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Home My WebLink About851195.tiff RESOLUTION RE: APPROVE PLACEMENT ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 1985-86 AND AUTHORIZE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and WHEREAS , the Department of Social Services presented the Weld County Alternative Placement Plan for Fiscal Year 1985-86 to the Board of County Commissioners for its review and approval, a copy of said Plan being attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, and WHEREAS, the Department of Social Services advised the Board that it recommended the approval of the Therapeutic Foster Care Program and Partners Plus Project to the Placement Alternative Plan, and WHEREAS, the Board deems it advisable to approve the Therapeutic Foster Care Program and Partners Plus Project to the Placement Alternative Plan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, that the Therapeutic Foster Care Program and Partners Plus Project to the Placement Alternative Plan be, and hereby are, approved. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Chairman be, and hereby is, authorized to sign said Plan. The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 1st day of May, A.D. , 1985 . /) 'tZ t- BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS �.y��ATTEST: /Jh! (l U* aAAAA. -e40.'', t.v WELD COUNTY, COLORADO Weld County Clerk and Recorder - � que 'and Clerk to the Board cne Joh s•n, Chairman ,& EXCUSED BY: / /%!�,�4 Gene R. Brantner, Pro-Tem Deputy/Count Jerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: C. or E. a Cou ty Atto ney F an a chi ≤sO&o 851195 6 . . April 30, 1985 WELD COUNTY FY 1985-86 ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT PLAN This County Plan has been developed by the Weld County Placement Alternatives Commission which includes the following members: NAME ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATION Cris Arellano Probation Department Carol Gerard Weld Mental Health Center Karen Reiser Human Resource Department Carl Harvey LaSalle Police Department Ann Heiman Citizen - day care provider Neil Henderson Weld Co. School District Six Willard Jones Citizen Dixie Lee Kotz Citizen Eugene McKenna Department of Social Services Linda Montoya Partners, Inc. Sandra Lee Neb Citizen Karl Schmidli Weld BOCES William Starks District Attorney's Office Nancy Varner Citizen Ella Mae White Citizen — foster parent Ralph Wooley Public Health Department John Wooster Community Center Board The period to be covered by this Plan is from July 1, 1985 to June 30, 1986. The signatures below affirm that this Plan has been developed by the Placement Alternatives Commission and approved by the Director of Social Services and by the Board of County Commissioners. ANN HEIMAN, CHAIRMAN WELD COUNTY PLACEMENT ALTERNATIVES COMMISSION The Department of Social Services approves the Plan except for the Parent Child Support System Project. EUGENE MCKENNA, DIRECTOR WELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES The Board of County Commissioners approves the Plan except for the Parent Child Support System Project. JACKIE JOHNSON, CHAIRMAN WELD COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TABLE OF CONTENTS Subject Page Number PAC PLANNING AND EVALUATION PROCESS 1 PLACEMENT AND ALTERNATIVE TRENDS -it of children 1984-1985 Cost of Care 3 1984-1985 Number of Children 4 PAC PROGRAM UTILIZATION 5 EVALUATION OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVES Therapeutic Foster Care 6 Partners Plus 7 Parent Child Support System 8 PROPOSED PROGRAMS Therapeutic Foster Care 9 Budget Sheet 12 Partners Plus 13 Budget Sheet 16 Parent Child Support System 17 Budget Sheet 19 PROGRAM SUMMARY SHEET 20 FINAL BUDGET SUMMARY 21 APPENDIX PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Therapeutic Foster Care a Partners Plus d Parent Child Support System i ANNUAL PROGRAM REPORTS Therapeutic Foster Care Partners Plus Parent Child Support System PAC PLANNING AND EVALUATION PROCESS 1. HOW WERE OUT-OF-POn PLACEMENT NEEDS ASSESSED? In the beginning phases, as well as an on-going process, the Commission analyzed the overall status of out-of-home placement within Weld County. This included examination of both the numbers of individuals placed as well as the rationale for placement. Additionally, the Commission became familiar with the criteria used by the Department of Social Services staff in recommending RCCF, group home and family foster care and the typical psychological profile of children placed in RCCF and group care. 2. WHO IS INVOLVED IN MAKING DECISIONS RELATIVE TO OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT? The 19th Judicial District and the Weld County Department of Social Services make final decisions relative to the need for out-of-home placements. Input and recommendations to assist in making these determinations may include the Weld County Probation Department, local school districts, Weld Mental Health Center, the legal profession, Feld County Community Center Board, and parents. 3. HOW ARE REFERRALS TO PAC PROGRAMS MADE AND WHO APPROVES ADMISSION? Referrals to Placement Alternative programs are primarily generated by the social casework staff and the program providers, such as Partners, Inc. and the Parent-Child Support System. Each referral is jointly staffed by the Department of Social Services and the program staff. Final approval for admissions into the program is made by the County Department of Social Services. 