7.300.1FAMILY ENGAGEMENT [Eff. 5/1/12]County departments of human/social services shall adopt family engagement practices. Family engagement means joining with the family/kin to establish common goals of safety, well-being, and permanency throughout the involvement and is inclusive of other systems. This is an overarching theme of practice throughout service assessment, planning, and delivery. Family engagement practice shall include, but not be limited to, family meetings, cultural responsiveness, and reflect the core principles below:
A. It focuses on the strengths and interests of the child, youth, and family.B. It promotes family and youth choice through family and youth-driven decisions.C. It actively supports that all families receive timely access to culturally responsive services they identify as necessary to safely care for their children and youth, and results in meaningful family involvement.D. It supports relationship building and community participation.E. It fosters mutual trust and respect between families, youth, agency, and stakeholders.F. It values the support network and relationships of each individual.G. Information sharing is open, honest, and clear.H. It extends beyond the immediate family members to those identified by the family as a source of support and strength and who will serve beyond the involvement of the child welfare system to help sustain the reunification and/or ability to safely parent the children/youth.