1. NAME OF PROGRAM: Intensive Family Preservation Services

2. PURPOSE OF PROGRAM: Intensive Family Preservation Services are designed to prevent placement of children outside their families, by providing in-home services aimed at restoring families in crisis to an acceptable level of functioning. Since the family must be willing to participate, Intensive Family Preservation Services are voluntary. The services are short-term, intensive, crisis intervention oriented, and delivered by an Intensive Family Preservation social worker primarily in the client’s home. This program promotes the belief that the family is its own expert, and focuses on promoting family competence by building on the family’s strengths and the family’s own resources. An Intensive Family Preservation worker works with the family for a maximum of six weeks, and serves on a 24 hour per day availability schedule to assist a family by helping them to problem solve various situations, and helping to reduce the stresses that often precipitates explosive outbursts. The safety of the child and what is in the best interest of the family are the number one priority and Intensive Family Preservation services are designed to meet the following objectives:

1. Stabilize the crises that put the family at imminent risk.
2. Keep the child, family and community safe by defusing the potential for physical, sexual or emotional violence.
3. Help families develop or enhance their parenting skills, and link them with resources to handle future crisis situations more effectively.

3. APPLICATION PROCEDURES: The application procedures include:

1. Forms for this program can be obtained from the Intensive Family Preservations Unit through the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services or Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare Services. Referrals are made through one of the following areas: The Department of Social Services, Mental Health or The Department of Juvenile Justice.
2. Once a referral form is completed in its entirety, the person making the referral must deliver the application to the Intensive Family Preservation Unit. Referrals are then presented weekly on Tuesdays before a panel of Intensive Family Preservation social workers, IFPS supervisors, Mental Health therapists and a representative from the Office of Juvenile Justice.
3. Cases are accepted based on available slots, and chosen based on imminency of risk.
4. If a child is potentially at risk and not already affiliated with one of the three referral bases, the child must be referred to one of the three referral bases and must be deemed at imminent risk of removal from the home. This documentation must be included with the referral.

4. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: All potential referrals must meet the following criteria:

1. Families eligible for Intensive Family Preservation Services are those with one or more children ages birth through 17 years who are at imminent risk for out of home placement in the Social Services system.
2. The family must be involved in ongoing treatment services outside of Intensive Family Preservation Services.
3. The family must reside in Cabarrus County to receive assistance through this department.
4. The family must be willing to participate in the program.
5. No income or resource restrictions.

5. OTHER PROGRAM DETAILS: Family Preservation workers work with families for a maximum of six weeks and a normal caseload usually consists of two cases.

6. DATE OF INFORMATION: May 1, 2001