Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 016 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Division 15 - Children and Family Services
Rule 016.15.10-004 - POLICY V-E: INTENSIVE FAMILY SERVICES Program
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
EXCERPT, DIVISION OF CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES POLICY & PROCEDURES MANUAL, POLICY V-E
POLICY V-E: INTENSIVE FAMILY SERVICES
10/2010
Intensive Family Services (IFS) are time-limited intensive counseling, skill building, support services and referrals to resources that target the needs of the family. The service is primarily intended for families whose children are in imminent risk of an out-of-home placement, but may include under certain circumstances families who have already experienced an out-of-home placement and reunification is planned. Services are aimed at ensuring the safety of all family members while helping the family learn how to stay together successfully. The goal is to safely keep children with their families, when possible, by providing services aimed at restoring families in crisis to an acceptable level of functioning. IFS may be prodded by Division staff or by contractors. Efforts are made to consistently maintain an IFS provider for each county in the state.
PROCEDURE V-E1: Screening
10/2010
Prior to referral, the Family Service Worker will, for new Cases:
A. Complete the CFS-6009: Family, Strengths, Needs, and Risk Assessment in CHRIS. Indicate whether IFS is considered to be an appropriate service.
B. Complete a case staffing and the CES-6010: Case Plan in CHRIS. Indicate whether IFS is considered to be an appropriate service.
C. Refer the family to the County Supervisor for a final determination of referral need.
Prior to referral, the Family Service Worker will for existing cases:
A. Update the CFS-6009 and the CFS-6010. Indicate whether IFS is considered to be an appropriate service.
B. Refer the family to the County Supervisor for a final determination of referral need.
The County Supervisor will:
A. Determine if the family's children are at imminent risk of out-of home placement or the family's children have recently experienced an out-of-home placement and reunification is planned.
B. Decide if the family is appropriate for a referral for IFS.
PROCEDURE V-E2: Referral
10/2010
The Family Service Worker will:
A. Refer families to the IFS Practitioner on the CFS-345: Intensive Family Services Referral Form.
B. Accompany the IFS Practitioner to a joint introductory session with the family.
C. Provide the IFS Practitioner with a copy of the completed CFS-6009 and other pertinent information about the family as appropriate.
The IFS Practitioner will:
A. Within 24 hours of receipt of the referral, hold a joint introductory session with the family and the Family Service Worker.
B. Within 72 hours of receipt of the referral, complete an assessment of the family to determine if IFS is appropriate and the short-term crisis intervention services can be of benefit to the family. Outcomes will be measured through the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale, which is a validated, evidence-based assessment tool with performance indicators. This baseline assessment will guide the family's treatment plan.
C. Within 72 hours of receipt of the referral, recommend to the County Supervisor if the family is appropriate for IFS on the CFS-345: Intensive Family Services Referral Form.
D. Assessment for IFS will focus on:
PROCEDURE V-E3: Service Provision
10/2010
If IFS is appropriate, the County Supervisor will:
A. Add IFS to the Service Log.
B. Delete IFS from the Service Log after termination of IFS.
The IFS Practitioner will:
A. Provide services based on the results of the assessment tool.
B. Provide services on a frequent, often daily, basis within the family's home.
C. Be available to the family 24 hours a day, Seven days a week by telephone.
D. Provide services at times convenient to the family.
E. Provide services to no more than four families at a time.
F. Provide a mixture of counseling and support services, as appropriate to the family's needs.
G. Devote 75% of work time to direct contact with the family.
H. Document the Services provided to the family. Documentation includes:
I. Provide follow-up services once a month for three months after termination of IFS, and again at six months after termination of IFS
J. Provide brief reports to the County Supervisor on the status of the family.
Maintain confidentiality. See POLICY I-F: CONFIDENTIALITY.
POLICY V-E: INTENSIVE FAMILY SERVICES
09/2010
Intensive Family Services (IFS)-are time-limited intensive counseling, skill building, support services, and referrals to resources that target the needs of the family. The service is primarily intended for families whose children are in imminent risk of an out-of-home placement, but may include under certain circumstances, families who have already experienced an out-of-home placement and reunification is planned. Services are aimed at ensuring the safety of all family members while helping the family learn how to stay together successfully. The goal is to safely keep children with their families, when possible, by providing services aimed at restoring families in crisis to an acceptable level of functioning. IFS may be provided by Division staff or by contractors. Efforts are made to consistently maintain an IFS provider for each county in the state.
PROCEDURE V-E1: Screening
09/2010
Prior to referral, the Family Service Worker will, for new cases:
A. Complete the CFS-6009: Family, Strengths, Needs, and Risk Assessment in CHRIS. Indicate whether IFS is considered to be an appropriate service.
B. Complete a case staffing and the CFS-6010: Case Plan in CHRIS. Indicate whether IFS is considered to be an appropriate service.
C. Refer the family to the County Supervisor for a final determination of referral need.
Prior to referral, the Family Service Worker will for existing cases:
A. Update the CFS-6009 and the CFS-6010. Indicate whether IFS is considered to be an appropriate service
B. Refer the family to the County Supervisor for a final determination of referral need.
The County Supervisor will:
A. Determine if the family's children are at imminent risk of out-of home placement or the family's children have recently experienced an out-of-home placement and reunification is planned.
B. Decide if the family is appropriate for a referral for IFS.
PROCEDURE V-E2: Referral
The Family Service Worker will:
A. Refer families to the IFS Practitioner on the CFS-345: Intensive Family Services Referral Form.
B. Accompany the IFS Practitioner to a joint introductory session with the family.
C. Provide the IFS Practitioner with a copy of the completed CFS-6009 and other pertinent information about the family as appropriate.
The IFS Practitioner will:
A. Within 24 hours of receipt of the referral, hold a joint introductory session with the family and the Family Service Worker.
B. Within 72 hours of receipt of the referral, complete an assessment of the family, to determine if IFS is appropriate and the short-term crisis intervention services can be of benefit to the family. Outcomes will be measured through the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale, which is a validated, evidence-based assessment tool with performance indicators. This baseline assessment will guides the family's treatment plan.
C. Within 72 hours of receipt of the referral, recommend to the County Supervisor if the family is appropriate for IFS on the CFS-345: Intensive Family Services Referral Form.
D. Assessment for IFS will focus on:
PROCEDURE V-E3: Service Provision
If IFS is appropriate, the County Supervisor will.
A. Add IFS to the Service Log.
B. Delete IFS from the Service Log after termination of IFS.
The IFS Practitioner will:
A. Provide services based on the results of the assessment tool.
B. Provide services on a frequent, often daily, basis within the family's home.
C. Be available to the family 24 hours a day, seven days a week by telephone.
D. Provide services at times convenient to the family.
E. Provide services to no more than four families at a time.
F. Provide a mixture of counseling and support services, as appropriate to the family's needs.
G. Devote 75% of work time to direct contact with the family.
H. Document the services provided to the family. Documentation includes:
I. Provide follow-up services once a month for three months after termination of IFS, and again at six months after termination of IFS
J. Provide brief reports to the County Supervisor on the status of the family.
Maintain confidentiality. See POLICY I-F: CONFIDENTIALITY.