4. IS THERE A TEAM APPROACH TO PLACEMENT AND/OR PAC PROGRAM DECISIONS? Each of the following Placement Alternative Programs utilize the concept of a team approach to delivery of services to the client population. They are: Parent Child Support Svstom and Therapeutic Faster Care. Parent-Child Support. System - A team consisting of a social cervices supervisor, caseworker, program social worker and educational specialist meet co staff referrals. Upon approval and admission to the program a case plan is developed by the team which outlines each one's responsibility in delivering services to the client. The team consisting of caseworker, program social worker, and educational specialist meet every other week to discuss progress towards the objectives. Therapeutic Foster Care - A team consisting of the caseworker, foster parent, and psychologist develops a case plan in working with the child and natural parents. The team works with the family on a cc-therapeutic mode as '+ell as on an individual basis. The services are delivered on an intensive basis and the team meets weekly to evaluate progress. In both program areas the teams are involved in program emphasis and discharge of clients. -1- 5. WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE AND FREQUENCY FOR REVIEWING ONGOING FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS? Pursuant to the Colorado Children's Code and Senate Bill 26 legislation, each foster care placement is reviewed for need of placement every six months. Within the first thirty days the Initial review of placement occurs and then every six months until the termination of placement. Foster care placement involving developmentally disabled children in reviewed every six months by an Administrative Review Committee. In addition, supervisory staff have on-going reviews with their staff regarding the continued need for placement. The Placement Alternatives Commission receives a monthly report of the cost, number of children in foster care and number of children in Placement Alternatives programs. 6. WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE AND FREQUENCY FOR REVIEWING ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAMS? The Placement Alternatives Commission's procedure for review of programs is based on a monthly report. The report contains the following information: number of children enrolled, number of children discharged, monthly expenditure, expenditures to date, cost savings and comparative data. In addition, each program is discussed in terms of progress towards the goals and evaluation of the impact of services on the client population. Once per year the Placement Alternatives Commission requests an oral presentation from assigned personnel on the overall performance of the project and its impact on the clients served and whether the objectives of Senate Bill 26 are being met. 1 I I i = s I C . I 77 C) Ir. N I n I = n I CZ - I = - L :n 01 I I . .. J t; L I J H I -, <_ I = G C I u Cl :l l = > E-. I o ,. 7 - u = u < I C) I q I• o u.. I: O Y = I N I L G I I L J J Ir C4 I C < Z C , - > I 03 < O C C U I Z CO --1 0 U Cd I C C G C 1 m CI I > L 77 P. F _ - — '7.N u ^ Y C u . . U I C V _ U I _ C ? I Y C I _ _ L.- La U C) O I V: L Y A I - - -L6-3. I 1 I TX0 0 'I < :J J N •11 1 U .. I a n I I I I I ! ! I • I I 1 1 in u u1 Ln inOl CO N. vl rl N -- V1 (spnesneg7 'IT) _ N _ _ _ _ I . I 1 I I I - I i I 1 >Th .. r I .- I 1 I•' C . I I I < I y -I - I _ 0 N I 7.41 .-. p I I N •r VZ I = U) E•1 1 .. >. U r 9 U' m C:, 0 I a I w ~ Y I L L • O F 1 < U CI v 04 I - 7 c c W I 'O J u O U I _ - I - w O .N I U O CI = > i - N o 0 N 1 .� Lfl O +1 H 00 1 CO 00 ,..I • Z I 01 I 4- _-7 4-4 w ' W I I O s. W 0 I D I 0 L L 0 I 0 N < I Z of C G a N' I ›, O I R V Z 1= _ _0 I - U U 0 O OI 0 _ U I.L. I - _ \ Q. \ Iz] l 3' \ i _ l _ I I 1 I T I 7. S I I I I I 1 O O O O O O O O O :J v fJ O O0 •J N _Q_ W.: ., C � .r •.- C o .L -t O C en rc E O • 'O co rn ry u w I4 p d DO In U al 1` r` !„ G ES- I1) G 7 I') T G 0 L 0. I- 0 h .-i Ol O Z ^. .. -+ p W N •--- Ol N G al N .-. ON —I U CI) a Q a G CJ .r 4- .-I CO G QI > — Li) a' Cl U O .--1 .-1 G T .-1 -E C U D.-d ' Ol O-1l NC 0 N Z H N G• o J Ch E-I GO QC •-r •--4 5 CC H Orr 63 0 a rn a O0 .-1 C4 al girl Z .-4 a .-I Ol r C 6n c. -4 - E -0 u i c, r-- a N 03 C) N` v ,�-, d OD a a) 1+ a C 44.o CC rn G 1-4 .-+ 0 0 .1 C.. 0 a F T +I a. 'V u G C CU TI 0 C 1_ C U = c on C) N —I C tl O. L+ G 0. C G. 0.1 LO L F C 1J 0 Cl G. Y L 0. C a a O p VD V L. '4 3 rn C.. '0 — U - P .—a O < .'. G Cl I 1.1U .- 1 C C V C E I C. v 1. d C +- E -i m CC„ cJ It I 1- a O. W u O I V .) O VI I- a 1 C6+. I E- P. C P. N -K • EVALUATION OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVES PROGRAM PROCESS OBJECTIVES PERFORMANCE DEGREE MET Therapeutic (a) Average number of 10.5 1057 Foster Care children to be served per month — 10 . (b) Average length of Average length 13.3 100% time in program not to months exceed 24 months. (c) Average cost per $752 per month per 100% month to serve child child — under spent not to exceed $799. for 84-85 (d) The treatment plan at discharge for at least 70% of the children served will call for a residence other than substitute care. (e) EVALUATION OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVES PROGRAM PROCESS OBJECTIVES PERFORMANCE DEGREE MET Partners Plus (a) Average number of 13 100% children to be served per month - 13 . (b) Average length of Average 10 months 100% time in program not to per child exceed 12 months. (c) Average cost per 100% month to serve child not to exceed $348. (d) The treatment plan 88% of discharges 100% at discharge for at were to child's own least 80% of the