities and exploitation in the home.
When assessing families that are involved in the gang culture investigate to see if children are encouraged from a young age to value gang membership (parents may be active or retired gang members), or if someone is teaching children gang signs, dress codes and affiliations and advocating membership, if adults are supporting violent behavior and criminal activities of the children.
Exploitation exists within the family household as well. A child may be selected to perform all or the majority of such parental tasks as cleaning, cooking and caring for younger siblings, including bathing, dressing, feeding and babysitting. Frequently, the child who is singled out in this manner is substituting for a parent who is absent or unable to fulfill parental responsibilities due to the parents' substance abuse and/or physical/mental disabilities.
The Extended Foster Care program allows a foster youth to remain in foster care and continue to receive foster care payment benefits (AFDC-FC payments) and services beyond age 18, as long as the foster youth is meeting participation requirements, living in an approved or licensed facility, and meeting other eligibility requirements.
A method of bringing family members together to come up with a recommendation to the court for a safe and permanent plan for a child. If differs from the traditional child welfare case conferencing in that although the caseworker participates in an information-sharing capacity, the family and not the child welfare worker is "in charge" of the meeting and responsible to create the recommended plan. Refer to the memo dated 1/12/15 from the DCFS Chief Deputy Director, "Teaming with Families - Operational Guidelines for Moving From Team Decision Making Meetings to Child and Family Teams" located in the Director’s Page under Memos from the Chief Deputy Director and the CPM website.
In January 1991 as a result of Senate Bill AB546, we established comprehensive community-based networks and services to protect children while they remain within their homes. The primary goal of the Family Preservation approach is the safety of children in their own homes and safe return of children being reunified after periods of placement into foster care. DCFS currently works with 38 Family Preservation agencies and covers most of Los Angeles County. On average, 5,000 families are served annually. The maximum length of time services can be provided is 12 months. The average stay in Family Preservation is 9 months.
Activities designed to provide time-limited foster care services to prevent or remedy neglect, abuse, or exploitation. The child remains in temporary foster care while services are provided to reunite the family.
An on-line Structured Decision Making (SDM) tool used for identifying family strengths and needs and to assist with case planning.
The term 'first degree relative' refers to grandparents, uncles, aunts, and adult siblings.
The Foster Care Search Engine (FCSE) is a web-based system providing an interactive search mechanism using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. The system is a tool used to identify vacant placement homes within Los Angeles County based on the children needs and well-being. Mapping capability allows for staff to view location of vacancies in proximity to schools, community boundaries and placement of siblings. The system interfaces with CSW/CMS Datamart database to maintain data integrity and provides a web-based data entry screen for Foster Family Agencies to provide specific data not available on CWS/CMS. The system is used by Children’s Social Workers (CSW) and by Technical Assistants (TA) who assists the workers in foster care placements.
A non-profit organization licensed by the State of California to recruit, certify, train, and provide professional support to foster parents.
Greater Avenues for Independence - CalWORKs services may include GAIN services (Welfare-to-Work Program). GAIN is mandatory for parents aided on CalWORKs, unless there is an exemption (e.g., parent has a child under a year old, temporary incapacity, participant is over age 65).
A portion of the cash aid being received by a CalWORKs participant is reduced when (s)he is not adhering to GAIN Program requirements.
Penal Code Section 11165.2(b) defines general neglect as the negligent failure of a person having the care or custody of a child to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision where no physical injury to the child has occurred.
The unavailability of a preferred placement, after a diligent search has been conducted; or the desires of the Indian parent, child, or tribe; or the child’s special needs for a placement, which offers either proximity to a parent or a therapeutic program when no available preferred placement can meet these needs.
For the purpose of the adoption home study, procedures initiated on behalf of the applicant, at the applicant's request, to appeal the Department's decision when the adoption home study has been denied by DCFS. The Grievance Review Process pamphlet outlines the specific action taken by the Department when the applicant requests a grievance review hearing. In addition, grievance procedures are in place for foster parents who want to challenge the Department's decision in regards to their care and supervision of a child(ren). Foster parents who want to challenge decisions regarding their license must follow grievance procedures from the State Department of Social Services.
Refers to behaviors or factors that may increase the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS such as: sexual activities involving exposure to the blood or semen of an infected person, sharing needles used for intravenous (IV) injections, tattooing and body-piercing with infected persons, maternal transmission (i.e., from an infected mother to her fetus during pregnancy, birth or breast feeding) when the infant’s parent has a history of behavior that places the parent at an increased risk of exposure to HIV, blood or blood products, transfusions or organ transplants during the period from 1978 to June of 1985, and child is a victim of sexual abuse that places them at risk of exposure to HIV.
Harassment is unlawful violence, a credible threat of violence, or a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person that seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses the person, and that serves no legitimate purpose. The course of conduct must be such as would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress, and must actually cause substantial emotional distress to the petitioner. (California Code of Civil Procedure Section 527.6 (a)(3))
An individual designated to make medical decisions on behalf of an adult if (s)he is incapable of making her/his own health care decisions. If no health care agent is appointed, when an adult has a medical emergency in which (s)he is not capable of communicating with hospital staff, the parent(s) or other relative would be asked to make decisions about medical treatment for the individual.
Passed in 2003, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is designed to give patients more control over their health information, set boundaries on the use and disclosure of health information, institute safeguards to protect privacy of health information, create accountability, civil and criminal penalties, and establish a balance between individual privacy and the public good. In cases where the law of California is more restrictive than HIPAA, the State law must be followed. Conversely, if HIPAA is more restrictive than State law, then HIPAA must be followed unless there is a legal exception.
