Revised Definitions for Classifications (Draft 2)

The following work represents the results of the ILF’s first full review of questions and issues raised about the first draft. I made the minor revisions we all agreed upon and am waiting for word from Sarah about how to capture here feedback from Carol. Changes are in non-bold Red. Issues requiring additional clarity from Sarah and Carole are in Blue.

Introduction

This is a brief, high level summary of work contained in other documentation and is intended only to put the classifications into context:

In December or 2002, the CLA ILF agreed on the following philosophical building blocks:

1. There is great value in classifying cases according to certain family characteristics using information obtained in a family assessment. The original classifications as introduced by Jean Schafer and Carol Smith, given the clarifications and revisions below, seem to provide a workable starting point.
2. We are unable and unwilling (right now) to use those classifications to specify a level of service hours (intensity duration and frequency).  We acknowledge that previous efforts related to Level of Service were probably an attempt to define what was meant by the phrase “Front Loading of Cases”.
3. We agree with the concept of front loading for certain classifications, and in order to begin integrating this into our system, we agree to set aggressive target completion dates based on the classification of the case. While this stops short of defining the number of hours that should be spent working on a case, it does begin to create the expectation that certain types of cases should be closed within relatively short time frames.
4. Finally, we agreed that the experience we gain in classifying and setting projected closure dates will help to determine what added steps might add value. If we track what services were delivered and how many hours were spent on each case, along with the actual closure dates compared to the projected closure dates, we may be able to begin re-establishing some level of service data that will have the credibility needed to support further work.

A. TRANSIENT

Pertains to families with minor children stranded for whatever reason in the agency's service area and who require minimal assistance to move on to their destination.

It should be emphasized that families are classified "transient" by their own definition. Families who possess risk factors related to child abuse or neglect can only be categorized to have transient needs through collaboration with the community from which they originated, and with family/friends/employers with whom they intend to connect.

Adolescents or pre-adolescents who have "run away" or who may have been living with relatives or friends in the agency's services area (through voluntary agreements) also must be assessed in collaboration with the community in which the custodial family resides.

Family-centered practice would encourage service to be provided (by and) within the service area the custodial adult(s) resides. This would avoid unnecessary isolation of children from their families.

Transient cases should be targeted for closure within 15 calendar days from point of referral.

B. EMERGENT

Pertains to families whose difficulties are immediate, catastrophic, and are (as likely as not) provoked by environmental factors beyond their control. Their present crisis can cause them to “slip below the level of function” that the neighborhood and community can tolerate in regards to the care of their children. This emergency is generally a rare, unusual, isolated life event that causes them hardship, pain, distraction, and temporary dysfunction. This event can be related to things like:

a)      Acute illness of Child/Caretaker or close family member

b)      Acute behavior of child that frightens frustrates or causes the family to seek help.

c)      Death of the primary caretaker or close family member

d)      Divorce or separation of caretakers

e)      Income of family “cut-off”.

f)       Housing eviction of family

g)      Relapse in family sobriety

h)      Relapse from family mental illness treatment

i)        First disclosure of sexual abuse within the family

Emergent cases should be targeted for closure within 45 calendar days from point of referral.

C. LIMITED SITUATIONAL

Characterizes families who have begun a cycle of maladaptive interaction, which can be arrested by changes in one or more areas of functioning. Families whose primary underlying source of risk to children is related to 1 or more of the following would be considered to have Limited Situational needs. The preference is to have the events confirmed by an appropriate specialist outside the Social Work Field (e.g. Mental Health Therapist, Doctor, Psychologist, psychiatrist, etc) but it is not required.

a)      Financial insecurity of primary caretaker(s).

b)      Chronic physical illness of child or primary caretaker(s).

c)      Emotional instability of primary caretaker(s) as a result of domestic turmoil, violence or other adult trauma.

d)      Emotional instability of primary caretaker(s) as a result of unresolved childhood trauma

e)      Untreated depression of primary caretaker(s) (What about Child?)

f)       Chronic metal illness of primary caretaker(s) (What about Child?)

g)      Developmental disability or retardation of family member other than primary caretaker

h)      Use/abuse of alcohol or drugs by family members

i)        Lack of basis information or education regarding “how to parent”.

These cases should be targeted for closure within 120 calendar days from point of referral.

D. Multiple Needs in General

Characterizes families that exhibit a host of problems, including several risk factors contributing to child abuse/neglect.  These families need specific assistance including safety planning and familial behavioral changes that will reduce risk of abuse/neglect to the children. Multiple needs families are those whose underlying source of risk to children is related to 2 or more of the following, diagnosed or otherwise confirmed by appropriate professionals (including physicians, mental health, certified counselors, psychologists or law enforcement).

a)      Debilitating physical disease of one or more family caretakers

b)      Chronic mental illness of one or more family caretakers

c)      Chronic addiction of one or more family caretakers

d)      Developmental disability or retardation of primary caretaker

e)      Psychological impairment (Domestic Violence)

The course of action for responding to these families is influenced by the degree to which the family is connected to others. Three levels of connection are defined:

D1: Multiple Needs: Family Connections

There are established, ongoing relationships with responsible family, although they may have temporarily disconnected (or may occasionally disconnect). 

In these cases the role of Child Protective Services is to facilitate extended family system support for the troubled family to assure they have a carefully designed safety and services plan which addresses the underlying risk factors.

These cases should be targeted for closure within 180 calendar days from point of referral.

D2: Multiple Needs: Friends/Community Connections 

There are no family connections, either because of geographical or psychological distance, but there are established, ongoing relationships with responsible friends and/or community members.

In these cases the role of Child Protective Services is to facilitate connections and support for the troubled family to their friends and/or community to assure they have a carefully designed safety and services plan which addresses the underlying risk factors.

These cases should be targeted for closure within 240 calendar days from point of referral.

D3: Multiple Needs: No Connections

There are no established ongoing connections or relationships with family, friends or community and no demonstrated ability to form and maintain them. These families may only be able to utilize supportive services from family, friends, or community with continued system oversight. The system oversight serves as parent, grandparent or guardian.

These cases should be targeted for closure within 180 calendar days from point of referral.

Second Draft: April 8, 2003