Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. OFS
shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of Community
Services (OCS), the state child welfare agency, for collaboration in
identifying and serving needy families where one or more minor children living
in the home are at risk of abuse or neglect. The methods of collaboration
include:
1.
Child Protection
Investigation (CPI)- comprises services to assess the validity of a
report of child abuse or neglect involving a minor child or children residing
with a custodial parent, an adult caretaker relative, or a legal guardian, to
determine whether an emergency exists, and when deemed necessary, to develop a
safety plan which may include coordination of services, emergency removal and
placement, referral to OCS Family Services or another appropriate agency, short
term counseling, parenting guidance, and/or arrangements for concrete services,
such as the Preventive Assistance Fund (PAF) and Reunification Assistance Fund
(RAF).
2.
Family
Services- comprises services to needy families including a child or
children and their parents or adult caretaker relatives, where one or more
minor children living in the home are at risk of abuse or neglect, after an
allegation of child neglect or abuse has been validated, to assist in
preventing the removal of a child from his care giver or, where temporary
emergency removal has already occurred in validated abuse and/or neglect cases,
to help reunite the family by returning the child. Services are also provided
to a family who requests protective services on its own when it is believed
that a child in the family would be at risk of abuse or neglect. Elements of
Family Services include problem identification, family assessment, risk
assessment, safety planning, case planning, counseling, problem resolution,
provision of or arrangements for needed services, and/or concrete aid through
the Preventive Assistance Fund.
3.
Services to Parents- comprises services to needy families,
where one or more minor children living in the home are at risk of abuse or
neglect, after an allegation of child neglect or abuse has been validated, and
where temporary emergency removal has already occurred in validated abuse
and/or neglect cases. Reasonable efforts to maintain the child or children in
the home without further risk of harm will be assessed, the case will be
staffed prior to removal, and an order will be obtained from the judiciary.
Elements of Service to Parents are comprised of problem identification, family
assessment, risk assessment, safety planning, problem resolution, provision of
or arrangement for needed services, and/or concrete aid through the Preventive
Assistance Fund. In any temporary emergency placement, priority will be given
to relatives. These services can be provided when a child is absent from the
home for a period of up to 180 days.
B. These services meet TANF goal 1, to
provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their
own homes or in the homes of relatives. The TANF grant may be used to provide
services in any manner that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the purpose
of the initiative.
C. Financial
eligibility is limited to needy families which include a minor child living
with a custodial parent or an adult caretaker relative. A needy family is a
family in which any member receives a Family Independence Temporary Assistance
Program (FITAP) grant, Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) grant, Food Stamps,
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) benefits, Medicaid, Louisiana Children's
Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP), or Supplemental Security Income
(SSI).
D. Services are considered
non-assistance by the agency.
E.
Direct services which provide for basic needs, that may be provided in response
to an episode of need or a specific crisis situation and are non-recurrent,
such as but not limited to food, clothing, utilities, and shelter assistance,
will not be provided beyond four months. Medical expenses and/or services are
not eligible TANF funded services.
F. A family consists of a child or children
and their parents or adult caretaker relatives within the fifth degree of
relationship, where one or more minor children living in the home is at risk of
abuse or neglect.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
42
U.S.C. 601 et seq.; R.S. 46:231 and R.S.
36:474; Act 16, 2005 Reg. Session, Act 18, 2007 Reg.
Session.