A document that is generated on CWS/CMS that contains a summary of a child's health and education information. The caregiver keeps a current copy of the Passport, along with the health and education forms in a binder provided by DCFS. This binder shall follow the child to all placements. The Passport shall accompany the child to all medical, dental and educational appointments. The Passport binder in its entirety is given to the child upon emancipation.
A plan developed by a medical provider that assists the child/youth in developing life long practices that encourages healthy behaviors, healthy food choices and regular engagement in cardio-vascular activities.
In the context of CHDP, a child with one or more of the following conditions: A past significant medical problem or chronic illness; possible contagious disease; medication; and/or social problems (e.g., language barrier) which could conceal an unmet medical need.
The county that provides courtesy supervision for a child residing with a relative or in foster care placement whose legal jurisdiction is in another California County.
An approach to successfully connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing instability to housing services without preconditions and barriers to entry such as service participation requirements.
The DCFS ICPC Unit will contact the potential host state, per existing procedures and obtain information regarding provision of services to a NMD placed in a SILP.
Shortcomings that if not corrected would have direct and immediate risk to health, safety, or personal rights of the child.
There is reasonable cause to believe that the child will experience serious bodily injury in the time it would take for the CSW to return to the office, prepare, obtain from a judge, and serve the removal order.
A report determined by the investigator conducting the investigation not to be unfounded, but the findings are inconclusive and there is insufficient evidence to determine whether child abuse or neglect, as defined in Section 11165.6, has occurred.
The adoption of a child in which neither CDSS nor an agency licensed by CDSS, such as DCFS, is a party to, or joins in, the petition for adoption.
The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act requires that a person who receives services from a regional center have an Individual Program Plan (IPP). Person-centered individual program planning assists persons with developmental disabilities and their families to build their capacities and capabilities. The planning team decides what needs to be done, by whom, when, and how, if the individual is to begin (or continue) working toward the preferred future. The document known as the Individual Program Plan (IPP) is a record of the decisions made by the planning team.
Those individuals who develop a health care plan for a child with special health care needs in a specialized foster care home or group home which shall include the child's primary care physician or other health care professional designated by the physician, any involved medical team, and the CSW and any health care professional designated to monitor the child's individualized health care plan, including, if the child is in a certified home, the registered nurse employed by or under contract with the certifying agency to supervise and monitor the child. The child's individualized health care plan team may also include, but shall not be limited to, a public health nurse, representatives from the California Children's Services Program or the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program, regional centers, the county mental health department, and where reunification is the goal, the parent or parents, if available. In addition, if the child is in a specialized foster care home, the individualized health care plan team may include the prospective specialized foster parents, who shall not participate in any team decision.
A person is considered institutionalized when (s)he has been residing in a hospital, jail, prison, homeless shelter, residential school, rehabilitation center, halfway house, out-of-home care facility, etc., for more than 90 calendar days. This does not include battered women's shelters.
ISWs are the key component when detention is being considered or when a detention has occurred. ISWs provide immediate linkage to services for families where a court detention was necessary. ISWs participate in child safety conferences shortly after detention to review for possible return of children and or to connect children and families to services immediately following detention.
The Intensive Treatment Foster Care Program (ITFC) was developed to meet the treatment needs of emotionally disturbed children who need out-of-home placement. An Intensive Treatment Foster Care agency refers to an organization licensed by the California Department of Social Services for children who have a history of emotional/behavioral disturbance, have experienced multiple placement histories; are at risk of hospitalization, and/or qualify for Rate Classification Level (RCL) 12 or higher group home placement.
One agency has custody of the child and another agency approved the applicant assessment.
A hearing that is not mandated by the Welfare and Institutions Code, but is set by the court to address specific information and/or receive a progress report on the case at hand.
The computer system tracking all dependency court schedules and proceedings. Additionally, this software system allows DCFS to print minute orders.
The intent of the Kin-GAP program is to establish a program of financial assistance for relative caregivers who have legal guardianship of a child while Dependency Court jurisdiction and the DCFS case are terminated. The rate for the Kin-GAP program will be applied uniformly statewide.
The Kinship Support Division promotes, increases, and sustains legal permanency for children, adolescents and young adults in relative and legal guardianship placement through providing education, supportive services, advocacy, mentoring, and aftercare that is accessible and meets the needs of the child, family, and community.
Physical custody of a minor 72 hours old or younger accepted by a person from a parent of the minor, who the person believes in good faith is the parent of the minor, with the specific intent and promise of effecting the safe surrender of the child.
Questions that suggest a desired answer; often these are questions that can be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no.' For example: "The sky is blue, isn't it?"
Legal relief (legal remedy): the means to achieve justice in any matter in which legal rights are involved. Remedies may be ordered by the court, granted by judgment after trial or hearing, by agreement (settlement) between the person claiming harm and the person he/she believes has caused it, and by the automatic operation of law. Some remedies require that certain acts be performed or prohibited (originally called "equity"), others involve payment of money to cover loss due to injury or breach of contract, and still others require a court's declaration of the rights of the parties and an order to honor them.
Involves a child who was previously adopted from overseas (whether the full and final adoption occurred in the foreign country or domestically) but entered foster care as a result of a court terminating the parents' rights or the parents' relinquishing their rights to the child.
A child whose birth parents have had his or her parental rights terminated or whose birth parents have voluntarily given up parental rights through relinquishment.
