Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 18 - HUMAN SERVICES › Part 6 - Division of Family and Children's Services › Chapter 1 - DFCS Policy Manual › Section 18-6-1-C - Prevention/Protection & In-Home Services Policy › Section 18-6-1-C-II - Overview of Family Centered Practice

Current through June 25, 2024
A Family Centered Practice approach consists of:
* Keeping families together when possible, focusing on the
					 entire family rather than just the child;
* Promoting family competence and self-direction;
* Providing flexible and convenient services to the family
					 that are home- and community-based;
* Networking with other child and family service
					 providers;
* Offering a comprehensive array of services that meet a
					 range of needs;
A.
Scope of
				  Services
The overall purpose of both Prevention and Protection
					 services is to prevent the unnecessary placement of children away from their
					 families by providing In-Home services aimed at restoring families in crisis to
					 an acceptable level of functioning through a Family-Centered Practice approach.
Families eligible for In-Home Prevention or Protection
					 services are those with one or more children ages birth through 17 years who
					 are determined to be at risk for abuse or neglect or have experienced
					 maltreatment in the home.
For the purpose of achieving family unity within a safe
					 environment, In-Home Prevention and Protection services' Worker may provide,
					 coordinate or refer families for any of the following services:
* Counseling (educational, vocational, family planning);
* Medical and psychological evaluations and treatment;
* Skill building in parenting, child development, age
					 appropriate disciplinary practices, child care, advocacy for support and
					 services, conflict resolution, budgeting, housekeeping, and meal preparation;
* Assistance and support to enhance the likelihood of
					 positive family responsibility and self-sufficiency;
* Housing information and assistance;
* Emergency financial assistance through flex funds or
					 other monetary resources available to the local DFCS office or through
					 community partners;
* Parent-aide or in-home aide services, if available;
* Respite care;
* Day care assistance;
* Transportation assistance;
* Assistance with and connection to both formal and
					 informal support systems and resources; and
* Court involvement.
1.
Prevention Services
Prevention Services
- voluntary services
					 provided to families due to issues of safety and/or risk concerning children
					 which if not addressed could result in the abuse or neglect of children or
					 family disruptions.
Families may request assistance due to lack of resources
					 or some type of family dysfunction. Families are provided services even though
					 there has been no indication or evidence of abuse or neglect of children. The
					 purpose of service provision is to prevent abuse, neglect, or family
					 disruption.
The focus of Prevention Services:
* Promote the safety and well-being of children and their
					 families;
* Preserve family unity where children's safety can be
					 supported;
* Maintain permanency for children; and
* Empower families to achieve or sustain independence and
					 self-sufficiency.
2.
Protection Services
Protection Services
- services provided to
					 families in which abuse or neglect of children has occurred and a finding of
					 substantiated abuse or neglect has been determined. The purpose of service
					 provision is to protect children within the context of the family from further
					 abuse or neglect.
In the decision to open a case for service provision, the
					 difference between opening a Prevention case or a Protection case, with one
					 exception, lies in the determination of abuse or neglect of children. If the
					 determination is made during the investigation that abuse or neglect has
					 occurred and factors of risk and safety indicate a case should be opened, a
					 Protective Services case should be opened. If no evidence of abuse or neglect
					 is found during an investigation or if no report of abuse or neglect has been
					 made or screened in but factors of safety and risk indicate the need to open a
					 case, a Prevention case will be opened. The exception to this rule are cases in
					 which the court has issued an order that services be provided to a specific
					 child or children within a family. Such cases are always, regardless of a
					 finding of abuse or the absence of such a finding, Protection cases with
					 Protection services being provided to the child or children on whom a court
					 order requires the provision of services.
The overall purpose of both Prevention and Protective
					 services is to prevent the unnecessary placement of children away from their
					 families by providing in-home services aimed at restoring families in crisis to
					 an acceptable level of functioning through a Family-Centered Practice approach.