WORKING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE
13TH CIRCUIT
AND
HILLSBOROUGH KID’S INC.
Whereas, the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) provides Probation and Community Corrections for juveniles in Hillsborough County under the jurisdiction of the 13th Judicial Circuit, and
Whereas, Hillsborough Kid’s Inc. (HKI) provides Foster Care and Related Services to dependent children in Hillsborough County under contract with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) pursuant to Section 409.1671, F.S.
Therefore, the DJJ and HKI desire to codify this Working Agreement.
A. Purpose
The purpose of this Working Agreement is to provide protocols for the effective and efficient case management of children who are served by both agencies. This Working Agreement is also designed to provide referral mechanisms to enable either party to refer appropriate cases to each other pursuant to statutory provisions. This agreement is guided under the principal of collaborative planning for mutual cases to enable the best possible outcome for the children involved.
The protocols include the following:
1. Cases Being Served by Both Agencies –
DJJ Responsibilities:
1. The DJJ Case Manager will report known or suspected abuse, neglect, or abandonment cases to the Hotline for appropriate investigation by DCF.
2. If Foster Care and Related Services are requested by DCF from HKI, the DJJ Case Manger will attend the Early Service Intervention Staffing (ESI) in addition to other related staffings that may be scheduled. The HKI will advise the DJJ at least 72 hours prior to any staffing.
3. DJJ will explore and complete any appropriate referrals to long term residential care programs with assistance from HKI as is appropriate.
4. DJJ will complete any necessary referrals for psychological testing and treatment with assistance from HKI as appropriate.
5. DJJ will assist with transportation for medical treatment when the requirement is for weekly or more frequent visits. HKI will equally share this responsibility with DJJ as needed.
6. DJJ will arrange transportation for delinquency hearings and other delinquency related matters where the youth’s presence is required. If the case is an open foster care case, the DJJ Case Manager will notify the HKI Care Manger regarding any delinquency hearings. The HKI Care Manger will be responsible for the transportation of the child to the hearing if the child is currently residing in a foster home or other community dependency residential program.
7. DJJ will notify HKI at least 72 hours prior to all inter/intra agency staffings which include but are not limited to multi-disciplinary. Pre-commitment, change of placement or post placement staffings.
8. DJJ will provide a copy of the current supervision plan and all court orders to HKI for all children being jointly served by both agencies.
9. DJJ will notify HKI in writing before closing any case receiving services from both agencies.
HKI Responsibilities:
1. HKI will arrange transportation for dependency hearings and other dependency related matters where the youth’s presence is required.
2. HKI will review any proposed change in the legal custody of the youth prior to any court hearing.
3. HKI will notify DJJ at least 72 hours before all inter/intra agency staffings including but not limited to ESI, Child Protection Team, Integrated Services Network Committee, and Termination of Parental Rights.
4. HKI will notify DJJ in writing at least two weeks prior to any Judicial Review, change of custody, Adoption Hearing, and other related legal proceedings on cases being served by both agencies. HKI will discuss their recommendation with the DJJ Case Manager prior to the hearing.
5. HKI will provide a copy of the current Care Plan for the child to the DJJ Case Manager within five (5) working days of the completion of the plan. The HKI Care Manager will consult with the DJJ Case Manger for input into the plan prior to completion.
6. HKI will be responsible for the placement of any child placed in the custody of DCF under order of the Juvenile Division of the Circuit Court pursuant to a finding of dependency. HKI will be responsible for all standard procedures of HKI in these cases.
7. HKI will notify DJJ in writing before the closure of any case receiving services from both agencies.
2. Judicial Orders for Shelter at Delinquency Hearings –
DJJ Responsibilities:
1. If the Juvenile Division orders a JJ client into shelter at a detention hearing, the DJJ Case Manger will request an option to make an alternative non-shelter placement at Haven Poe Runaway Center and will then contact the center to attempt placement and transportation for the youth.
2. If the Juvenile Division orders the case to be placed on the dependency shelter docket, the DJJ Case Manger will contact the HKI Intake Unit at ___ ____ immediately following the hearing. DJJ will staff the case with the HKI Intake Unit prior to the scheduled date of the shelter hearing to develop a joint recommendation to the court.
