Section 315.110 Worker Interventions and Contacts

Section 315

TITLE 89: SOCIAL SERVICES

CHAPTER III: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES

SUBCHAPTER a: SERVICE DELIVERY

PART 315 PERMANENCY PLANNING

SECTION 315.110 WORKER INTERVENTIONS AND CONTACTS

Section 315.110  Worker

Interventions and Contacts

This Section applies to

caseworker interventions and contacts made during the delivery of child welfare

services and does not include the interventions and contacts required by child

protective investigative staff during the course of child abuse and neglect

investigations.  To meet any of the intervention and contact requirements

described in this Section with hearing impaired clients or limited non-English

speaking clients, the worker must be able to facilitate communication using the

client's primary mode of communication (e.g., fluency in the client's language

or the use of foreign or sign language interpreters; e.g., Braille or taped

communications for persons with visual impairments, etc.).

a)         Initial Intervention and Contact by Caseworker

1)         The assigned caseworker or person assigned by the supervisor,

if the assigned caseworker is unavailable, must attend the shelter care hearing

in court.

2)         The assigned caseworker must attempt face-to-face intervention

and contact with the family in the home within five working days after the

shelter care hearing or case assignment, whichever is earlier, unless the

caseworker and supervisor believe, based upon the health, safety, and best

interests of the child, that it is necessary to attempt contact sooner.  If the

family is unavailable, the caseworker shall make a second attempt within one

working day after the failed attempt.  If that attempt is also unsuccessful,

the caseworker shall conduct a diligent search for the family

r is earlier, unless the

caseworker and supervisor believe, based upon the health, safety, and best

interests of the child, that it is necessary to attempt contact sooner.  If the

family is unavailable, the caseworker shall make a second attempt within one

working day after the failed attempt.  If that attempt is also unsuccessful,

the caseworker shall conduct a diligent search for the family.

b)         Ongoing Intervention and Contact

1)         With Families

The families

of children in placement shall be seen by the assigned caseworker at least

monthly or more frequently as might be specified by the service plan unless

parental rights have been terminated.

2)         With Children

The assigned

caseworker shall see any child in substitute care in the child's living

arrangement at least once every two weeks for the first month immediately

following initial placement or a change in placement and at least once every

month thereafter.  When visiting children in substitute care, the caseworker

must interview verbal children out of the presence of the caregiver.

3)         The above frequencies shall be followed, unless the

supervisor, based on the assessment, determines and documents in the service

plan, in writing, that the service plan requires more frequent or less frequent

contact.

c)         Interventions and Contacts Following Reunification

During all

interventions and contacts following reunification, the caseworker must see the

child outside the presence of the parent.

1)         Initial Intervention and Contact

Following the

return home of a child who has been in substitute care, an initial face-to-face

intervention with the child and parent must be made via a visit in the home by

the assigned caseworker within 24 to 72 hours after the child's return home.

The timing of the visit will be based upon the safety plan completed when the

child is returned home

1)         Initial Intervention and Contact

Following the

return home of a child who has been in substitute care, an initial face-to-face

intervention with the child and parent must be made via a visit in the home by

the assigned caseworker within 24 to 72 hours after the child's return home.

The timing of the visit will be based upon the safety plan completed when the

child is returned home.

2)         First Month

Following the

initial visit, weekly or more frequent intervention and contact, as determined

by the supervisor, with the child and parent in the home is required for the

first month following reunification.  At least two of the visits during this

first month after reunification must be unannounced.

3)         Ongoing

Frequency of

intervention and contact subsequent to the first month of reunification shall

be at least monthly until such time as safety and risk assessments indicate that

there are no longer sufficient safety or risk factors present to require

continued contact.

d)         Contact With Foster Families/Relative Caregivers

The assigned

Department or purchase of service agency caseworker shall provide the primary

foster parent or relative caregiver caring for a child for whom the Department

is responsible with monthly face-to-face consultation and support and more

often on an as needed basis.  This face-to-face contact with the primary foster

parent or relative caregiver may occur at the same time as contact with the

children in placement is made, provided that children are given the opportunity

to be seen and interviewed alone.  If there are two or more foster children in

one foster home with more than one worker, their respective workers shall

together meet at least once every six months with the foster parent, in the

foster home, to discuss issues affecting the children's care

time as contact with the

children in placement is made, provided that children are given the opportunity

to be seen and interviewed alone.  If there are two or more foster children in

one foster home with more than one worker, their respective workers shall

together meet at least once every six months with the foster parent, in the

foster home, to discuss issues affecting the children's care.

e)         Children Placed in Residential Facilities

Children

placed in residential facilities (group homes or child care institutions and

other facilities such as mental health and correctional facilities) must be

visited by the assigned caseworker at least monthly.

f)         Children in Out of State Placements

Children who are placed out of

state in compliance with 89 Ill. Adm. Code 328 (Interstate Placement of

Children) must be visited no less frequently than every six months by a

caseworker of the Department or of the state in which the child has been

placed.  If the caseworker from the state in which the child is placed conducts

the visits, that worker shall prepare a quarterly report regarding the health,

safety and welfare of the child.  A Department or Purchase of Service worker

who visits a child placed in Illinois from another state shall prepare the same

quarterly report.  In either case, the supervising caseworker must submit the

quarterly report to his or her respective interstate office, and not directly

to the other caseworker.