Chapter 3 : Section 6.4

Parent Skill-Building Services

Procedures

The Department may refer families to Family Connections and/or Nurturing Parenting Program services when all of the following criteria are met:

• The FFA-Investigation has been completed with sufficient information collection to make an impending danger decision.

• At least one child age birth to 18 resides in the home; or a parent in the home has parenting time (visitation) with a child.

• At least one parent is able and available to participate in Family Connections and/or Nurturing Parenting Program and does not currently have any of the following restrictions on participation:

  • no contact order between the parent, guardian or caregiver and the child;

  • impairment requiring stabilization or improvement before the parent could benefit from Family Connections and/or Nurturing Parenting Program (i.e. active psychosis, physical illness requiring hospitalization or residential care, pervasive substance use impacting reality orientation); and

  • institutionalized or incarcerated.

• The DCS Specialist and family have discussed the family’s strengths and needs and the family has verbally agreed to meet with a Family Connections Consultant (FCC) and/or the Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP) Practitioner to learn about the program and services.

• The DCS Specialist and DCS Supervisor have concluded one or more family members has a behavioral change goal that can be achieved by improving in one or more FC Core Outcome/NPP Parenting Construct, and there are no available and accessible community programs that would provide the family an equivalent service. See FCC Core Outcomes and NPP Parenting Constructions Flyer, CSO-3114.

If at the conclusion of the Family Functioning Assessment – Investigation it is determined that the family only needs concrete supports, where the lack of these supports is not creating a safety threat and risk of out-of-home care, the DCS Specialist shall assist the family with locating community resources and shall not refer the family to Family Connections.

Family Connections Service

Family Connections (FC) is a trauma-informed and empowering service that provides change-focused interventions to achieve core outcomes of improved:

• social support;

• family functioning;

• family resources;

• child well-being;

• parenting attitudes and behaviors; and

• management of parenting stress.

Family Connections services are tailored to the family’s needs in order to strengthen family protective factors, enhance caregiver protective capacities, and meet conditions for return.

Service Level and Frequency of Contact

The DCS Specialist shall determine the initial Family Connections service level by DCS case type, as follows:

• FC Level 1:

  • families whose DCS case will close following the investigation (no DCS oversight);

  • in-Home case with children assessed as safe (no safety plan managing dangers); or

  • out-of-home/on-going case with all children residing in out-of-home care and it is not expected for a child to reunify with the parent during the service authorization period.

• FC Level 2 (may only be requested and approved by the Supervisor when any of the following is true):

  • in-Home case with children assessed as unsafe due to impending danger (safety plan managing dangers);

  • on-going case with a child in out-of-home care and one or more children residing in the home of the parent receiving services; or

  • on-going case with a child in out-of-home care and a child in OOH care is expected to reunify with the parent receiving services within the service authorization period.

• FC Level 2 -SENSE Case (infant remains in the home with a parent)

Family Connections services shall be provided at one of the following service levels:

• Level One:

  • the FC consultant will meet with the parent, guardian, or caregiver in-person, one (1) time per week, for a minimum of one (1) hour, over a maximum of 150 days (five months), and conduct virtual, or telephone contact as required by the family to meet behavior change goals.

• Level Two:

  • the FC consultant will meet with the parent, guardian, or caregiver in-person, two (2) times per week, for a minimum of one (1) hour, over a maximum of 150 days (five months), and conduct virtual, or telephone contact as required by the family to meet behavior change goals

The FC service level for continuation authorizations will be determined by the FC Evaluation of Change, family need, and consideration of other services in which the family is participating. The DCS Specialist shall determine and approve the FC service level for continuation authorizations.

When the decision has been made to refer the family to Family Connections services, the DCS Specialist shall submit a Family Connections Service Request through Guardian. See Family Connections (FC) Service Guide.

The DCS Specialist is the child safety expert and the Family Connections Consultant (FCC) is the parent skill-building expert. The DCS Specialist is responsible for assessing child safety and caregiver protective capacities, creating and overseeing safety plans, and developing the case plan and permanency plan with the family. The FCC develops a service plan with the family, provides change-focused interventions, and evaluates change toward the FC outcomes and UBSMART goals. The DCS Specialist must approve the FC service plan.

The DCS Specialist will consider information from the FCC about the parent/caregiver’s work and progress within the FC program in the DCS Specialist’s ongoing assessment of safety, parent/caregiver protective capacities, and family protective factors.