3. If the Juvenile division orders the child into shelter status, DJJ will be responsible for providing a copy of the order and other written material to HKI that be necessary for the placement of the child in shelter.
4. DJJ will be responsible for all delinquency matters and subsequent delinquency court hearings during the child’s placement in shelter. This will include responsibility for transportation and any visitation plan for the child.
5. DJJ will notify HKI regarding all staffings held regarding a child in shelter status for joint participation.
HKI Responsibilities:
1. HKI will be responsible for locating an appropriate placement for the youth ordered into shelter status by the Juvenile Division.
2. HKI will be responsible for the transportation of the youth to the shelter placement.
3. HKI will be responsible for all dependency related matters regarding the child during the shelter placement. This will include transportation to any future dependency hearings and all court related work regarding the dependency status of the child.
4. HKI will be responsible for the Child Health Screening within 72 hours of placement in shelter.
5. HKI will be responsible for the completion of the Client Resource Record (yellow jacket) with assistance from the DJJ Case Manager.
6. HKI will notify DJJ regarding all staffings held regarding the child in shelter status for joint participation.
3. Youth’s Parents Refuse to Take Custody from DJJ Program
DJJ Responsibilities:
1. If the parent or guardian of a youth in a DJJ facility refuses to take custody when the youth is ready for release, the DJJ Case Manager, after review and approval by the unit supervisor, will transport the youth to their home and make reasonable efforts to have the parent or guardian take custody of the youth.
2. DJJ will advise the parent or guarding regarding services in their area to assist them with the youth’s return to their home.
3. If the parent or guardian continues to refuse custody of the youth, the DJJ Case Manager will ask the parent or guardian for the names of relatives and their addresses or phone numbers and further request information on relatives and non-relatives who may serve as an alternate placement.
4. DJJ will advise the parent or guarding the Juvenile Division of the Circuit Court MAY order the parent or guardian to incur expenses of the youth’s placement in a shelter facility.
5. If placement with the parent/guardian or alternate placement with a relative or non-relative is not possible, the DJJ Case Manager will call the HKI Intake Unit and request shelter placement for the youth.
6. DJJ will be responsible for transporting the youth to the location of the HKI Intake Unit.
7. DJJ will be responsible for providing demographic information sufficient for the shelter placement.
8. DJJ will attend the Shelter Hearing following the placement to advise the court regarding status of the case.
9. DJJ will be responsible for all items identified in 1 above listed as DJJ responsibilities for Cases Receiving Services From Both Agencies.
HKI Responsibilities:
1. HKI will assist the DJJ Case Manager in locating other relatives and alternative placements for the child.
2. HKI will arrange for a shelter placement if other placement potentials are not located.
3. HKI will transport the youth to the designated shelter placement.
4. HKI will prepare the necessary paperwork for the Shelter Hearing and will attend the hearing with the DJJ Case Manager.
5. HKI will be responsible for all transportation regarding dependency related matters while the youth is in shelter.
6. HKI will be responsible for the Child Health Screening within 72 hours of placement in shelter.
7. HKI will be responsible for all items identified in 1 above listed as HKI responsibilities for Cases Receiving Services From Both Agencies.
4. Dispute Resolution
It is the intent of this Working Agreement that both parties will jointly work together in the best interest of the children and families being served by both agencies. In those situations in which disagreements arise during the implement of the agreement, the following procedures will be followed:
1. The first level of negotiation to resolve the disagreement will be handled by the DJJ Unit Supervisor and the HKI Care Manager Supervisor.
2. If agreement is not resolved at level one, the case will be referred to the DJJ Chief Probation Officer and the HKI Care Center Director for resolution.
3. The final level of dispute will be referred to the DJJ Regional Director and the HKI Chief Operating Officer for resolution.
5. Termination of Agreement
This agreement may be terminated by mutual agreement of the parties by giving 60 days written notice specifying the effective date of such termination. The agreement may be periodically reviewed and amended upon agreement of both parties to the agreement.
The Working Agreement shall become effective upon the date of its execution by both parties or by February 4, 2001 and shall remain in force and effect until terminated by either party.
In WITNESS THEREOF , the DJJ and HKI have executed this Agreement through their duly authorized representative.
_______________________ ____ __________________ ____
Dept. of Juvenile Justice Date Hillsborough Kid’s Inc. Date