Includes the intentional masturbation of the perpetrator's genitals in the presence of a child.
Foster family homes, small family homes, group homes, foster family agency certified homes, child care facilities.
Any medical procedure or intervention that will serve only to prolong a state of unconsciousness where there is a reasonable degree of medical authority that such state of unconsciousness is permanent, or prolong a terminal condition."
A criminal history check based upon the submission of the subjects' fingerprints to the DOJ. The inquiry may also include an inquiry of the Child Abuse Central Index and an inquiry of the FBI database, if there is an indication that the subject may have been arrested outside of California, or that the subject has been a resident of California for less than two years. The clearance will confirm the identity of the subject of the inquiry and give the subject's history of arrests and convictions.
Degree to which there are stated, shared and understood safety, well-being, and permanency outcomes and functional life goals for the child and family. The outcomes and goals should outline required protective capacities, desired behavior changes, sustainable supports, and other accomplishments necessary for the child and family to achieve and sustain adequate daily functioning and greater self-sufficiency.
California's federal Medicaid program.
As defined by Civil Code (CIV) Section 56.05(g), is any individually identifiable information, in electronic or physical form, in possession of or derived from a provider of health care, health care service plan, pharmaceutical company, or contractor regarding a patient’s medical history, mental or physical condition, or treatment. This does not include psychotherapy notes (notes made by the therapist about a private therapy session that are kept separate from the rest of the patient’s medical record). These notes are subject to additional privacy protections and cannot be disclosed by therapists even in situations where other PHI may be disclosed.
One or more of the following exist: Previous significant medical problem or chronic illness; possible contagious disease; on medication; and/or, social problem or language barrier which could conceal an unmet medical need.
Children with special health care needs as defined by Assembly Bill 2268. These children have medical conditions and symptoms that require special procedures, may be temporarily or permanently dependent upon medical equipment and/or devices, therapies and may require ongoing medical care and assessment as determined by the child’s physician. The caregiver must have been trained to provide the specialized in-home health care to these children.
A motion for rehearing or reconsideration: seeking to alter or amend a judgment or order.
For youth whose behavior places them at risk of entry into the juvenile justice system, particularly those who are subject of a 241.1 assessment. The goal of the therapy is to improve caregiver discipline practices, enhance family relations, decrease youth association with deviant peers, increase pro-social peers, improve youth school or vocational performance, engage youth in pro-social recreational outlets, and develop a support network of extended family, neighbors, and friends to help achieve and maintain such changes. (Only available in Regional Offices in SPA 6 and 7)
A program which provides a comprehensive, multi-level intervention to children and youth in the child welfare system. MTFC is an evidence-based practice (EBP). MTFC Program provides each youth with short-term treatment (average 6-12 months) in specialized foster home environment where child/youth is the only foster child and has the following: own bedroom, an individual therapist, a skills trainer, attend public school, foster parents trained in the MTFC model, permanent caregivers receive behavior training and family therapy before and after the youth is returned to their home, a program supervisor that coordinates all care and is available 24/7.
The cornerstone of and entry point to the Protective Services Child Health (PSCH) system and the focal point for a community-based Provider Network. The KDMC Hub will provide timely, comprehensive medical, developmental and psychological assessments, as well as on-site preventive health services to children in out-of-home care. In addition, the Hub will assist in the development of a comprehensive child health plan for each child, provide referrals for follow-up care and conduct provider outreach. (DCFS Glossary, from "Hub Services: King/Drew Medical Center (KDMC)")
Any team of three or more people trained in the prevention, identification, management or treatment of child abuse or neglect cases and qualified to provide a broad range of services related to child abuse or neglect. The team may include a CalWORKs case manager, whose primary responsibility is to provide cross program case planning and coordination of CalWORKs child welfare services of those mutual cases or families that may be eligible for CalWORKs services and that, with the informed written consent of the family, receive cross program case planning and coordination.
A near fatality is a severe injury or condition caused by abuse or neglect that results in the child receiving critical care for at least 24 hours following admission to a critical care unit.
The failure to provide a person with necessary care and protection. In the case of a child, the term refers to the failure of a parent(s)/guardian(s) or caretaker(s) to provide the care and protection necessary for the child's healthy growth and development. Neglect occurs when children are physically or psychologically endangered. The term includes both severe and general neglect as defined by Penal Code Section 11165.2 and medically neglected infants as described in 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1340.15(b).
A network (also known as a support network, support system, or social support system) refers to an extended group of family, friends, neighbors, professionals, and/or cultural, religious, or other communities that provide support for -- and meet a wide range of needs for -- a parent/caregiver and/or the child/ren (including tribal ICWA programs, Indian organizations, and/or family members, which can include non-related tribal members). The network may consist of individuals or organizations (e.g., religious organizations, community organizations, professional providers) who care about the child/ren or family and who provide or share concrete support (e.g., financial help, transportation, babysitting) or emotional support (e.g., listening, advice).
Children who first, or initially, enter the child welfare system and are placed in out-of-home care under a WIC 300 petition. (This definition includes children in an open case under a Court FM or VFM case plan who are subsequently removed from their biological parents and placed in out-of-home care).
A hearing in which the affiliated parties are not required to appear in order for the court to proceed with the matter at hand.
Non-Child Welfare Department module within CWS/CMS used to enter non-court cases such as Kin-GAP. It contains placement and payment information, the Legal Guardian’s information and case notes. The Probation Department also enters information in the Non-CWD module for cases supervised by their department.