children home served will call for a residence other than substitute care (e) 607 of children 80% of placements 100% needing placement were less restrictive will be placed in placements least restrictive placements. (f) 70% of children 88% of children 100% will not be charged served were not charged with further delinquent with further delinquent offenses offenses (g) 80% of partnerships 70% of partnerships 87% will maintain contact maintained contact after after compensation is compensation ceased discontinued. GEVALUATION OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVES PROGRAM PROCESS OBJECTIVES PERFORMANCE DEGREE MET Parent Child (a) Average number of An average of 10 100% Support System children to be served children were in per month - 11. the program (b) Average length of Average time in 100% time in program not to program 4 months exceed 12 months. (c) Average cost per Actual cost $352 100% month to serve child per month per child not to exceed $412. (d) The treatment plan at 86% of the families discharge for at least avoided foster care at 85% of the children the point of discharge served will call for a residence other than substitute care. (e) see attached -p- PROPOSED PROGRAMS PROGRAM LEI Therapeutic Foster Care 1 . Target Group a. Average number of children to be served per month 12 . b. Age 2 - 12 Gender Male/Female c. Admission criteria : 1 . Referral made because child has been defined as emotionally disturbed. 2. Working with family and child in home has not resulted in improvement. 3. Previous multiple relative or foster placements have failed. • 4. Behavior of the child makes success in foster care unlikely. . d. How is this program an alternative to out-of-home placement? Therapeutic foster care provides the least restrictive and least costly • yet effective and stable environment in which children having suffered extensi emotional damage can be treated with the parents with the goal of reuniting • the family. Where appropriate, permanency planning for long term placement or adoption will be considered. 2. Program description (Attach program narrative in Appendix Section) • SERVICE ACTIVITIES FREQUMCY/ STAFF T PROVIDER(S) I COST DURATION . A. Training and 'support of onthly - 1 yr. staff Placement Alternatives foster parents Caseworker IV B. Coordinate and direct application of therapeutic and educational services to child and family onthly - 1 yr. staff ' Placement Alternatives C. Initiation and coordination Caseworker IV of court action on behalf of child and family onthly - 1 yr. staff PlacementiAlternatives Caseworker IV $30,672.00 I . Diagnostic, prognostic and onthly - 1 yr. contract appropriate therapeutic serv. Weld Mental Health Center 8,640.00 II . Foster care incentive payments onthly - 1 yr. contract foster family 28,800.00 V. Foster care maintenance onthly - 1 yr. contract foster family 42,624.00 TOTAL 411n 71E nn Cost 7,e7 ,,.._.d S9.228.00 C) P1. :OSED PROGRAMS (Cont ) • PROGRAM 6 1 Therapeutic Foster Care (Cont ) 3. Cost savings analysis • (1) (9) (3) CL) (s) (4) (7) Ave. # Anticipated Ave. CAST/MJAve. Cost/M0 Pro—rated Total Cost "avings Total Child/MO Placement of (iJ of PAC Prog Adm. Cost PAC Program (3) — ' Saving if No PAC per child per Child/Mo Per Child/ (6) (1) X (4) + (5) (7) 3 Sp.Group Home $734 $769 $769 ($35) ($105 4 RCCF • . $2.012 $769 $769 $1 ,243 $4 ,972 • 3 Family Foster $296 $769 $769 ($473 ($1 ,41c Care • • TOTAL /O TOTAL. 83.448 4. Program objectives a. Process Objectives (1 ) Average number of children to be served per month : 12 (3 ) Average length of time in program not to exceed 24 months . (3) Average cost per month to serve child not to exceed $ 769.00 . (4 ) The treatment plan at discharge for gt least 70 % of the children served will call for a residence other than substitute care . -1n- • PROPOSED PROGRAMS (Cont ) PROGRAM #1 Thprapputir FnctPr Care (Cont) 4 . Program objectives (Cont) b . Outcome objectives : (As a result of this program , what impact outcomes do you hope to achieve? ) 1 . Prevention of multiple placements for children who have suffered repeated uprooting and ongoing instability in their home environment. 2. Prevention of placement in more restrictive, less natural setting. 3. Permanent disposition in the child's best interest; a. Return to parental home with improved family relationships b. Long term foster care with guardianship c. Termination of parental rights and adoption 4. Cost savings 5 . Program evaluation Describe method of evaluation, related specifically to Program objectives : a. Tabulation of data 1 . To compare child with its own placement history 2. To compare child with control group b. Statistical compilation of data on a yearly basis c. Statistical compilation of data yearly _11 _ • o , LO. N �I k..O; I' I- CO 00f La iD N CL.P �. O-�; I ,, • Y I d li WY. II L- la U•-• v C U O = =W I--•0 a. O N in } V 1 • C CI) < A S - O O C NN O e N I--- I . s = r . CO CD _ tO CD d r kD !-• 0 • CO CO N O OryI 0 W Ln0 N N C • r , r U 0 . I = 6 • O 0I N I- • 0 = 4 0 1- LL , N L. • O .I O 0 N W C .La O e • ^ • .6 U W r p CO LO CD C F-I-Z =O 4 6 LL CO 0 O N N _• . C C C N N y a . ra O W ID D .O H W NLC N • N NJ 6 0 C C C C O W L) I • IA • In • CC W W W a• t L) U • J 0 t n -. . C z O ¢ ¢ C I- W W • I- r C 0 C CsJ • In • N CJ C7 O N • N aG ¢ ¢ • N d a 1 : 0 0 • Z C I- I Lco L Y 4J II 0 N C.7 L N I N 0 C N In LE-) • 0 Y 0 GO CU C LC) C a 0 q coY al a i `rn I E s r C a Cr) 0 Y N O 0 +�T • 0 - ¢ i N • _ 0 r L E OW E • N CJ - 0 0 E x Cu N C(,-) O • < D r ¢ E • = • 0. >•W L CO = 0 La0 a _ l).4 N O . X C r0 • 0 >1 la N L'J RC Y C r0 0 Y lA t J NK N C .C O W E • a a N 4) C La O-b. 0 +4 a U Ob4 0 I- -N... O II E 0 a I— J -- CO 0 E C W *NA 4-, J J L E ¢ a LL. I— N a N I— Cl O >• 01 N 0 0 O 0- S- 0 4-1 CV • F-- 0 C .