Who needs a CW license?
The illinois children and family services act requires a license for ALL direct child welfare services ( staff supervisors,
... [Show More] investigator, case managers)
What are 3 outcomes?
Permanency, Safety, and well being of children
What is the orphan train movement?
from 1850's- 1900's, a train took orphans from very poor families on east coast to midwest farm families.
What is the DCFS mission?
To protect children reported to have been abused or neglected, icrease families' capacity to care for them, provide for well being of children in care, to support early intervention and child abuse prevention activities, work in partnershop with communities to fufill mission
What is Duel Mandate?
protecting children AND supporting families- we don't view children as isolated units we view the family as a unit and suppor that child's membership in the family.
Social Security Act Title IV-E
Requirement for states to receive funding for child welfare services
Indian Child Welfare Act
protects best interest of native children, grants jurisdiction, preferrd placement with tribes
Inter- Ethnic Placement Act
law prohibits consideration of a child's race in placement options
Adaptation and Safe Families Act
Requires reasonable efforts to move kids to permanency within 12 months- goal is to not let children lanquish in care.
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adaptions Act
Extends assistance for foster care subsidies. For kids, if it does amke sense to terminate parental rights, and long term guardianship is chosen, it provides more financial support to encourage long term permanency option.
Children and Families Services Act
Established DCFS, spells out duties, responsibilities, and obligations
ANCRA
definition of abuse and neglect authorizes DCFS to investigate reports, describes who are mandated reporters and DCFS is supposed to accept reports. The penalty for failure to report is a Class A misdemeanor
Juvenile Court Act
Grants authority of the court to intervene into the lives of youth and families.
Child Care Act
Licensing regulations for child welfare agencies, foster homes, daycare, residential treatment centers...etc.
Interstate Compact on Placement of Children
Establishes who is going to be responsible for that particular case.
Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance
means you can't place a child in any state. You must get permission from that state's Child protection service.
Emancipation of Mature Minors Act
legal way for a minor to be able to live independently, given the same rights as a legal adult!
Foster Parent Law
Delineates rights and responsibilities of foster parents
Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act
Infant younger then 30 days can be left at fire station or other "safe haven: eith no consquence to parent.
Illinois Domestic Violence Act
Civil law that allows individuals to request orders of protection against individuals who are inflicting physical abuse or neglect, or exploiting family/household members or high-risk adults.
Probate Act
governs the guardianship of minors and adults
3 laws pertaining to Permanency Initiative
In 1997, the Governor convened a broad-based group to determine what should be done to achieve safe, permanent homes for foster children in an expeditious manner. Three pieces of legislation were enacted: HB 165, HB 66, SB 1099
Children's health and safety are always the paramount concern.
Diligent searches must be made early after the initiation of services for missing parents or
other family members who might be resources for the children.
A court permanency hearing must occur for each child no later than 12 months after the
date the child has entered foster care; and a permanency hearing must occur no less than
every 6 months as long as a child is in foster care.
The court must select a permanency goal for the child at the permanency hearing.
The court must consider what action is in the children's best interest.
Consent Decree
when somebody sues DCFS (first name represents name of child, second name it the director of the department)
ARISTOTLE P V. MCDONALD
Requires DCFS to make a diligent search to locate joint placement for siblings, as well as place siblings together,
BATES V. MCDONALD
spells out parental/ child visitation requirements. Parents are entitles to visit their kids
BH V. MCDONALD
Standard of care for kids in care, DCFS is supposed to protect kids in care, provide adeqaute health and mental health services
BURGOS V. SUTER
Spanish speaking client services- translation for people who do not speak english. Also makes sure documents are in language client can understand.
HILL V. ERICKSON
Pregnant and parenting DCFS wards have adequate care and are provided for.
IN RE LEE/WESLEY
Requires the DCFS Guardianship Administrator to notify the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission within 24 hours of admission of a Cook County ward to a mental health or drug dependency facility.