A relative other than the child's birth or adoptive parents.
A person appointed by the Superior Court pursuant to the provisions of the Probate Code or appointed by the Dependency Court pursuant to the provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code, who does not meet the definition of a 'Related Legal Guardian.'
A hospital, jail, prison, homeless shelter, residential school, rehabilitation center, halfway house, out-of-home care facility, etc. where the individual has lived for more than 90 calendar days. This does not include battered women's shelters.
A current dependent child or ward of the juvenile court, or a nonminor under the transition jurisdiction of the juvenile court, who: has attained 18 years of age while under an order of foster care placement by the juvenile court; is in foster care under the placement and care responsibility of the county welfare department, county probation department, Indian tribe, consortium of tribes, or tribal organization; is participating in a transitional independent living case. Defined by WIC 11400(v).
A nonrelative extended family member is defined as an adult caregiver who has an established familial relationship with a relative of the child or a familial or mentoring relationship with the child. The county welfare department must verify the existence of a relationship through interviews with the parent and child or with one or more third parties.
Includes any sexual contact between the genitals or anal opening of one person and the mouth or tongue of another person.
also known as intravenous feeding, is a method of getting nutrition into the body through the veins. While it is most commonly referred to as total parenteral nutrition (TPN), some patients need to get only certain types of nutrients intravenously.
DPSS term for person receiving services.
This is a six-week, 33-hour program that prepares resource families (foster and adoptive) for the new roles and parenting skills they will need if they adopt. A program of mutual preparation and selection which uses the teamwork approach between foster and adoptive parents and the agency to prepare foster and adoptive parents for theexperience of parenting children with special needs, such as those supervised by DCFS. The program incorporates self-assessment, mutual decision-making and experiential preparation for foster and adoptive planning to help parents decide if their expectations and abilities match the realities of foster and adoptive parenthood.
An economic loss or expense resulting from an injury or death to a victim of crime that has not been and will not be reimbursed from any other source. This is related to compensation from being a Victim of Crime.
Includes any intrusion by one person into the genitals or anal opening of another person, including the use of any object, except for acts performed for a valid medical purpose.
Includes any of the following options: the child returns home, the court approves adoption, legal guardianship, permanent plan living arrangement with a relative/non-relative extended family member, or the child's case is closed.
The services provided to achieve legal permanence for a child when efforts to reunify have failed until the court terminates FR. These services include identifying permanency alternatives, e.g., adoption, legal guardianship, tribal customary adoption and planned permanent living arrangement. Depending on the identified plan, the following activities may be provided: inform parents about adoptive planning and relinquishment, locate potential relative caregivers and provide them with information about permanent plans (e.g., adoption, legal guardianship) and refer the caregiver to the Adoption Division for an adoptive home study, etc.
Permanency Planning Conferences (PPCs) are modeled after TDM meetings to ensure that a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, family members and caregivers meet regularly to focus on the urgent permanency needs of youth. Refer to the memo dated 1/12/15 from the DCFS Chief Deputy Director, "Teaming with Families - Operational Guidelines for Moving From Team Decision Making Meetings to Child and Family Teams" located in the Director’s Page under Memos from the Chief Deputy Director and the CPM website.
In the context of adoption, substantially correct information regarding a prospective adoptive parent. This shall include, but is not limited to, the following: full legal name; age; religion; race or ethnicity; length of current marriage and number of previous marriages; employment; whether other children or adults reside in the home; whether there are other children who do not reside in the home and the child support obligation for these children and any failure to meet these obligations; any health conditions curtailing normal daily activities or reducing normal life expectancies; any convictions for crimes other than minor traffic violations; any removal of children due to child abuse or neglect; and, general area of residence, or upon request, address.
Pertinent collateral contacts are individuals or agencies with information that can assist the CSW in understanding the nature and extent of the alleged child abuse/neglect and in assessing the risk to and safety of the children. Collateral Contacts include professionals working with the child or parent and have regular contact with the family. Examples include: teachers, parole officers, physicians, DPSS, DMH, therapists, hospitals, and probation.
Non-accidental bodily injury that has been or is being willfully inflicted on a child. It includes willful harming or injuring of a child or endangering of the person or health of a child defined as a situation where any person willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon, unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation such that his or her person or health is endangered.
Shortcomings that without correction would become a risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of the child. The child can be placed in the home pending completion of the CAP. TANF/CalWORKs is the funding source possibly available to the caregiver until the CAP is completed and eligibility for federal Foster Care funding is determined.
A meeting of attorneys and parties held for the purpose of reaching a negotiated settlement involving joint solutions.
A PPT is held for any pregnant or parenting teen under the Department’s supervision (as well as potential and recent fathers) as a youth-centered approach in order to identify and discuss issues related to pregnancy and early stages of child-rearing as well as breaking intergenerational cycles. Refer to the memo dated 1/12/15 from the DCFS Chief Deputy Director, "Teaming with Families - Operational Guidelines for Moving From Team Decision Making Meetings to Child and Family Teams" located in the Director’s Page under Memos from the Chief Deputy Director and the CPM website.