- uI.- E O I— a r Cn O G I 0 -p L X J 41 L ID CO r0 X = 0 4- C C al429 0 O a • to '0 \L s- CU- c O.0 r---CV N YI CIY • > L C o E W a I L a co r0 0 co C C II N I co O • L r E O co E O C L U E a r 0 LI N •- •r Y r0 • In S- e.] C.) Cl X Y C N a L i >1 Cl 1.0 0 > 0 r0 0 CJ 0 CJ II r 0• G ,- E Y E 0 L Y Cl N Y .r > Y r N N .C U CD • L C N 0 L > Y 0 W Y al a) i La O 0l al Y N CL L in W4r C C L 0 4a C) CD W Cn U C C G Cl 0 L1 0 0 ..sc N a C C C Cl 0 CJ N Li •• E a 0 L 11 0 0 O _ ¢ r .r •r U E C U) 4- I 0 C C = c...) — 0 r0 O 0 E •• 0 a N N -0 3 Y N I 1 u 0 Y U r- E C co N •r al r Y Ol C C Y N C C O C R •r I L. E > •r N O r 0 0 CO W W W N Cl N O )C al (A an r0 L r X O •r r0 E C N 0 0 F- L L r .r r0 C Y 0 Z Cl 0 0 > •r I C 0 - In C) r0 101 E 0 N L. V) 0 L O r O) 0 0 > O a O_X O CO 0 a i L 41 0 0) 0 C C 0 O) L J LL r V1 I C U CJ 4- C) 0 E Cn N X •r 1 0 E CJ ✓ '0 L Y O Y MO N "O 0 O 0. 0 •r 41 r C •r In 0 0 N a 4C a C C C 0) 0 •r E Y r W O r0 Cl 1 41 W L., N Y (D U C) -r I OE N > 0 LD (005. > 4-1r G F- ICI N •r >)yr 41 r C •r r0 O a01 i 0 C LL X CJ r0 C C) C - 0 L 0 r VI r r0 Cl I Y L L W UL. Ua 0 L > 4-, 0a F-.b? GO cnr 4. O I- CO Y a L CJ r0 C C) L L I UC a r 0 -0 Or C O a r 10 0 0 a r (Veld' L n ••. o W -o L F- ¢ r N Cr) C in J' V O 0 C C • La u OW 1r) PROPOSED PROGRAMS . PROGRAM (/ 2 Partners Plus • 1 . Target Group a. Average number of children to be served per month 20 b. Age 12 to 18 Gender Male/Female c. 'Admission criteria: Youth who are at risk of being taken out of their homes and being placed in specialized group care or residential child care. . d. How is this program an alternative to out—of—home placement? This is a preventive program. Through advocacy and relationship building • youth are maintained in their homes or in less restrictive placements. • 2. Program description (At ach program narrative in Appendix Section) SERVICE ACTIVITIES FRZQUENCY/ STAFF PROVIDER(S) COST DURATION T ecruiting, training, supervision monthly - 1 yr contract Partners Inc. $13,704.00 nd management of partnerships 'rogram administrative costs monthly - 1 yr contract Partners Inc. $ 3,876.00 asemanagement, coordination, monthly - 1 yr staff Social Caseworker $13,068.00 nd family counseling ounseling and support weekly - 1 yr contract Senior Partner $72,000.00 TOT:=, $102 ,648 ra . Cc:: __ Mfld 55 ,132 PROPOSED PROGRAMS (Cont ) PROGRAM 8 2 Partners Plus (Coat) 3. Cost savings analysis • (1) (o) (1) I (G) (41 (F) (7) Ave. # Anticipated Ave. COST!? Ave. Cost/M0 Pro-rated Total Cost "avings Total Child/MO Placement of (J,) of PAC Prog Adm. Cost PAC Program (3) - ' Saving if No PAC per child per Child/Mo Per Child/ (6) (1) X (4) + (5) (7) • • 12 RCCF $1 ,300 $428 0 $428 $872 $10,45L 5 Sp. Gp. Home $700 $428 0 $428 $272 $1 ,36C 2 Family foster $293 $428 0 $428 ($135) ($270) • 1 Home 0 $428 0 $428 ($428) ($428) 'iota 40 TOTAL $11 ,12E 4 . Program objectives a.Process objectives (1 ) Average number of children to be served per month: 20 (2) Average length of time in program not to exceed 12 months . (3) Average cost per month to serve child not to exceed S $428 (4) The treatment plan at discharge for at least 80 % of the children served will call for a residence other than substitute care . _1A_ PROPOSED PROGRAMS (Cant ) PROGRAM # 2 Partners Plus (Cont ) 4. Program obiectives (Cont) b. Outcome objectives : (As a result of this program, what impact outcomes do you hope to achieve? ) 1 . 20% of all children will not be placed outside of their home . 2. 60% of all children will be placed in less restrictive placements. 3. 70% of all .chil.dren will not be charged with further delinquent offenses. 4. 80% of all children will maintain a relationship with their partner after compensation is discontinued. 5. 80% of all children will be in their homes at time of discharge. 5 . Program evaluation Describe method of evaluation, related specifically to Program objectives : Evaluation of the following data for each child in the program: 1 . Has child been in a licensed placement while in the program.. 2. If child has been placed outside the home, even on a short term basis , has this been the least restrictive placement. 3. While in the Partners Plus program has the child been charged with further delinquent acts. 4. After the Partners Plus relationship is discontinued is there ongoing contact between junior and senior partner. 5. Where the child is at the time of discharge from program. -15- 003L0 t.0 CO CO CO C O CO .- ni.0 LID 0• co - O I- NOM M Icl O I O] n T w w Co_ w. UI O =W I 0OV O in N N = J• 1 A S D O CO w t0 • O 1 in =NC OOM CO N O � • H _ W NON O 1 0 L O 0 • N I- • G C C 5 I- LM • in LL 0 00 LO ou 03 O J<O NOM <`•) � OM .�� N = 1—t-= l - O C w t� '- O in C U w • .-t-w in in C . G 0 C OwU • N N V) W • W • W - • N • 0 0 U L o • -1-I • >. •-• • y c LU LU CC t- K • O • W W WCC E N VI Ln O •N-• C • F . G ¢ C a O t O C II Z I L03 • X it 0 0 in tn N • O L O 1- • CW U O 4-1 W • CI Y C N C I rig) I O • X C d O W 040 N N • 4- E CO ++ •0 .O V V -O •O v 5 J r • w X W in • O O 41 C) O O O V) N C C -Wr t • ++ N 4 U X X X X X X XC H C O • C '_ 2 4- rF 4- I.I.r 4- 4- 4r-U >C O- o - =Y X O x U E • C >•., C NJ • E C r0 ON Nom' NLO WO +.+ -0 CO 0. W Li • L O O.. s_ V M .0- N d'd = t3.1 0 X In J LL Y • 0.-r J L C04- Q C a 4- C a 11 I- 0 C • CT f- in C in >)L I- - a _ •71' .C 0 CU \ N \ O Q)I- 10 Y • O +' I- > +' in Cu = CO•r 01.r C J L -eft a •-• C O CI 0 C +) \ C +)CO -O O C CJ • 0 CO J O r rC L •r O r- •.