Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
Section 3490.235 - Services available through the county agency for children in need of general protective services(a) The county agency shall provide, arrange or otherwise make available the same services for children in need of general protective services as for abused children under § 3490.60 (relating to services available through the county agency).(b) The county agency shall develop a family service plan as required by § 3130.61 (relating to family service plans) for each family accepted for general protective services.(c) The county agency shall monitor the provision of services and evaluate the effectiveness of the services provided under the family service plan under § 3130.63 (relating to review of family service plans). The county agency worker shall visit the family in performing the case management responsibilities as required by § 3130.63 as often as necessary for management of the service provision at least every 180-calendar days.(d) The county agency may purchase and use the services of any appropriate public or private agency under Chapter 3130 (relating to the administration of county children and youth social service programs).(e) The county agency supervisor shall review each report alleging a need for general protective services which is being assessed on a regular and ongoing basis to assure that the level of services are consistent with the level of risk to the child, to determine the safety of the child and the progress made toward reaching a determination on the need for protective services. The supervisor shall maintain a log of these reviews which at a minimum shall include an entry at 10-calendar day intervals during the assessment period.(f) When a case has been accepted for service and a family service plan has been developed under Chapter 3130, the county agency supervisor shall, within 10-calendar days of the completion of the family service plan, review the plan to assure that the level of activity, in person contacts with the child, oversight, supervision and services for the child and family which are contained in the plan, are consistent with the level of risk determined by the county agency for the case. Documentation of this review shall be in the case record.(g) When a case has been accepted for services, the county agency shall monitor the safety of the child and assure that contacts are made with the child, parents and service providers. The contacts may occur either directly by a county agency worker or through purchase of service, by phone or in person but face-to-face contacts with the parent and the child shall occur as often as necessary for the protection of the child but at least as often as:(1) Once a week until the case is no longer designated as high risk by the county agency, if the child remains in or returns to the home in which the need for general protective services was established and the county agency has determined a high level of risk exists for the case.(2) Once a month for 6 months or case closure when the child is either:(i) Placed out of the home or setting in which the need for general protective services was established.(ii) No longer determined to be at a high risk by the county agency.(h) A periodic assessment of the risk of harm to the child shall be conducted as required by the State-approved risk assessment process.(i) Except when ordered by the court in a proceeding brought under the Juvenile Act, a county agency is not required to duplicate services which are the statutory responsibility of any other agency.(j) The county agency shall aid the child and the family in obtaining benefits and services for which they may qualify under Federal, State and local programs.(k) The family service plan shall contain a provision that requires the parents advise the county agency, within 24 hours, when the child or family move from one residence to another.The provisions of this §3490.235 adopted July 2, 1999, effective 7/3/1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.