Provides for 12 months in a residential program and a 12-month outpatient transitional services program.
i.e., more likely than not
A man is presumed to be the biological father of a child if: He has signed a voluntary declaration of paternity (VDP) or, after January 1, 1997 is identified on the child’s birth certificate; He and the mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage or within 300 days after the marriage is terminated; Before the child’s birth, he and the child’s birth mother have attempted to marry each other and the child was born during the attempted marriage or within 300 days after the termination of cohabitation; After the child’s birth, he and the child’s birth mother have married or attempted to marry and either with his consent he is named on the child’s birth certificate or he is obligated to pay child support; He receives the child into his home and openly holds out the child as his birth child; Anyone whom a court has found to be a presumed or legal father (this includes family court, dependency court, and judgments for child support services);Other men who tried to marry the mother or thought they had married the mother (even if it turns out that they did not), and even if after the birth may qualify as a presumed father. Consult County Counsel.
As it pertains to the allegations in a child welfare case, the petition must include enough facts that if later proven, will cause a child to be declared a dependent of the court.
Reasonable cause or a reasonable ground for belief in certain alleged facts (more than a hunch, but less than absolute certainty).
As defined by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), is health (including mental health) information created or maintained by a health care provider that identifies or can be used to identify a specific individual. PHI relates to an individual’s health, health care or payment for care – in the past, present or future.
Medications used as tools for producing certain chemical and physiological effects in the central nervous system. They are usually classified according to the types of disorders they are primarily used to treat.
A pro bono law office serving low-income children, adults, and families. Through its Children's Rights Project, Public Counsel assists children in civil legal matters such as guardianship, adoption, special education, government benefits, emancipation, teen parenting issues, immigration, mental health services, access to education and transitional services upon emancipation from foster care.
Referral Address Verification System
Includes any penetration however slight, of the vagina or anal opening of one person by the penis of another person, whether or not there is the emission of semen.
An intervention, informed by a Housing First approach, that connects families and individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability to assistance that may include the use of time-limited financial assistance and targeted supportive services.
The law requires child welfare agencies to make reasonable efforts to provide services that will help families remedy the conditions that brought the child and family into the child welfare system. It is based upon a standard of reasonableness, which is a subjective test of what a reasonable person would do in the individual circumstance, taking all factors into account. This includes conducting a Due Diligence search to locate parents whose whereabouts are unknown.
When it is objectively reasonable for a person to entertain a suspicion, based upon facts that could cause a reasonable person in a like position, drawing when appropriate, on his or her training, to suspect child abuse or neglect.
The standard characterized by careful and sensible parental decisions that maintain the child's health, safety, and best interest.
The DCFS office that is responsible for providing services to the child, youth, dependent, or nonminor dependent. Usually, the office where the child's CSW is located.
Court will rule on the request by 5:00 p.m. the day after the request is filed with the court.
An adult who is related to the child by blood, adoption or affinity within the fifth degree of kinship, including stepparents, stepsiblings, and all relatives whose status is preceded by the words, 'great,' 'great-great' or 'grand' or the spouse of any of these persons even if the marriage was terminated by death or dissolution. A former stepparent is considered a relative only if the child is federally eligible.
For the purpose of placement and foster care payments: An adult who is related to the child by blood, adoption or affinity within the fifth degree of kinship, including stepparents, stepsiblings, and all relatives whose status is preceded by the words, "great," "great-great" or "grand" or the spouse of any of these persons even if the marriage was terminated by death or dissolution.
The action of a parent in which he or she surrenders custody, control and any responsibility for the care and support of the child. Currently, only an Adoption social worker or the court is qualified to process a relinquishment.
The RMP is a family centered, multi-departmental, integrated approach to identifying, coordinating and linking appropriate resources/services to meet the needs of children currently in, or at risk of a RCL 6 through 14 placement. Additional information can be found at www.lacdcfs.org/katieA/RMP/. Refer to the memo dated 1/12/15 from the DCFS Chief Deputy Director, "Teaming with Families - Operational Guidelines for Moving From Team Decision Making Meetings to Child and Family Teams" located in the Director’s Page under Memos from the Chief Deputy Director and the CPM website.
Families that have a foster care license and an approved family assessment that meets the State’s adoption standards. They are dually prepared to provide foster care and support family reunification; but, should reunification not occur, they are approved to provide an adoptive home for a child.
An order issued by the court, which enjoins a person from engaging in a specified behavior or activity, limits the distance a person may approach a specific location and/or person, or excludes a person from a specific dwelling or place of business. See "Emergency Protective Order."
For children aged three or older at the time of initial removal, services are to be provided from the dispositional hearing until the 366.21(f) hearing, unless the child is returned home. For children under the age of three, services are to be provided until the 366.21(e) hearing, unless the child is returned home.
The Review Agent conducts the Grievance Review Hearing. In accordance with CDSS Manual of Policies and Procedures (MPP) 31-020.511-.513, the Review Agent is a staff or other person not involved in the complaint; neither a co-worker nor a person directly in the chain of supervision of any of the persons involved in the complaint unless the Agent is the Director or Chief Deputy of the county; knowledgeable of the field and capable of objectively reviewing the complaint. The Review Agent for Los Angeles County, DCFS is the Manager, Appeals Section.
Supplemental Security Income. This program pays monthly benefits to blind or disabled children/youth who have limited income and resources. It is administered by Social Security.
Specialized Supportive Services - CalWORKs participants eligible to receive GAIN services may be eligible to receive Specialized Supportive Services (e.g., mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence assessment and treatment services) and transportation, child care and other ancillary expenses.