- .r 0 O E d C E = ro = 4-) 0-6) c C) C >In -co T N L +' 0 n O C O > 'r •r •r L - 0 L L y N C Cl O r- •r L r0 T Y > C) O • 0 O VI r- O O O_ C) L 2 L i V O O_ o Cr) -0 a r -- H L C V) 1- CL IC LI N u? . r0 C X C_ M L0 in Cr) CO OTJ r01 inU .E c •• >•O U -O N O C O O C O r- r- r rn II L to V i--, C X 3 C N to > O. N O C'r 0 0 U L •r .C O O > a •• 4- -0 C O a. O O L +' O L C L N O Y I L O N in C O O O L V .C N in •r L a L O N E C V) O -r +) O +' O O 0 p r-• O E L U I C in 01 C U = r6 C O O O N a +) L 0 L u C Y N C i a 4:-Iv) rO L O a U O C in 'C O L D +' •� O N L CO In Y U N O r" N r6 L CO C O O 0 C1 i N O •� L d x r0 I C V 0 4- O O E > Q) U. N O Ca_ W . ' 0 w L " 0 a 0 -- L N > in r0 1 d TL 1- C C C C O- S- 0) +' O r0 L �] N +) .0 W L.t. •r I O E C M 'N N U O `� O 'O C C r +' r- C •r •O -C O.N •r O v) J O O O W CO rJ O I 1- 1=1 O r >>M C a r- W c in 3E L > a-1 in > F-av O CO !-- -O C A H :�r O rO C O COO C L.L. C N L L C L O C -CU L • O .r C U • O • • O I- C O U C r O 1] U in G W L • CSC V L L I O • C 0 L r- N M c In •- - _ r-. G C u ' w ! r..l u PROPOSED PROGRAMS PROGRAM 0r .1 parent Child Support System 1 . Target Group a. Average number of children to be served per month 10 . b. Age 1 to 4 Gender Male/Female c. Admission criteria: Children from one to four who have been the subject of an abuse and/or neglect report and who are "at risk" of out-of-home placement due to the maladaptive parenting skills of their primary caregivers . . d. How is this program an alternative to out-of-home placement? By improving the parenting skills of the primary caregivers , the children will not be "at risk" of out-of-home placement in the future. 2. Program description (Attach program narrative in Appendix Section) SERVICE ACTIVITIES ID11RA4T ON / STAFF TTP T PROVIDER(S) COST Social Worker full time-1 yr. contract Parent Child Center $20,868 Education Specialist full time-1 yr. contract Parent Child Center 16,668 Clerical 1/8 time-1 yr. contract Parent Child Center 1 ,140 birector 1 /8 time-1 yr contract Parent Child Center 2 ,016 Travel 'onthly-1 yr. contract Parent Child Center social worker 1 ,056 specialized services 1 ,440 children 3,168 Supplies onthly-1 yr. contract Parent Child Center 2,640 Office 300 -Psychologist consultant s needed contract Parent Child Center 1 ,200 Program Services onthly-1 yr. contract Parent Child Center 5,184 737AL 555 .680 per :.._-_ 52 .784 _1 7_ rOPOSEED PROGRAMS (Cont ) PROGRAM II '3 Parent Child Support SvsteiCont) • 3. Cost savings analysis (1\ rn\ (3) c (6) es1 (G1 (7) Ave. # Anticipated Ave. COST/14 Ave. Cost/M0 Pro—rated Total Cost I avings Total Child/MO Placement of (j) of PAC Prog Adm. Cost PAC Program (3) — ' Sayan if No PAC per child per Child/N.o Per Child/ (6) (1) X (4) + (5) (7) 2 foster care $234 $464 0 $464 ($230) F $460) 8 home . 0 $464 0 $464 ($464) $3,71: • • • • • TOTAL /O TOTAL ( $4 ,17. 4 . Program oD_ ec:ives a. Process cb: e_tives (1 ) Average number of children to be served per month: 10 (2) Average length of time in program not to exceed 12 -onths . ( 3) Average cost per month to serve child not to exceed 46a (4) The treatment plan a: discharge for at least 85 % of the children served will call for a residence other than substitute care . O CV O O O O CO N O d' M O N O O 0 co • G to O N In OBI CO CO e Q _ II O CO .— r - ct N N II' r r c 3.- i......- = N W U o _ 0 W o o O Li)V } l . - cn - ON OOOO W N 0I ate. = 0 of W cn Cr) O N O O C' en Cr) VI I •C In co CO O N LO Ol . n O N C ur o c0 r r r N CV CV r W N O Vf r Q co 0 I = 6 0 0 • N l— . . . O = G = I- W • in U. O N O O O O W J VI C' M O N O O r•NO M , U Lac.O LC) OD W ONlA r•-• I.-- tD . = ¢G= CO CC r r i— C CV N 1 l.n in r r . CC U W • r W Vf to C G O G o r.. C. • V) • w N _ • 0 • w >G 0 O C C • IJJ N O C CC C • II y • w CO F- II N • J ID N 0 • N L Q i • n. : O CC u C 0 t • • om 1.4 CO II )) s • COO ;AC • • O • on U, In ! I L O E CC a 0 �In , Y E • II • W CC 0 I G.01 ON •L r • a • 'II O C' O to N CL. CO N N M �n r E r +) CJ r0 • to N C' C a) CX • w W CV X 0 N W 0 C CD -' r-CII E L O Q C Q C J W = N Y = L O • = I C CJ- X +) L N C II UVU h J C . r O V) CC Y Q) CC 4 4-I • -3 L 0 C E L 0 C r0 L C' O VI 0 C J Cu(-) ++ E O X ++ 0- J V) C E L C U .r.. U CO N0.) 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L S— _O -O 0 L C r0 C O r0 0) a) r0 a) a) a) a)G O O 'r O Y U O N C L E N 0_4-4 U CU W a V) U •r U .r r 0 a) C O a 0) rt1 a1 >r > U a L N a)tt L Or r w r 0 •L a) L W I L O 0 U 5-L > se) Na U U .r r U al CT a L 0 O a) s- - w 0 0 U N a) 'n I— -0 0 0 •r .r 0-1.9-r a) u_ Li.' co co 0_0 Y 0 N .r a C V) W •r in \\ r 0 N > l— a s I C -0 r0 G L C C C V = .U. a a) r0 O _ _• L ro .0 U a w LL 0 L N 1] C Y L I 0 J • CI C _: _I ¢ v u u K ( C' • 1 0_ COUNTY Weld PROGRAM S=ARY SHEET FY 1985-86 SHEET FOR ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT PLAN I i Target Group , Total PAC PAC Progam Administrat.l Total PAC PROGRAM PROVIDER I AGE Iii/M01 Prog. Cost/YrtCost/Kid/MOCost/Kid/MOIProg.Cost/K - — T- -- -NO.I Therapeutic Foster i Weld County 2 - 12 12 ; $110,736 $769 ! $ 0 I $769 :are J • 'artners Plus Partners Inc. 12 = 1820 $102,648 $428 $ 0 $428 I 'arent Child Parent Child support System Learning Ctr. 1 - 4 ' 10 $56,680 $464 $ 0 ; $464 I I • • I • I • - - - • I I I I I i I I I I I I I - - I F-- _ ' —. -O-_7 ! 42 5269.064 A-_T.51 .661 -20- LO O M W ccr . 1\ l0 l0 OCl., U) •• O O) O r r to r Cu C ♦1 ..� 47 to •-,r _J G E F = G.. C3 = H 2 •` CJ.