La. Admin. Code tit. 67 § III-5549

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section III-5549 - OCS Child Welfare Programs

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.

La. Admin. Code tit. 67, § III-5549

Promulgated by the Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support, LR 28:2374 (November 2002), amended LR 31:486 (February 2005), LR 32:2099 (November 2006), LR 34:695 (April 2008), LR 34:1930 (September 2008).

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.