Assessment Coordination Meeting – Initial for Family Connections Services

The DCS Specialist and the FCC shall conduct an assessment coordination meeting to share information gathered during the Family Functioning Assessment(s) (FFA) and Comprehensive Family Assessment (CFA). The DCS Specialist and FCC will discuss the results of those assessments, resolve discrepancies between the assessments and reach consensus on the behavioral change statements that will be discussed with the family at the DCS case plan staffing and other family and service team meetings.

If the referral to Family Connections occurs after the DCS case plan has been established, the assessment coordination meeting shall occur after the FCC has gathered information during the CFA process and has compiled the CA-Self Interview Family Profile. At the assessment coordination meeting, the DCS Specialist will determine if a case plan staffing is needed to modify the case plan so behavioral change statements and identified services match and include those in the FC service plan

During the assessment coordination meeting, the FCC and DCS Specialist shall discuss:

• the results of the CA-Self Interview Family Profile, including the FC Core outcomes indicated for change-focused intervention;

• the most recent FFA – Investigation, Ongoing, or Progress Review and/or Protective Factors assessment results, including the identified safety threats, diminished CPCs related to the impending danger threat(s), and family protective factors and risks for future abuse or neglect;

• any additional information that may influence (support or refute) the results of either the CA-Self Interview Family Profile, FFA, or Protective Factors assessment, behavioral change statements, or service plan;

• any discrepancies between the two assessments, including a plan to resolve those discrepancies;

• the diminished CPCs that will be the basis of behavioral change statements in the family’s DCS case plan;

• one or more FC Core outcomes that are supported by the CA-Self Interview results and related to the diminished CPCs or family protective factors;

• how the FC change-focused interventions will incorporate trauma-informed approaches, and if formal trauma-related treatment services appear necessary;

• services through other agencies/programs to offer the family that are:

  • specifically targeted to what needs to change for the children to be safe in the family or reduce risk of future abuse or neglect;

  • culturally relevant to the family; and

  • available to the family in their community - this may include, but is not limited to, the Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP), Arizona Families FIRST (AFF), or Behavioral Health Services;

• if the family is receiving non-FC program through DCS (such as Arizona Families FIRST), information about the frequency and duration of services so that the FCC is aware of expectations placed on the family;

• if the child is in out-of-home care, information on the safety plan and the Conditions for Return, and ways in which the FC program might assist the family to meet the Conditions for Return;

• the FCC’s observations or other information that may support or refute that the current safety plan is sufficient, feasible and sustainable; and

• if the child is in out-of-home care, information about the parenting time plan, the child’s living arrangement, and any restrictions on contact between the child and any member of the family.

At the conclusion of the assessment coordination meeting, the DCS Specialist and FCC shall jointly contact the family to schedule the case plan staffing at a time when the required participants can attend, if the case plan staffing is not already scheduled.

If the family is unable to be contacted at the conclusion of the assessment coordination meeting, the DCS Specialist shall schedule the case plan staffing at a time, date, and location that is convenient for the family and seeks to include the FCC.

Assessment Coordination Meeting – Evaluation of Change

When the family is receiving Family Connections services and has ongoing or in-home case management, the FCC shall conduct an Evaluation of Change (EOC) with the family every 90 days following the creation of the FC service plan.

The DCS Specialist and FCC shall conduct an assessment coordination meeting – EOC following each EOC completed with the family. The assessment coordination meeting – EOC shall occur:

• after the FCC has re-administered the CA-Self Interview, compiled the results of the standardized assessment and screening tools, and analyzed the information to measure progress toward the FC UBSMART goals;

• after the DCS Specialist has gathered updated information about the six domains of family functioning, including information from other service providers;

• prior to the finalization of the updated FC service plan (when applicable);

• before meeting with the parent/caregiver(s) to discuss progress and any necessary adjustments to FC change-focused intervention and/or formal service provision.

During the assessment coordination meeting – EOC, the DCS Specialist and FCC shall discuss:

• information gathered during contacts with the family;

• the results of the FC EOC assessment;

• the results of the most recent FFA-Progress Update or Protective Factors Framework assessment;

• any discrepancies between information and assessments, including a plan to resolve those discrepancies; and

• whether the FC program shall continue and, if applicable, the behavioral change statements that will be the focus of continued services.

Upon completion of the assessment coordination meeting – EOC, the DCS Specialist and FCC shall meet with the family to discuss and review:

• the current reason for DCS involvement with the family and the behavioral change goals in the DCS case plan;

• progress towards the behavioral change statements and UBSMART goals in the FC Service Plan;

• the results of the initial CA-Self Interview compared to the results of the re-assessment CA-Self Interview;

• any additional information that may influence (support or refute) the conclusions about CPCs, protective factors, or changes in the CA-Self Interview scores; and

• whether the FC program shall continue, be modified, or discontinue and close.

