WORKING AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CHILDREN’S NETWORK OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
AND THE
CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATORS – DISTRICT 8
I. PURPOSE.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Children’s Network of Southwest Florida (CNS) agree to coordinate services provided by the Case Management Organization with the activities of the Child Protective Investigators (CPI) of DCF.
CPI’s have the responsibility to investigate allegations of child abuse, neglect and abandonment reported to the Florida Abuse Hotline Information system (FAHIS). CNS will provide crisis response services, protective services, foster care services, and adoption services to at risk children and families identified by CPIs.
This agreement sets out procedures to be used by DCF and CNS staff when requesting and utilizing mutual services. DCF and CNS will work together on issues of mutual concern to improve the quality of services available to victims of child abuse and their families. Training classes will be jointly developed and conducted on issues related to legal updates, policy changes and best practices, to ensure community of services. Both DCF and CNS will ensure each party is kept informed of case activities on mutual cases.
II. UPON THE RECEIPT OF AN ABUSE REPORT
When an abuse report is received concerning a current foster home, the Child protective Investigator will immediately contact the Case Management Organization who will determine if a representative will accompany the CPI on the home visit. The CPI will keep the CMO informed of new information on the investigation in a timely manner.
Court Hearings:
a. CPI’s will attend all appropriate court hearings and mediation sessions.
b. CPI’s will complete their portion of the Predisposition Study within three weeks of the scheduled Disposition Hearing.
III. CASE TRANSFER PROCESS
Emergency Shelter
When a child is removed and placed in emergency shelter care, the investigative tasks and case supervision responsibilities shall remain with the Child Protective Investigator who made the placement until an Intake, Triage and Referral (ITR) staffing is held with the Lead agency.
Ongoing investigative tasks shall continue to remain with the CPI through disposition or case closure.
Child Protective Investigator will complete the Revenue Maximization Information and Referral Form, TANF form, with a copy of the Shelter Petition and Shelter Order to the Rev Max Unit within 24 hours of the child’s removal and placement into the Emergency Shelter or Emergency Shelter Home
Refer to Rev Max Manual for additional Rev Max requirements
The Utilization Management Unit of the Lead Agency (The Children’s Network of Southwest Florida) will convene an Intake, Triage and Referral (ITR) staffing within 72 hours or 3 working days at the Emergency Shelter or local office in the geographic area where the child was removed, providing the case is ready for staffing as identified below.
An ITR packet will be prepared by the CPI or department designee and forwarded to the UM unit at the Lead Agency 1 working day prior to the scheduled staffing for review of completeness.
The ITR packet MUST contain the following documents:
a. Complete Service Planning Conference Checklist
b. Shelter Packet
c. Form 5 from Rev Max indicating federal funding eligibility
d. HomeSafenet Printout of case
e. Child Safety Assessment
f. Abuse Report which resulted in the referral for service (Current
Open Report w/o reporter information)
g. Prior Abuse Reports (w/o reporter information)
h. Chronos/Field Notes
i. Consent for Nurse Care Coordinator
IN HOME PROTECTIVE SUPERVISION
1. The Child Protective Investigator is responsible for contacting the Utilization Management Unit to initiate a protective Services staff.
a. If the child is removed and placed into Emergency Shelter, and subsequently returned home at the Shelter Hearing, the CPI is responsible for contacting the UM Unit to initiate a Protective services staffing.
b. If the CPI fails to notify the UM Unit within 7 working days a UM Specialist will contact the CPI or their supervisor to determine the status of the child, the need for a staffing and ongoing protective services requirements.
2. ITR coordinator of the Utilization Management Unit will convene a Protective Services staffing within 72 hours or 3 working days of notification by the CPI that ongoing protective supervision is needed.
3. The Protective Services Staffing will be held at the local office in the geographic area where the child or family resides.
4. The CPI must complete the Information and Referral and TANF forms and submit them to the Centralized Revenue maximization unit.
IV. FINAL CASE TRANSFER
Responding to subsequent or additional abuse reports shall remain the responsibility of the Child Protective Investigator. The CPI will be responsible for keeping the CMO case manager informed of any additional information that would impact the placement decision or provision of services to the child. Upon completion of the investigation the CPI must provide the following to the assigned CMO for conclusion of the case transfer process:
a. Final abuse report with a complete summary of the findings at
the conclusion/locking of their investigation.
b. Final Child Safety Assessment
c. Chronos/Field Notes
V. EMERGENCY SHELTER
Child Protective Investigator identifies a child in need of emergency shelter placement.
Child Protective Investigator is responsible for transporting child to the Emergency Shelter or Emergency Shelter home in the appropriate geographic area.
Child Protective Investigator placing the child(ren) is responsible for completing the Intake information required by the Emergency Shelter and/or providing the information to the Emergency Shelter home per Operating procedure CFOP 175-34 and CFOP 175-23.
(Refer to Rev Max Manual for additional Rev Max requirements)
In the event, that a child is in need of Emergency Shelter placement and can not be placed into the “standard” Emergency Shelter placement the CMO Foster Home Development Specialist will be contacted for the least restrictive most appropriate placement options. The CMO Foster Home Development Specialist will contact the UM Liaison assigned to the CMO the next business for authorization outside of the “standard” Emergency Shelter Placement.
VI. Authorization for Emergency Assistance (Flex Funding)
Child Protective Investigator identifies a family in need of assistance. It
must be determined by the CPI that a request for Flex Funding will prevent
the removal of the child and will provide immediate remedy to the
circumstance for which the funds are sought.
Child Protective Investigator must document attempts to obtain the needed funding or assistance from at least two alternative sources (i.e. Salvation Army. food bank, utility company, etc.) and discusses case with Supervisor who must also approve request.
If Supervisor agrees with the request, the Child Protective Investigator will complete a Flex Fund packet and forward to the UM Director in the Lead Agency.
If approved by the UM Unit, the liaison will notify the Finance Unit will be notified to release a check in the amount needed and forward notification to Centralized Rev Max and the CPI.
For routine authorizations, the Lead Agency will make every effort to prepare the check within one (1) business day.
VII. Authorization for Family Preservation Service of ICCP and Family Builder
Child Protective Investigator identifies a family in need of assistance It must be determined by the CPI that a request for these type will stabilize the current placement, prevent the removal of the child and/or will provide immediate safe remedy to the family’s circumstance.
The CPI should staff the case with their supervisor if time permits. If this will prevent removal the CPI may initiate them immediately.
If Supervisor agrees with request and the service requires funding by the Lead Agency the CPI must complete a Service Authorization Request and forward the request to the UM Unit.
UM approves or denies the request based upon established UM protocols for approving Family Preservation funds.
VIII. CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Conflict resolution may be expedited based on the urgency of the issue.
1. If there is a conflict regarding a case plan or service provisions, the CPI supervisor and a liaison with the Case Management Organization along with the Utilization Management Unit.
2. If resolution is not reached the DCF Operations Program Administrator and the Utilization Management Director will staff the case.
3. If agreement still has not been reached the case will be referred to the Deputy District Administrator and the Director of Operations at the Children’s Network of Southwest Florida.
4. Final resolution when necessary will be made between the DCF District Administrator and the CEO of the Children’s Network of Southwest Florida.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto cause their signatures to be affixed:
______
Mike Murphy
District Administrator
Department of Children and Families
Date: ______
______
Harry Propper
CEO
Children’s Network of Southwest Florida
Camelot Community Care, Inc.
Date: ______