-- W C U C.7 C o O O CO aW F LC, Nel 0 CO O - N- in t.0 e En. Ca to O 0 Lf) 0 C C7 0 L a = v] r ONg S Coal t0 Cu O G • 0 F I W F O a g t0 co 03 0 co C N co oeo 0 0 - I co _ C > v] tD tD O e O LO C•. W HC r d• • 0 ct r in Ca. -7 G 0 CO N LEDO OJ O G .: W LO O to t0 n CT N ii to e r a.: N U_ • F r D. N 0 C <- VH] C1] v] HE. W�•' tO N W 5 DC A U V C CO C H G. EW-. F 49. E..t • U E-4 J H O 0) p F C 6-7 Ca 0 H F .7 -. W f.7 W G. ≤ C 2 W • > Co '-1 0 F C_ C H r. • W 4 Cu - U --L.. •_ I p) W W to • In Y L G O CC W 00 to CO ..7 O H • K r G C a a 0 r- •-.7 tD W r r a. r r7 La W N a O T F LC �A N 7 = M O a O H G N. .0) L H H K v 0 - a! J N 0-4 _C N•• W H CD CC)�al U O :C2 W Nr - > - C0 _H �H > i-1 CJ = L. .-1 0 U we I- L cc w Hw W , HC _- W G Vi W W C 4• _ v - 0) C ar .2 v a. = 470 I VO H .� n. O. _ G U C - '- < " ..� C C^ < • _ 0. 47 O 0 O E. W M n C a M M CO ,. - - O L70 . 71 PROGRAM #1 — Therapeutic Foster Care PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION Through a process of research, review, and assessment of children needing expensive RCCF placements we have been able to identify problems and barriers which cause or contribute to the placement in this type of facility. The largest contributing factor to long term placement and eventual RCCF placement is the lack of early intervention and expert treatment of children diagnosed as having severe emotional problems. Barriers to achieving expert treatment are caused by: Inflexible funding for specialized services, time constraints and priority setting preventing staff from providing intensive services to the child and foster parents, lack of experience, training and incentive payments to foster parents to cope with disturbed children, and lack of development of local resources to provide highly specialized services to these children. Out of an average of 115 children in regular foster care, the Weld County Department of Social Services has identified a group of children at risk of multiple placements, with eventual graduation of these children to group home, residential treatment centers and institutional care. TARGET GROUP Children one to twelve years of age who are diagnosed as having severe emotional problems, and normally cannot be maintained in regular foster care. Children who exhibit severe behavioral problems which make their survival in conventional foster care unlikely or would result in their having to be moved frequently. GOALS 1. Prevent multiple placements of children in regular foster care. 2. Prevent residential or institutional care of disturbed children and provide these children with a family setting. 3. Permanency Planning: a. Placement of the child with parents or relatives. b. Permanent foster care by plan (guardianship) . c. Adoption by foster parents — full or subsidized. d. Full adoption. ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS 1. Residential Child Care Facilities 2. Institutional placement PROGRAM SOLUTIONS Study and certify families who have the aptitude and motivation to 1. Work with a team of professionals in providing therapeutic foster care for disturbed children. 2. Provide a full time caseworker to provide support and services daily, if necessary. Purchase psychological and psychiatric services based on the needs of the child. RESOURCE ALLOCATION Foster Home Characteristics: 1. Loving parents with the ability to give clear and structured messages. 2. High frustration tolerance level. 3. Dedication to be involved in a continual educational process. 4. Willingness to provide transportation to and participate in therapy with the child. 5. Willingness to be come involved in fostering the growth process of the natural parents by interacting with nurturing the latter, if feasible. Supportive Services to be Provided to the Foster Family; 1. An available caseworker/specialist with a reduced caseload will provide consultation on parenting issues, emotional support, coordination of therapeutic services, assessment of need for special therapeutic services. 2. Relief day care. 3. Foster parents belong to an on-going study group/support group facilitated by the caseworker/specialist or the agency foster care worker. 4. This study group has its origin in the initial training group which (in a minimum of 25 hours) acquaints foster parents with their job and provides them with a rudimentary understanding of child development, pathology likely to be encountered, emotional needs of affected children, methods for meeting those needs and strategies for emotional self-preservation. 5. A small library of pertinent literature will be kept on hand for use by the parents. 6. Foster parents will participate in staff development appropriate to their needs. Therapeutic Services 1. A budget will be set aside to cover cost of therapy for those children who cannot be dealt with by vendors who will bill Medicaid. 2. Other available therapeutic services such as those of Weld County Mental Health Center, The Center for Therapeutic Learning, Community Center Foundation and School District Six shall be utilized to assess and treat the remainder of the children. Services to Natural Parents: Natural parents will be involved in the process, where applicable, to facilitate the return of the children to their home and thus, to conserve costs. ti 1. A group of parents also facilitated by the caseworker/specialist or foster care worker and co-facilitated by one or more foster parents will meet regularly to provide: a. Parenting training b. Nurturing and emotional support. c. Aid in developing coping skills. 