WORKING AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

CHILD PROTECTION TEAM OF HILLSBOROUGHCOUNTY

TAMPA GENERALHOSPITAL

AND

HILLSBOROUGH KID’S INC.

Whereas, the Child Protection Team (CPT) provides specialized assessment services to children and families when there has been a complaint to the Florida Abuse Hotline of suspected abuse or neglect, and

Whereas, Hillsborough Kid’s Inc. (HKI) is entering an agreement with the Department of Children and Families to become the Lead Agency for Community-Based Care and will be responsible for the provision of foster care and related services pursuant to Section 409.1671, F.S.,

Therefore, the CPT and HKI desire to codify this Working Agreement.

  1. Purpose

The Purpose of this Working Agreement is to coordinate services provided by the CPT and services provided by HKI. Members of HKI and their subcontracted agencies have the responsibility of providing services to families where child abuse, neglect, and abandonment has been reported to the Florida Abuse Hotline System (FAHIS), and the family is considered to be in need of services. The CPT supports protective investigation activities by providing medical, psychosocial, and psychological assessments of victims and families, which have been impacted by allegations of abuse, neglect or abandonment. This agreement sets out protocols to be used by HKI staff and CPT staff when there is a need for coordination of services and assessments on behalf of families. The protocols include the following:

CPT Shall:

  1. Provide specialized assessment and/or diagnostic services to children and families referred to them by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Child Protection Investigators. These assessments include:
  1. Medical diagnosis of children suspected to be abused or neglected
  2. Psychological evaluations of children and their caretakers
  3. Family psychosocial assessments
  4. Specialized forensic interviews of children
  5. Psychiatric evaluations of children and caretakers
  6. Multidisciplinary case staffings
  1. All services described in 1. Above are provided only to children currently under investigations by DCF, and the services are provided, as CPT deems appropriate.
  2. Provide information regarding the results and outcomes of the above assessments to HKI staff who are involved with the further evaluative and treatments needs of said children, in accordance with Chapter 39, F.S..
  3. Invite HKI staff to participate in CPT multidisciplinary staffings, when appropriate.
  4. Attend HKI staffings on mutual clients whenever feasible.
  5. Work together on issues of mutual concern to improve the quality and availability of services to abused and neglected children and their families.

HKI shall:

  1. Provide information to CPT regarding families receiving HKI services that are also receiving assessments from CPT.
  2. Attend and participate in CPT staffings on mutual clients and clients who may be referred to HKI by DFS or CPT.
  3. Notify CPT or HKI staffings regarding mutual clients.
  4. Work together on issues of mutual concern to improve the quality and availability of services to abused and neglected children and their families.
  1. Procedures:
  1. CPT and HKI mutually agree to share information regarding mutual clients in the interest and furtherance of treatment plans for said clients.
  2. CPT shall notify HKI on a weekly basis of cases to be staffed by CPT, and HKI shall provide participation in said staffings on mutual clients and on clients needing HKI services.
  3. HKI shall notify CPT on a weekly basis of HKI staffings, and CPT shall provide representation and participation in said staffings whenever feasible.
  4. CPT shall provide assessment reports for the furtherance of treatment plans to HKI, upon request, to mutually served children as provided by Florida Statutes.
  5. HKI shall provide case information to CPT on cases known to HKI and currently being assessed by CPT and DCF.
  6. In all instances, both CPT and HKI shall adhere to confidentiality laws as specified by Florida Statutes.
  1. Conflict Resolution:

In the event a conflict develops between CPT and HKI regarding the appropriateness of services for a child or family regarding the implementation of this Agreement, the following steps will be exercised by both parties to develop a satisfactory resolution:

  1. Issues of disagreement will be handled initially between the CPT Case Coordinator and the Care Manager for HKI.
  2. Issues not resoled in 1. Above will be referred to the CPT Clinical Director and the Care Management Supervisor for HKI.
  3. Issues still unresolved will be referred to the CPT Manager and the Care Center Director for a final resolution
  4. All issues concerning medical services remain the ultimate decision of the Medical Director of CPT.
  1. Mission, Summary and Conclusion

CPT and HKI believe that when it can be made safe, the best place for a child to grow, develop and thrive is within his or her family. Both agencies will place child safety and well being as they’re number one priority. Procedures and policies mutually agreed upon by CPT and HKI shall be reduced to writing and duly signed by both parties. Both parties shall follow these agreements, while in effect; however, they can be amended from time to time if said changes are mutually agreeable and deemed necessary.

  1. Termination

Neither party may unilaterally terminate this Working Agreement without first consulting with the other party as provided in this paragraph. This Agreement may be terminated by mutual agreement of the parties giving 60 days written notice specifying the effective date of such termination.

  1. This Working Agreement shall become effective upon the date of its execution by both parties or by February 4, 2001 and shall continue in force and effect until terminated by either party pursuant to E above.

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Child Protection Team of Hillsborough Hillsborough Kid’s Inc.

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