Families may receive continued Family Connections services if the criteria are met at each 90-day EOC. The EOC shall be utilized as the referral form to continue service. Continuation of Family Connection services requires approval by DCS, at the levels listed below:

• the first EOC and continuation must be approved by the DCS Supervisor;

• the second and third EOC and continuation must be approved by the DCS Program Manager; and

• the continuation of Family Connections services after 12 months requires an approval by the DCS Program Administrator.

When the FC program shall continue, the FCC shall update and finalize the FC service plan within 14 business days of completing the EOC. The FCC and DCS Specialist shall review the updated FC service plan with the family, outlining the new UBSMART goals identified to be the focus of the change-focused interventions.

When sufficient change has occurred related to the FC core outcomes and reason for DCS involvement so that the FC program will end, and the FCC determines that the family needs continued services to sustain the changes, the FCC and DCS Specialist shall assist the family to connect with relevant community-based services before closing the FC program.

Involvement of Family Connections Services at Reunification

A family may be referred to Family Connections for support during the reunification transition period. If Family Connections is already involved, Family Connections may be continued when the family is in or entering the reunification transition period, even if the family has met the Family Connections goals in the service plan. The DCS Specialist must approve continued Family Connections Services. See Family Connections Service Guide and Family Connections Program Manual.

Nurturing Parenting Program

Nurturing Parenting Programs (NPP) is a family-centered trauma-informed program designed for families with children at risk for abuse or neglect and features activities that foster positive parenting skills with nurturing behaviors, promote healthy physical and emotional development, and teach appropriate role and developmental expectations. The goal of NPP is to improve parents’ nurturing in each of the following five constructs:

• Expectations of Children;

• Parent Empathy towards Children’s Needs;

• Non-violence Discipline;

• Parent-Child Family Roles; and

• Children’s Power and Independence.

The DCS Specialist may refer families to NPP if, after completing the FFA-Investigation/Ongoing/Progress Update, the analysis of the six domains of family functioning indicates that one or more of the family members displays diminished caregiver protective capacities related to the impending danger threat(s) and the reason for DCS involvement.

Consider whether improving one or more of the five NPP parenting constructs may assist the family in achieving behavioral change goals that will enhance the diminished caregiver protective capacities and/or protective factors to strengthen the family and reduce the likelihood of future abuse or neglect.

The DCS Specialist should consider the urgency of the service need and the number of services and appointments included in the case plan in order to sequence services in a way that avoids overwhelming the family.

Do not refer families who are already participating in SENSE services, as the Home Visitor provides parenting skills and education.

The DCSS may refer a family to NPP when a need is identified, with or without a recommendation from a Family Connections Consultant. However, when a family is involved with FC services, the FCC administers the CA-Self Interview, analyzes the results, and determines if there is a need to improve on the FC Core Outcome of Parenting Attitudes and Behaviors. Based on the results of the assessment and other considerations, the FCC may recommend a referral to NPP. The FCC shall communicate service recommendations to the assigned DCS Specialist.

The DCS Specialist is responsible for submitting NPP service requests through Guardian.

Service Level and Frequency of Contact

The NPP Practitioner will meet with the parent/caregiver one (1) time per week for two (2) hours, over a maximum of 120 days (17 weeks) to include one (1) hour of parenting education, thirty (30) minutes of parent-child observation with a nurturing parenting activity, and thirty (30) minutes of parent-only debriefing.

The service delivery schedule should be as follows:

• week 1 shall include initial outreach and intake meeting with the parent/caregiver;

• weeks 2-8 and 10-16 shall include weekly parent sessions with the parent/caregiver;

• week 9 shall be conducted as the mid-point meeting with the parent/caregiver; and

• week 17 shall be conducted as the service closure meeting with the parent/caregiver.

When the decision has been made to refer the family to the Nurturing Parenting Program, the DCS Specialist shall submit a NPP Service Request through Guardian. See Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP) Service Guide.

The DCS Specialist shall identify in the service request if the family might benefit from one or more of the following NPP specialty programs and lessons that have been developed to meet the individual needs of the family:

• Families in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery;

• Nurturing Parenting for African American Families;

• Nurturing Fathers Program;

• Native American Parenting; and

• LGBTQ Families.

The DCS Specialist and NPP Practitioner will collaborate through a working partnership to develop the best strategy for service delivery.

The NPP Practitioner will conduct the nurturing activity during parenting time. When a family is receiving NPP services and a child is in out-of-home care, the DCS Specialist should provide the NPP Practitioner with details about the date, time, duration, and location of parenting time to avoid NPP service delays and disruptions.