2. Where applicable, foster parents will meet informally with the child's parents for the purpose of: a. Visitation. b. Giving the child a sense of continuity. c. Recreation to provide support and nurturance. 3. The natural parents, where indicated, will accompany the child to therapy to benefit, first hand, from those activities. MONITORING In addition to the services to the foster parents and/or natural parents listed in Resource Allocation, monitoring will also include: 1. Weekly supervision with the caseworker/specialist. 2. Appropriate team staffings with other professionals involved in the case plan at least monthly. EVALUATION: Since these children historically would be in some kind of care all of their lives, the thrust of evaluation will be to determine whether care can be provided in a less restrictive, locally oriented way which will avoid the expensive out-of-county alternatives. The evaluation will be provided by the Weld County Department of Social Services in conjunction with review of the program by the Placement Alternatives Commission. Out of the group of high risk children, twelve (12) children will be selected for placement in Therapeutic Foster Care. Twelve (12) other children with similar profiles will be followed during the pendency of the project. Records will be maintained by Social Services for both groups. The records will contain baseline data, monthly statistics on placements, monthly progress reports as well as self-evaluation. The records will provide the following comparative data: 1. Frequency of change in placement. 2. Graduation to RCCF or institutional care. 3. Comparative monthly costs of both groups. 4. Mental Health status - improvement or deterioration established by quarterly psychological evaluations. 5. Success or failure in meeting the permanency planning goals within one year. In addition, we are interested in evaluating the efficiency of the assignment of a full time caseworker to twelve (12) children and foster parents as compared to simply purchasing specialized care from Residential Child Care Facilities. f' PROGRAM #2 - Partners Plus PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Weld County, in its services to adolescents, has identified two problem areas contributing to the use of costly group and Residential Child Care Facilities. 1. Through experience we have found it requires a minimum of ten hours per week of one-to-one contact between a trained professional and an emotionally disturbed youth in order to produce significant change in the behavior of such youth. Due to time constraints, staffing limitations, and caseload standards, staff are unable to provide the necessary time to each youth. In addition, the Department of Social Services has been placed in a more adversary and protective role in regards to the youth, and therefore caseworkers find it increasingly difficult to engage youth in a positive and/or nurturing relationship that may be necessary to meet the needs of the youth. 2. Foster homes vary in their quality and capabilities. Many of our foster homes do an effective job in serving the children of the county. However, in regards to adolescents between the ages of twelve and eighteen there are several problems confronting us in the use of foster homes. Among these problems are the following: a. Few foster homes wish to care for adolescent children at all. Even fewer foster parents will accept or tolerate youth who have chronic behavior and/or emotional problems. b. Many adolescents cannot attach to a set of parental figures. This may be due to the lack of trust based on previous neglect or abuse by their natural parents. The youth may b so accustomed to being on his own that having a parental figure to supervise them is very difficult for them to accept. Also, the connotation of having a foster parent can appear to mean giving up natural parents, particularly to a child who has limited conceptual ability and views the world only in concrete terms. c. Natural parents are very threatened by the concept and role of foster parents. To the natural parent this means they are failures, and that someone else is being allowed to do their job and is trying to replace them as regards their child's affection. This can often lead to the natural parent subverting the foster care placement. d. If a child cannot attach to a foster parent, then there are no controls on that child. If there are no controls, there cannot he any nurturing or treatment. e. All families, including foster families, have their own values, limited resources of energy and time, sibling rivalries, and their own difficulties which may preclude a successful placement of a troubled youth. TARGET GROUP: Weld County needs to improve its ability to provide for those adolescents who may be able to remain at home if provided an intensive, nurturing relationship by someone outside the home. If placement is necessary, we need to be able to provide foster care for adolescents who cannot go to a foster home for the above stated reasons, but who may be able to be treated in lesser care than a group facility. The target group of youth would be the following: 1. Youth whose family influences or peer group influences are such that removal from the home and/or community appears as the only alternative to overcoming these negative forces. These youth are not hard core delinquents, but are moving toward more serious trouble and expensive institutionalization, or group home placement, due to their susceptibility to the negative influences of significant others. 