Adoption Assistance:

Financial assistance to adoptive parents on behalf of children with special needs who meet adoption assistance eligibility criteria.

Adoption Services:

These activities are designed to culminate in the legal adoption of a child. 

CART (Community Action Response Team):

CART involves therapeutic activities for child victims of sexual abuse and their families. 

CYS Case Management:

This department consists of supervisors and caseworkers that are responsible for coordinating and monitoring continued services with children and families.  Ongoing case management services may include some or all of the following:

1. Supportive Services
2. Juvenile Court Reviews
3. Monthly home assessments
4. Placement visits
5. School visits
6. Treatment team meetings
7. Case planning
8. Initiation and monitoring of in-home and community based services
9. Institutional services  

The ongoing caseworker works with the family in the development of a Family Service Plan and/or Child Permanency Plan (in placement cases).  These plans enable families to work toward the goals necessary to achieve in order to be discharged from continued case management services.

CYS Intake Department:

This department consists of one unit comprised of 2 supervisors and 6 caseworkers that are responsible for incoming calls during business hours.  These calls are assessed for severity and urgency, and then accepted for investigation or screened out using information and community referral services.  All intake investigations fall into one of two categories.  A case may be accepted as a Child Protective Services referral, meaning it is a situation that meets the initial requirements for the case to be assigned as an abuse.  A case may also be accepted as a General Protective Services referral, meaning it is a situation involving allegations that do not initially meet the legal requirements for abuse.  Intake investigations may involve some or all of the following:

1. Home visits and studies
2. Interviews with children, parents and others
3. School visits
4. Child placements
5. Juvenile court involvement
6. Initial service planning
7. Case management
8. Community based services
   

Intake investigations can take up to 60 days to complete, after which, a determination of whether or not abuse occurred must be made and the case may either be accepted for continued intervention and transferred to CYS case management or the case is closed           

Homemaker Services:

This service involves home instruction on how to achieve and maintain a safe living environment.  This service may include training in areas of hygiene, budgeting, menu planning, meal preparation, house cleaning and goal setting among others and is delivered by a trained homemaker instructor.

In-Home Counseling/Intervention Services:

Supportive and therapeutic activities provided to a child or a child's family and directed at preventing or alleviating conditions, including crisis, which present a risk to the safety or well being of the child.  This involves improving problem solving and coping skills, interpersonal functioning, the stability of the family or the capacity of the family to function independently.  

Information and Referral Services:

Provides requested information and referral options for needed services available in the community.

Family Case Management (CYS/MH/ID FCM): 

This service is a new concept in social services and unique to Crawford County.  Family Case Management is a comprehensive service for families involved with dual services (CYS & MH or CYS & ID).  Frequently child behavior, neglect or abuse concerns that are referred to CYS are related to other needs within the family or individuals.  Family Case Managers have small caseloads and are specially trained in both CYS and MH as well as ID care coordination.  They work as partners with the family to ensure children are safe in the home and that all service needs of the family are met efficiently with minimal intrusion.  The family has one case manager who can help them identify their needs and access services that empower them to successfully achieve their goals.  This new program has already established a track record of reducing the amount of time families are open for services and the number of out-of-home placements.  There is 24/7 on call coverage associated with this program.

Mentoring:

Mentoring activities relate to increasing a child's positive peer relationships, self-esteem, motivation, accountability, respect for self and authority figures as well as honing individual, inherent skills.  A trained mentor works with children and their families to move towards positive change.

Parenting:

Parenting involves in home instruction on developing and providing safe and effective parenting skills.  This service may include training in the areas of age appropriate discipline techniques, positive parent/caretaker child interaction and acceptable child rearing practices among others, and is offered by a trained parenting instructor. 

COMMUNITY BASED CYS SERVICES 

Alternative Treatment: 

Activities and services that are alternatives for residential services, detention services or secure residential services. 

Community Residential/Group Home Services:

24 hour per day placement of a child in a non-secure facility that services no more than 25 children.

Emergency Shelter Services:

Emergency placement service or temporary placement services while a child is awaiting a bed another type of facility. 

Foster Family Services:

24 hour per day residential care and supervision of a child in a foster family home. 

Supervised Independent Living Services:

The provision or arrangement of living quarters and social services designed to support and supervise children who are living on their own (the child may be in the custody of parents, the county agency or another agency or individual). 

Community Abuse Action Response Team (CART):

Therapeutic activities for child victims of sexual abuse and their families.

INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES  

Residential Services:

24 hour out of home care in a non-secure facility for children not related to the provider, which does not meet the criteria for community residential service or emergency shelter services. 

Secure Residential Services:

Placement of adjudicated delinquent children for residential care, supervision and rehabilitation in a secure facility. 

Juvenile Detention Services:

24 hour per day secure temporary care, maintenance and supervision in a licensed or approved detention facility for alleged or adjudicated delinquents who would present a danger to themselves or others or who would abscond if they remained in their homes or a community-based placement facility.