The D-Rate is the rate paid on behalf of hard-to-place children with severe and persistent emotional and/or behavioral problems. This rate can be paid for eligible children placed in the following types of out-of-home care facilities if they have been certified for the D-Rate: foster family homes, non-related legal guardian homes, nonrelative extended family member homes, foster care-eligible relative (Youakim) homes, and small family homes which are not vendorized by Regional Center but are licensed for mentally disordered/emotionally disturbed children.
The school that the foster child attended when permanently housed (prior to detention) or the school in which the foster child was last enrolled. If the school the child attended when permanently housed is different than from the school the child was last enrolled, or if there is some other school that the foster child attended with which he/she is connected (and attended within the immediately preceding 15 months) the local educational agency foster child education liaison, in consultation and agreement with the foster child and their Educational Rights Holder, can determine which school should be the child's school-of-origin.
Is defined as being able to meet one’s basic needs for food, shelter, income, and overall functioning. It is complementary to the goal of permanency, as individuals typically function better when they are surrounded by loving and caring adults. However, if one’s safety net were to be removed, self-sufficient adults would still be able to survive. In order for youth to become thriving, self-sufficient adults, they need to acquire solid assets and skills, early on, in key areas and outcome areas, such as, permanency/housing; education; social and emotional well-being; career/workforce readiness; health and medication. These four outcome areas lay the foundation for a successful transition into adulthood. To develop properly, they must be addressed and nurtured early on, at the first point of contact. Having continuous high expectations for success in these four areas is critical if youth are to have the support they need to achieve self sufficiency.
Reasonable cause to believe that the child has a need for medical care for a serious medical condition; or is in danger of physical or sexual abuse; or the physical environment poses a threat to the child's health or safety.
Penal Code Section 11165.2(a) defines severe neglect as the negligent failure of a person having the care or custody of a child to protect the child from severe malnutrition or medically diagnosed nonorganic failure to thrive. "Severe neglect" also means those situations of neglect where any person having the care or custody of a child willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation such that his or her person or health is endangered, as proscribed by Penal Code 11165.3, including the intentional failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care. Child abandonment would come under this section.
Includes any single act of abuse which causes physical trauma of sufficient severity that, if left untreated, would cause permanent physical disfigurement, permanent physical disability, or death; any single act of sexual abuse which causes significant bleeding, deep bruising, or significant external or internal swelling; or repeated acts of physical abuse, each of which causes bleeding, deep bruising, significant external or internal swelling, bone fracture, or unconsciousness.
The victimization of a child by sexual activities, including, but not limited to, those activities defined in Penal Code Section 11165.1(a)(b)(c). See "sexual assault" and "sexual exploitation."
Conduct in violation of laws pertaining to: Section 261 (rape), 264.1 (rape in concert), 285 (incest), 286 (sodomy), subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 288 (lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under 14 years of age), 288a (oral copulation), 289 (penetration of a genital or anal opening by a foreign object), or 647a (child molestation). If there are no indicators of abuse, “sexual assault” does not include voluntary sodomy, voluntary oral copulation, or voluntary sexual penetration unless the conduct is between a person 21 years of age or older and a minor under 16 years of age.
Conduct involving matter depicting a minor engaged in obscene acts in violation of Section 311.2 (preparing, selling, or distributing obscene matter) or subdivision (a) of Section 311.4 (employment of minor to perform obscene acts). Any person who knowingly promotes, aids or assists, employs, uses, persuades, induces or coerces a child, or any person responsible for a child's welfare who knowingly permits or encourages a child to engage in, or assist others to engage in, prostitution or a live performance involving obscene sexual conduct or to either pose or model alone or with others for the purpose of preparing a film, photograph, negative, slide, drawing, painting or other pictorial depiction involving obscene sexual conduct. 'Person responsible for a child's welfare' means a parent, guardian, foster parent, or a licensed administrator, or employee of a public or private residential home, residential school, or other residential institution. Any person who depicts a child in, or who knowingly develops, duplicates, prints, or exchanges, any film, photograph, video tape, negative, or slide in which a child is engaged in an act of obscene, sexual conduct, except for those activities by law enforcement and prosecution agencies and other persons described in subdivisions (c) and (e) of Section 311.3.'
Sexually Transmitted Infections, including HIV and AIDS, are transmitted from one person to another through sexual contact as well as though direct person-to-person contact with blood or body fluids that contain the infection.
A sibling is defined as a child related to another person by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent.
The determination of what is considered 'significant contact' by an individual with a child will be determined by the ASFA Division in consultation with County Counsel and regional staff.
Any residential facility in the licensee's family residence, which provides 24-hour care for six or fewer foster children who have mental disorders or developmental or physical disabilities and who require special care and supervision as a result of their disabilities. WIC 11400(e)
Assembly Bill 2268, defines children with special health care needs as those children who are either temporarily or permanently dependent upon medical equipment or in need of other specific kinds of specialized in-home health care, as determined by the child’s physician. See "medically fragile."
Definition for Adoption Assistance Program (AAP), a child whose adoption, without financial assistance, would be unlikely due to one or more of the following factors: age (three years or older),ethnic background, race, color or language, mental, physical, emotional or medical handicap, adverse parental background, membership in a sibling group which should remain intact. In the context of protective services childcare, a child who is mentally or physically incapable of caring for him/herself, as verified by a physician or a licensed or certified psychologist, and requires separate accommodations to be provided with basic childcare. In the context of dependency court, a special needs child is one who has had three or more placements during a 12-month period and has a diagnosis or history of one or more of the following: conduct disorder with aggressive tendencies or antisocial behavior; attention deficit disorder treated by psychotropic drugs; self-destructive or suicidal behavior; use of psychotropic drugs; developmental disability; fire setting; manifestation of psychotic symptoms; somatizing or chronic depression or social isolation; severe sexual acting-out behavior and/or; substance abuse.
