Sec. 07.02.01.04. Services to Families with Children — Central Intake (SFC-I) or Family Support Services (FSS)

A. Description.

(1) Services to Families with Children-Central Intake or Family Support Services is a voluntary assessment and service provision program for families requesting assistance by preventing further breakdown in family functioning which, if not addressed, might require either Child Protective Services intervention, out-of-home placement, or dissolving of the family unit.

(2) Services include:

(a) Use of an approved family assessment designed to identify both the needs, risks, and safety issues of all household members;

(b) A mutually agreed upon combination of assistance to help resolve the identified problems;

(c) Any of the services identified in Regulation .03 of this chapter; and

(d) Referrals for services to outside vendors in conjunction with Regulation 03 of this chapter.

B. A family is eligible for SFC-I or FSS:

(1) Without regard to income;

(2) Who is experiencing a situational crisis brought on by:

(a) Catastrophe such as fire, flood, or storm;

(b) Loss of income;

(c) Lack of shelter;

(d) Domestic violence;

(e) Physical or mental illness;

(f) Death of or desertion by a significant other, including incarceration;

(g) Breakdown in relationship between adult caregivers, which if not addressed could lead to out-of-home placement of the children;

(h) Breakdown in the parent-child relationship; or

(i) Substance abuse or emotional disturbance of a child or adult household member; and

(3) Who is not currently involved with Child Protective Services or LDSS because of alleged or indicated child abuse or neglect.

C. A family who is experiencing barriers in obtaining benefits under the Family Investment Administration's services shall focus on:

(1) Employment, education, training, family responsibility, and self-sufficiency;

(2) Obtaining preventive health care for children;

(3) Regularly sending school age children to school; and

(4) Any or all of the services listed in Regulation .03 of this chapter.

D. Application Procedures.

(1) A referral for service can be initiated by:

(a) The customer/applicant;

(b) Another agency;

(c) Another local department or program with a screening and assignment policy in place; or

(d) A Family Investment Administration (FIA) supervisor or worker.

(2) Within 5 working days of receipt of the referral from the Family Investment Administration, the family shall be assigned a worker.

(3) Within 7 calendar days of receipt of the referral from the customer/applicant, another agency, local department, or program, a determination shall be made to:

(a) Accept and initiate service for the family;

(b) Contact the family or referring source to discuss:

(i) The immediacy of the need for service;

(ii) Any delay in implementation of service due to restraints of the Department, such as staff shortage or excessive referrals; and

(iii) Alternative or intermediate service resources available within the community until such time that the local department can offer service to the family; or

(c) Decline the offer for services and notify the referring source.

(4) Within 7 calendar days of the acceptance date, a meeting between the caseworker and family shall take place during which:

(a) The applicant shall complete and sign an application form;

(b) The worker and the primary caretaker for the child shall complete and sign a preliminary service agreement; and

(c) The worker and applicant/customer shall initiate the safety assessment or take appropriate action to ensure safety, if warranted.

(5) If the customer is unavailable during this time, there shall be clearly recorded documentation with an explanation and new meeting date within the next 7 calendar days.

(6) If there are a minimum of three attempted contacts through a combination of on-site visits and certified letters, the local department shall document the attempts and close the case with no further action.

E. Provision of Services.

(1) Within 7 working days of case acceptance, the worker shall complete the safety assessment for every child.

(2) Within the 30 calendar days of service, the worker shall complete a family assessment for all household members, including a sanctioned Maryland Risk Assessment.

(3) Within the 30 calendar days of service, the caseworker may provide, coordinate, or refer families for any of the services identified in Regulation .03 of this chapter.

(4) If continued services are necessary beyond 30 days, and in order to stabilize the family and fulfill the goals of the service agreement, the caseworker shall make the appropriate transfer of service through a locally identified protocol.

(5) At any point within the 30 calendar days, services may be terminated and referred to another unit within the local department, including Child Protective Services or other In-Home Family Service.

F. Duration of Services to Families-Central Intake.

(1) Services may continue for up to 30 calendar days from the acceptance date.

(2) In order to avoid the transfer to another local department unit and before the 30th calendar day, a worker may formally request up to an additional 15 calendar days through the local department's director or director's designee to finalize the service goals and make referrals to external resources.

G. Case Disposition.

(1) The worker, on or before the 30th calendar day, shall take one of the following actions:

(a) Close the case when no other services are required;

(b) Provide assistance, refer to outside resources, and close;

(c) Formally request an extension;

(d) Refer to continuing SFC-C, after it is determined that:

(i) More extensive services are warranted;

(ii) The family wants the service; and

(iii) The family meets the income eligibility requirement specified in COMAR 07.02.04.03; or

(e) Refer to another local department program by following the appropriate protocol.

(2) The worker shall refer back to the Family Investment Administration once barriers have been eliminated or a determination has been made that services are ineffective in removing barriers.

H. Case Closing.

(1) Services shall be discontinued and the case closed before the time limits specified in §F of this regulation when:

(a) The family declines to accept this voluntary service and there are no safety issues regarding the children in the home;

(b) At least three documented attempts have been made to contact the family, which includes regular or certified mail, and there has been no response;

(c) Service objectives in the written service agreement have been achieved;

(d) The family is not actively progressing toward meeting the objectives of the service agreement;

(e) The family cannot be located;

(f) The family moves to another jurisdiction;

(g) The family circumstances have changed and there are safety issues and risk factors concerning the children in the home and an appropriate referral has been made to assure safety and reduce risk; or

(h) The family has met the service objectives mutually agreed upon, further services are needed to stabilize the family, and the appropriate referral is made.

(2) Before closure, the worker shall offer the family the opportunity to discuss:

(a) The reason for closing;

(b) The family's progress;

(c) The need to continue providing services;

(d) Any referrals made or to be made to other programs or resources; and

(e) Other resources and options available to the family if another crisis should occur in the future.