18 Miss. Code. R. 6-1-B-III
A Family Team Meeting (FTM) is a planned, structured, facilitated decision making process to which members of the family both formal/informal, are invited along with required DFCS staff and any other support system identified by the family and DFCS. The key to a successful FTM is the engaging and bringing together of those individuals, both formal and informal, who are a part of the family's support system. FTMs allow for the gathering of information critical to the assessment process, to the development of the case plan, monitoring of the case plan and involvement of the family and other pertinent individuals in key decision making.
At all times a FTM should be a family led, youth guided and agency supported process. The primary focus must always be the safety and well-being of the children and youth. As a philosophy, it reflects the belief that families can solve their own problems most of the time if they are provided the opportunity and support. No one knows a family's strengths, needs and challenges better than the family. The family team decision making approach is also a practice in that it describes the basic method by and through which DFCS seeks to serve children/youth and families. A child welfare supervisor's participation in a FTM is an opportunity to assess the Worker's use of Family Centered Practice principles. The Family Centered Practice Principal encompasses the following components:
* A clear but open-ended purpose;
* An opportunity for the family to be involved in decision-making and planning;
* Options for the family to consider and decisions for the family to make;
* The family's involvement in the development of specific safety or permanency plans and in the development of services and supports;
* Engagement;
* Relationship building;
* Problem solving; and
* The outcome of the meeting will be reflected in the development of a case plan with tasks and goals.
A FTM is required during:
* An investigation if removal is necessary for the safety of the child.
* This meeting should occur prior to the removal when possible, or within 24 hours of removal unless the Worker is unable, after diligent efforts documented in the case record, to identify, locate, and engage the family.
* An investigation when safety and risk factors are identified and a safety plan is needed.
* An investigation when evidence of abuse or neglect is found or if there are safety and risk factors present to warrant opening a case.
On all cases, an Initial FTM shall be completed within thirty (30) calendar days from the opening of the case. The case is considered open when the ASWS makes the decision in MACWIS for continuing services. The ASWS should make a decision within five (5) calendar days of the Worker's recommendation for continuing services.
In providing services to the family or child, DFCS, in collaboration with the family members, and based on assessment information, should recommend services that are determined to be the most beneficial and least intrusive to the family while maintaining the child's safety. This recommendation should include consideration of the ability of family members to access services as needed, provision of needed services in the home and/or community in which the family members live, and providers that can best meet the family members' needs.
Services shall be mobilized at any point in an investigation when services are needed to maintain a child's safety or reduce risks for abuse and neglect. The decision to mobilize services should be based on the safety and risk assessment and parental protective factors. Cases with active safety concerns requiring a safety plan or protective custody must be opened for services. Services with no active safety concerns but assessed to have a moderate or high level of risk may be opened for services. In those situations, the Worker should:
* Make decisions with the family regarding the identification of services needed, appropriate providers, and locations of services;
* Make prompt referrals to service providers; and
* Follow up to help ensure prompt service initiation.
If the case is opened for services, the Worker should use the Comprehensive Family Assessment (CFA) and FTM to identify services that need to continue or to be initiated based on the goals, assessment, and case plan. If the case is not opened for service, but the Worker and family determine that services would benefit the family, the Worker shall assist the family with referrals to community based resources.
Some families with whom DFCS is working will move without notification. If a family moves without leaving a forwarding address, and the investigation is incomplete and the Safety and Risk Assessments have not been completed which would alleviate harm or imminent danger, the Worker should immediately make every effort to locate them via neighbors, family, schools, law enforcement, courts, mental health facilities, etc. and if located, alert the appropriate DFCS office in the family's new locale. The case should be terminated upon transferring the incomplete investigation to the family's new location.
If the family relocates to another state and that state's DFCS requests information, the information regarding this family should be sent expeditiously.
18 Miss. Code. R. 6-1-B-III