A rate paid in addition to the basic care rate for the care of children/youth with special needs.
Any of the following foster homes where the foster parents reside in the home and have been trained to provide specialized in-home health care to foster children: 1) Licensed foster family homes; 2) small family homes or; 3) certified family homes that have accepted placement of a child with special health care needs who is under the supervision and monitoring of a registered nurse employed by, or on contract with, the certifying agency, and who is either of the following: a) a dependent of the court under WIC 300 or; b) developmentally disabled and receiving services and case management from a regional center.
Includes, but is not limited to, those services identified by the child's primary physician as appropriately administered in the home of any of the following: 1) A foster parent trained by health care professionals where the child is being placed in, or is currently in, a specialized foster care home; 2) Group home staff trained by health care professionals pursuant to the discharge plan of the facility releasing the child where the child was placed in the home as of Nov. 1, 1993, and who is currently in the home; 3) a health care professional, where the child is placed in a group home after November 1, 1993. WIC 17710(h)
The act of temporarily stopping a judicial proceeding through the order of a court.
Assesses the child's present danger and the interventions currently needed to protect the child. Assesses whether any children are likely to be in immediate danger of serious harm/maltreatment and determines what interventions should be initiated or maintained to provide appropriate protection.
A thirty (30) day pass good for MTA travel only. Students must have an appropriate MTA ID Card to obtain the pass. Student Cardholders are provided with a Student TAP Card each month. There is no charge for the Card itself. Students can pick-up a photo-less Metro Student Dare ID Card (K-8 or 9-12) at participating schools or one of the four Metro Customer Centers.
Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Services are available to determine whether parents or caregivers’ abilities are impaired by the use of alcohol and drugs; if parents/caregivers need to be referred for alcohol/substance abuse treatment, and to monitor progress in treatment. Test results are used as part of the evaluation process to determine if children can remain safely in the home of their parents and caregivers, or if children can be safely returned to the care of their parents and caregivers.
A report determined by the investigator conducting the investigation to constitute child abuse or neglect, as defined in Section 11165.6, based upon evidence that makes it more likely than not that child abuse or neglect, as defined, occurred.
SILP is a supervised and approved placement that is part of the Extended Foster Care program. SILP is a flexible and the least restrictive placement setting. It can include: an apartment (alone or with roommates); shared living situations; room and board arrangements; room rented from a landlord, friend or relative, or former caregiver; or college dorms.
CWS/CMS services component for nonminor dependents (NMD) under which the required Extended Foster Care (EFC) participation criteria must be indicated.
SOC refers to a continuum of care for children and their families, which meets their mental, emotional, and behavioral needs. The program focuses on treatment for children and youth who are at risk of placement in either a group home or a more restrictive setting. An Inter- Agency Screening Committee comprised of representatives from DCFS, Department of Mental Health, the Probation Department, Special Education Local Planning Area, and local school districts, screens these type of cases. Services may include intensive in-home treatment, in-home support services, daily living skills, mental health services, crisis intervention, respite care, parent training, school intervention and therapeutic foster homes.
Refer to the memo dated 1/12/15 from the DCFS Chief Deputy Director, "Teaming with Families - Operational Guidelines for Moving From Team Decision Making Meetings to Child and Family Teams" located in the Director’s Page under Memos from the Chief Deputy Director and the CPM website.
The Transit Access Pass (TAP) Card is a monthly pass good for MTA travel only.
A process utilizing a multidisciplinary assessment and team approach in working with children and their families. Includes community-based social workers and other child and family service providers that assist the family in identifying local supports that could help reduce stresses and improve family life. Parents play a key role in identifying their needs and the supports that would be most helpful in addressing them. Refer to the memo dated 1/12/15 from the DCFS Chief Deputy Director, "Teaming with Families - Operational Guidelines for Moving From Team Decision Making Meetings to Child and Family Teams" located in the Director’s Page under Memos from the Chief Deputy Director and the CPM website.
The removal of a child from the home of a parent or legal guardian and placement or facilitation of placement of the child in the home of a non-offending parent, relative, foster caregiver; group home or institutional setting.Temporary custody also includes: placing hospital holds on children; situations in which the CSW interrupts an established Family Law Court custody or visitation orders when the CSW believes that if the order is carried out, the child would be placed in immediate risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation and the child is allowed to remain in the home of the non-offending parent; situations in which DCFS requests that law enforcement remove a child from the home of his or her parent/legal guardian and the CSW places the child with a relative or unrelated caregiver; and situations in which the child is living with a relative or an unrelated caregiver and all of the following conditions exist: child’s parent is asking for the child to be returned home, CSW believes that the return of the child to his or her parent would place the child at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation, CSW does not allow the child to be returned to his or her parent; and, the child remains in the home of the relative or is placed in out-of-home care.
When a child is declared free from the care custody and control of his or her birth parents by court action.
A free legal services organization focused solely on protecting the rights of impoverished, abused and neglected children in Los Angeles County – children in foster care, children with educational disabilities, children who need healthcare or public benefits, and children in need of legal guardianship or adoption.
For the purposes of assigning Dependency Investigation tasks, a traditional residence is a house, an apartment, room(s) in a shared house or apartment, or another residence not included under the definition of non-traditional residence.
