Tip Sheet for CPS In-home Ongoing CQA:
Minimize cut and pasting so that it is clear what new information is being added in the Ongoing CQA. Parts of the original investigation can be used, but supplemented.
- Maltreatment:
- Include a statement of when the case was opened and why. List date, type and finding of any new CPS or APS reports received since the last CQA. Any resource link information should be included as well.
- In a sentence statement describe why you chose the anchor rating selected.
- Underlying Causes:
- Summarize progress since the last CQA on case plan goals and tasks.
- Include what services have been provided, any changes that have occurred in the family such as new or changes to family members, adult household members, loss of job, illness etc.
- Summarize your contacts with community partners that are working with family members and include their information on how the family is progressing.
- Summarize home visits made to see the family in their home or any contacts with the child (ren) at school.
- If there has been in court activity since the last CQA, summarize this including the date and any orders by the Court.
For kinship care in-home cases,:
- Discuss how the child is doing in the relative placement.
- List visits to this home and any services the relative is using or is in need of.
- Discuss any issues regarding visitation with parents and what actions have occurred to resolve them.
In a sentence statement describe why you chose the anchor rating selected for this section.
- Family Development:
- Summarize how the family is doing in terms of family relationships and any struggles they are having as a single, blended or other type of family.
- Describe any stressors in the relationships of the adults involved in this family.
- Describe involvement of non-custodial parent or absent parent, as well as, document attempts to contact them or their involvement in the case.
- Describe why you chose certain safety or risk factors that populated to this section.
- In a sentence statement describe why you chose the anchor rating that you did.
- Discipline:
- Discuss how the family uses discipline (how they correct and teach appropriate behavior) and punishment (what consequences the family imposes for inappropriate behaviors).
- If there were physical abuse or risk of harm reports related to these issues which lead to a case being opened, summarize progress the family is making on these issues.
- Describe why you chose certain safety or risk factors that populated to this section.
- In a sentence statement describe why you chose the anchor rating that you did.
- Individual Patterns of Behavior:
- For all adult household members, list names, role in the family, physical description, CAN and criminal history, discuss any suspected or documented substance abuse, mental health or domestic violence issues.
- Provide an update on any new CPS or criminal history and how this may effect the safety or risk to the child(ren).
- Discuss any behavioral concerns regarding these individuals that may effect their ability to provide care for themselves or their children. Describe why you chose certain safety or risk factors that populated to this section.
For kinship care in-home cases:
- Discuss any issues or concerns involving the relatives who are caring for the child. This would include any recent CPS or APS reports (or resource links), physical, mental health or other concerns that may affect their ability to continue to care for the child (ren).
Rate each adult household member, or any adult who spends significant time
in the household who could be in a position to provide care for the children.
In a sentence statement describe why you chose the anchor rating that you
did.
- Child Development:
- For all children who live in the home or who may be a child of one of the adults in the home and visits(day or overnight), list their names, relationship to an adult, physical description, any physical, mental health (include any dx or behavioral concerns) or school issues. Be sure to update this with any new information from the last CQA.
- List any medications they are on and why.
- Describe attachment with parent(s) or other household members.
- Rate each child you listed above.
- Describe why you chose certain safety or risk factors that populated to this section.
- In a sentence statement describe why you chose the anchor rating that you did.
- Family Support:
- Update and list who and how community agencies are used by the family to assist them in protecting their child(ren).
- List who and how any family or friends used by the family assists them.
- List names, addresses and phone numbers of family members.
- Describe why you chose certain safety or risk factors that populated to this section.
- In a sentence statement describe why you chose the anchor rating that you did.
- Conclusion:
- Indicate whether the case will remain open and potentially for how long.
- Summarize case planning issues that still need to be completed, indicate if any tasks need to be removed or added to the case plan based on this assessment.
- If the case will be closed, indicate this and summarize in a clear, succinct manner why the children are no longer at risk, what services have been provided to achieve this, and what tasks were negotiated in an aftercare plan.