The NPP Practitioner shall conduct parent educational sessions at the parent/caregiver’s home or the location where parent-child observation will occur. The DCS Specialist may approve an alternate location when there is a safety concern for professionals entering the home. The NPP Practitioner must obtain DCS approval for virtual sessions when in-person observation is not possible despite concerted efforts to arrange in-person sessions.

The NPP Practitioner and DCS Specialist shall conduct a mid-point meeting during Week 9 of service delivery. The NPP Practitioner will discuss the parent/caregiver’s progress towards achieving the identified NPP Parenting Constructs and Competencies and determine the need for continuation of services with the DCS Specialist via telephone.

Case Plan and Service Plan Approval

The DCS Specialist must develop an individualized, family-centered, written case plan for every child, youth, and family receiving ongoing services from the Department. See Developing and Reassessing the Family-Centered Case Plan.

When a family has an open DCS in-home or ongoing services case, the DCS Specialist and FCC and/or NPP Practitioner collaboratively share information to ensure that services complement and support progress toward the behavior change goals in the DCS case plan.

The DCS Specialist will reference the change-focused interventions and goals from the FC and/or NPP service plan in the DCS case plan. The DCS case plan shall contain the long-term behavior change goals, whereas the service plan shall contain short-term goals that are benchmarks for progress that guide the family toward enhancing the diminished protective factors and/or caregiver protective capacities associated with the impending danger threat(s) and the reason for DCS involvement.

The DCS Specialist shall discuss with the family and service team the integration of the service plan into the case plan, including:

• whether the family has any non-FC related services such as Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP), Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T. (AFF), peer parent or behavioral health services, and how the FCC will assist the family in securing those services, including services that are culturally relevant to the family, and available in their community;

• the safety plan, and ways in which FC/NPP change-focused interventions could assist the family to meet the Conditions for Return and;

• the FC Core outcomes/NPP constructs and UBSMART goals that will be the focus of change-focused intervention.

The DCS Specialist and FCC and/or NPP Practitioner will assist families with identifying the family’s priority strengths and needs that services will address. Families may have several behavioral change goals on their DCS case plan, related to several impending danger threats. Families may become overwhelmed if they work simultaneously toward achieving numerous goals. The DCS Specialist and FCC and/or NPP Practitioner will guide families to prioritize and sequence FC/NPP goals to enhance the diminished protective factors and/or diminished protective capacities that relate to the reason for DCS involvement.

Family Engagement Efforts

When a family declines FC or NPP services during service delivery, the DCS Specialist and service provider shall collaborate to reach out to the family, engage them in discussion of what the program has to offer, and encourage them to work together to set and achieve goals.

The FCC or NPP Practitioner may request DCS assistance to contact and engage the family at any time. In circumstances in which appointments are missed, cancelled and/or rescheduled without reasonable justification, and in-person contact with the family does not occur over three business days, the service provider and DCS Specialist shall schedule a meeting within three business days. The meeting shall occur via video conference or telephone and include the discussion of:

• the service provider’s efforts to engage the family and the family’s response to these efforts;

• reason(s) known as to the family’s missed appointment; and

• whether a joint home visit should be scheduled with the family to discuss their continued interest in participating in the program, or if the provider should proceed with service closure.

If it is determined a joint home visit should be scheduled to re-engage the parent or caregiver and assess for continued involvement, the DCS Specialist will schedule the joint visit with the family and the service provider.

If it is determined the service provider should initiate service closure, the DCS Specialist will immediately become responsible for the delivery, oversight and/or referrals for change-focused interventions and for any necessary treatment service referrals.

Readiness for Change

The DCS Specialist will work with parents, guardians, and/or custodians to assess their readiness for change. See Parent Readiness for Change.

When a parent, guardian, and/or custodian is in the precontemplation stage, the DCS Specialist will engage the parents, guardians, and/or custodians by:

• Establishing a trusting relationship with the parent, guardian, and/or custodian through respect, empathy, and meeting the family’s basic needs.

• Raising awareness of the danger their behavior creates.

• Encouraging them to identify negative consequences they have experienced.

• Explaining that whether to participate in services is their choice, and emphasize that services are offered to help support them.

The DCS Specialist shall identify and prioritize the primary issues that impede the parent’s, guardian’s and/or custodian’s ability to provide safety and care for their child. The DCS Specialist should focus on specific safety threats and reducing the likelihood of future abuse or neglect when making service referrals and developing the case plan.

Documentation

n/a

Effective Date: January 26, 2021

Revision History: July 15, 2021