KATIE I. ET ALL V. TED KIMBROUGH, THE CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION ET ALL
Discusses educational needs for wards
NORMAN V. SUTER
Requires DCFS to: Not remove children or refuse to return children to their parents solely because of poverty or homelessness.
DUPUY v MCEWEN
Requires that DCFS provides due process for people who are accused of abuse or neglect of children.
GOMEZ V. JOHNSON
Requires DCFS and the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC) to work together regarding exchanging information and placement planning for DCFS wards who have been declared delinquent and are confined in juvenile correctional facilities in Illinois.
Know statutory definitions of Abuse/ Neglect/ dependency
Illinois statutes clearly define abuse, neglect and dependency. These definitions make a clear distinction between abuse and neglect. The statutes left it up to the DCFS to develop the Rules and Procedures regarding the parameters of intervention in cases of abuse, neglect and dependency. For example, DCFS uses Procedure 300 to apply the statutory definitions of abuse and neglect through an allegation system. The allegation system serves as a guide to the steps a Child Protection Specialist must follow when investigating an allegation of abuse or neglect. This procedure standardizes the process of planning and conducting investigations.
How Children and Families Come to DCFS Attention
Children and families come to the attention of the Department by:
Reports made to the statewide DCFS hotline (800-25-ABUSE) alleging that children are abused, neglected, or dependent.
Referrals from agencies contracted by DCFS to provide services to children and families or other public or private agencies.
Direct requests for child welfare services from familie :
Eligibility for Child Welfare Services
Child welfare services, by law, must be provided to children and their families if the court finds the children to be:
Abused and/or neglected
Dependent
Delinquent
* under thirteen years
* over thirteen years if currently in DCFS care
MRAI (Minor Requiring Authoritative Intervention) for whom the Department already has court-ordered legal responsibility. (Rule 304, P.T. 98.14, October 1, 1998)
DCFS may also elect to provide child welfare services to other families requesting services, or to families identified by DCFS as needing and likely to benefit from services.
Who can take protective custody without caretaker's consent?
Doctor, Police, DCFS protection workers
What are the 4 types of services goals?
1. Family Preservation 2. Family Reunification 3. Youth Development 4. Adoption or permanent living arrangements
DCFS contracts
to private agencies.( CYFS- lutheren services) to provide family maintenance, foster care, reunification, adaption, and family centered- practices.
name some DCFS roles
Hotline worker, investigator, intact family specialist, placement worker, adoption case worker, foster care liscensing
Delegated Authority
DCFS and CW professional have authority to intervene in family life to protect children and ensure their well-being. Full disclosure must be practice as well.
CWEL Requirements:
Requirements for child welfare licensure include:
• Completion of the required application and authorization forms and submitted to
the CWEL office.
• Completion of required training
• Clearing a criminal and child abuse background check
• Graduation from an accredited college or university, verified by your college
transcripts being sent directly from your college or university to the CWEL office.
• Passing all required exams
• Not being delinquent in paying a child support order
• Not being in default of an educational loan
CW code of ethics
Identifies competing values and responsibilities for child welfare professionals.
Guides the daily conduct of the child welfare professionals via standards for
professional behavior.
Assists child welfare professionals in making more consistent and
objective ethical decisions.
Reinforces child welfare professionals' accountability to society and
to the individuals served.
The Code of Ethics also indicates that:
o If there is a conflict between two or more ethical principles
and/or responsibilities in a particular case, child welfare professionals
should consult with superiors and colleagues knowledgeable about ethics issues, or with a child welfare ethics committee, in choosing a proper course of action.
o Ifthedemandsofagencieswithwhichchildwelfareprofessionalsareaffiliated conflict with the Code of Ethics, child welfare professionals should clarify the nature of the conflicts in a way that permits fullest adherence to the Code.
o IfchildwelfareprofessionalsobserveviolationsoftheCodebycolleagues,they should bring the issues to the attention of the colleagues if informal resolution appears appropriate. If the issues cannot be informally resolved, child welfare professionals should refer them to appropriate superiors and/or to a child welfare ethics committee. [Show Less]