Counseling Services for High-Risk Families

The goal of Family Reunification (FR) services is to provide a child with a safe, stable, permanent home. FR services provide the parents with the opportunity to regain physical custody of their child by participating in and completing court ordered case plans by making referrals to programs in the community that will alleviate further risk of abuse or neglect of their child. In average, the length of FR services is typically six (6) to twelve (12) months but can be extended as much as twenty-four (24) months. When a child is removed from the physical custody of the parent, the child is then placed in Foster Care placement with a relative or a foster parent.

The focus of Family Maintenance services is to support families whose children are at risk of neglect or abuse and who state and are willing to accept voluntary services to remain safely in their home while services are provided to overcome any challenges.

The County Social Worker will indicate the topics of concern when the referral for services is made.

High Risk Counseling Services consist of therapeutic interventions by clinicians through individual sessions or in a group setting that will address topics that children and parents need to end the cycle of abuse/neglect. Such topics may include but are not limited to the following:

• Anxiety,
• Co-Dependency,
• Setting Boundaries,
• Conflict Management,
• Anger Management,
• Childhood Trauma and Depression.

Domestic Violence (DV) Services consist of victim and offender services for parents. CSA expects DV services to be provided in a group setting. The goal is for the victim to admit that DV happened and to learn how to recognize red flags. The goal for the offender is to recognize what DV is, to admit it occurred, and to be able to redirect their anger in an appropriate manner.

Parenting Education Services consist of evidence-based education that will address many aspects of parenting including services based on specific age groups; i.e., zero to five (0-5), six to twelve (6-12), and thirteen to eighteen (13-18). CSA expects Parent Education Services to be offered in a group setting and be in a curriculum format; (e.g., a twelve (12) week Teen Parenting course).

CSA expects that each service provided will include progress reports written by the clinicians of high-risk counseling, DV facilities and Parenting Educator facilitators.

CSA recognizes that not all children and parents will need each of these services but could best have their needs met by having DV or Parenting Education addressed during their individual high risk counseling sessions on a limited and/or as needed basis.