Hearing held by the receiving county court to determine if the case transfer request will be accepted.
Hearing held by the sending county court to determine the appropriateness of the transfer request. The court may order a case transferred to a different county during the Transfer-Out Hearing.
A home that has been licensed or approved by an Indian child’s tribe or a tribal organization designated by the Indian child’s tribe, for foster or adoptive placements of an Indian child using standards established by the tribe.
In the context of adoption, a person who has applied to adopt a child but has not been matched with an available child, and is therefore considered "unattached" to a particular child. An applicant for adoption who is not already linked with a specific child to adopt.
In the context of adoption, a child for whom adoption is the identified permanent plan but for whom no prospective adoptive parent has been identified.
A report determined by the investigator conducting the investigation to be false, inherently improbably, to involve an accidental injury, or not constituting child abuse or neglect as defined in Section 11165.6.
An aggressive, standardized approach to infection control which treats all human blood and certain body fluids as if they were known to contain blood-borne pathogens.The extension of blood and body fluid precautions to all patients. Under universal precautions, blood and certain body fluids of all patients are considered potentially infectious for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other bloodborne pathogens. (CDC)
Authorities, e.g. CSWs, law enforcement, etc, have reasonable evidence that a parent is abusive, cannot provide love and support to the child, or will in some significant way interfere with the examination.
The provision of non-court, time-limited protective services to families whose children are in potential danger of abuse, neglect, or exploitation when the children can safely remain in the home with DCFS services. In order to receive VFM services, the family must be willing to accept them and participate in corrective efforts to ensure that the child's protective needs are met. There is a six-month time limit for this service.
The foster care placement of a child by or with the participation of DCFS acting on behalf of CDSS, after the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the child have requested the assistance of DCFS and signed a voluntary placement agreement form.
A legal document filed by DCFS in juvenile dependency court alleging that a child is described under Welfare and Institution Code (WIC) 300.
A hearing will be held no later than 120 days from the date of the Permanency Review Hearing. The purpose of a WIC Section 366.26 hearing is to identify and implement a permanent plan for a dependent child of the court. The court will then make findings and orders in the following order of preference: permanently terminate the rights of the parent or parents and order that the child be placed for adoption; or, without permanently terminating parental rights, identify adoption as the goal and order that efforts be made to locate an appropriate adoptive family for the child within a period not to exceed 180 days; or, appoint a legal guardian and issue letters of guardianship; or, order that the child be placed in long-term foster care, subject to the periodic review of the court under WIC 366.3.
A request to submit a report to the court when a hearing is not calendared, but the matter requires immediate court attention. Walk-on hearings may be appearance or non-appearance matters.
The Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) section that describes abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other endangerment situations and conditions whereby a child may be removed from the care and custody of parents or legal guardians and declared a dependent of the court under DCFS supervision.
W-Homes provide foster care to dependent teen parents and their non-dependent children, while assisting the teen parent’s to develop the skills they will need to provide a safe, stable and permanent home for their children. This is not a new licensing category. A W-Home can be a family home, approved relative caregiver or non-relative extended family member’s (NREFM) home, or the home of a non-related legal guardian whose guardianship was established pursuant to WIC Section 366.26 or 360.
A situation where any person willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon, unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation such that his or her person or health is endangered.
These include concerns the family, team members or DCFS have related to the safety of the children/youth. The worries help the team identify what is important to ensure a safe and secure future for the children/youth.
Wraparound is a multi-agency initiative. The Wraparound approach is a family-centered, strengths-based, needs-driven planning and service delivery process. It advocates for family-professional partnership to ensure family voice, choice and ownership. Wraparound children and family teams benefits children by working with the family to ensure Permanency. Wraparound is funded through Title IV-E funds. The average length of involvement with the program is 8 months. The primary focus of the program is to keep children out of residential placements and maintain them safely in their family and community.
The practice of using flipchart pads and markers to write all brainstormed team responses to the agenda items during the CFT meeting. Examples of what is charted include: Family goal, non-negotiables, strengths, worries, needs and the plan for "what could go wrong".
Refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for boys and men or girls and women. These influence the ways that people act, interact, and feel about themselves. Gender is different from Sex in that Sex is assigned at birth.
an internal understanding of one’s own gender (e.g. a person’s internal sense of being male, female or something else). Therefore, a transgender person’s gender identity does not match the sex assigned to him or her at birth.
Ideas on what possible needs may be driving a person's behavior.
Matters related to the safety and well-being of the child(ren)/youth that cannot be changed at the present time (e.g. children cannot be supervised by anyone under the influence). Non-negotiables are focused on the "now" and should give the team ideas about the limits to planning and clarity on what cannot be compromised.
A continuous learning process in which you think about your practice, and consciously analyze your decision-making. It is an important tool in developing insight based on professional experiences, drawing on theory and relating it to practice.
A continuous process by which the "right people" for the child, youth and family have formed a CFT that meets, talks and plans together. The CFT has the skills, family knowledge and abilities, necessary to define the strengths and needs of the child and family, in order to organize effective services specific to their needs.
A need is what drives a behavior and what makes a behavior functional for the person. The child and/or youth's needs should be the focus of the teaming process to ensure their safety and well-being. Recognizing the individual and family needs is central to the family-engagement and planning process.
Degree to which the focus child(ren), parents (including the non-custodial parent), family members, and caregivers are active ongoing participants (e.g. having a significant role, voice, choice and influence) in shaping decisions made about child and family strengths and needs, goals, supports and services.