2. Youth who do not need and/or have difficulty in attaching to a traditional foster family. These youth may not need the intensive structure or supervision provided by expensive in-county or private out-of-county group homes. This category could include youth already residing in such group facilities, and who will continue to reside in such facilities for want of another place to stay. In summary, the above type youth may have behavior and/or emotional problems which ordinarily would mean that foster care, and usually group home placement, would be the method of choice in ameliorating the situation. The personality of such adolescents may lend itself to attaching to and learning from someone if only that person had the time, training, support, and inclination to assume such a responsibility. GOALS: For youth moving toward group home or Residential Child Care Facility placement: 1. To avoid or avert out-of-home placement altogether. If placement is necessary, to keep these youth in their county of residence. 2. To shorten the length of out—of—home placement to six months or less. The average length of placement for a youth placed out of Weld County is 1.5 years. 3. To provide good quality foster placement in less expensive care than group care. ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS: We propose that Partners, Inc. and the Weld County Department of Social Services work together to preserve the positive learning experience and humanistic qualities that only a one-to-one relationship can offer a youth through its emphasis on intimate, personal interaction. To accomplish the previously mentioned goals, we propose to match a youth with an adult or childless couple for one year. The expectation of Partners, Inc. and our department is that such a partnership would continue indefinitely or as long as needed. In other words, the relationship would continue longer than a year though the intensity of support for that relationship and the objectives of that relationship would be less than in the initial one year period. This would provide a continuity of after-care. There would be two types of Partners Plus relationships: 1. The Senior Partner helps the Junior Partner while the Junior Partner is living at home, on independent living, in a foster home, or on his own. This can occur as a prevention of placement, or after placement with the Senior Partner or other foster care arrangement, or as an adjunct to current placement. Under these circumstances, the Senior Partner would be expected to contract with the Junior Partner around meeting specific goals. Ordinarily, in the traditional Partners, Inc. program, a Senior Partner is expected to spend three and one—half hours a week with the Junior Partner. In Partners Plus, the Senior Partner would be expected to spend a minimum of ten hours per week with the Junior Partner. The figure of ten hours was arrived at through a poll of our caseworkers in which the caseworkers were asked how much time they would need to spend with a troubled youth to keep him at home or in less expensive care. The ten hours per week would be spent utilizing the traditional relationship building activities available and organized by Partners, Inc. In addition, the extra time would be spent on meeting individualized prescriptive goals of the contract. The length of time of the paid Partners Plus contract would be from six months to one year. The Senior Partner would be paid $300 per month for his extra time, training, use of skills, and effort with the Junior Partner. The Partners Plus program would be assigned one—half caseworker, similar to our other specialized programs. In this way, the Department could provide better support and continuity, and would provide the majority of the administrative, supportive, and supervisory functions of the Partners Plus program. 2. In this situation, the Senior Partner and the Junior Partner live together. The Weld County Department of Social Services would license the Senior Partner as a foster parent, even though the term "foster parent" would not be used. The Department would have legal or voluntary custody of the youth. The Department's defined function, professional commitments, and legal obligations combine to again make the Department responsible and accountable for the child's welfare for as long as he remains in placement under the Department's care. Consequently, the Department must exercise a supervisory function as a component in this arrangement. This should help to clarify that the Department will supervise and provide the majority of the support for this type of partnership. The Junior Partner in this live-in situation will be covered by Medicaid. The Junior Partner's personal needs, clothing, school supplies, etc. , will be met out of the foster home allowance in effect for his age group. RESOURCE ALLOCATION: Partners, Inc. will initially recruit and train the single adults or childless couples to be used in this program. Partners, Inc. has an active and successful recruitment program which should prove an asset to the Department, which has had problems in recruiting foster parents for adolescents. Partners, Inc. also has a substantial bank of Senior Partners who are no longer active with their Junior Partners. The Department would provide additional training to the Senior Partners. Also, the Senior Partner will be asked to participate in foster parenting classes at their own expense if they are licensed as foster parents. The Department of Social Services will pay Partners, Inc. a monthly fee per child as detailed in the budget summary sheets, not to exceed $5,132.00 per year per child. Projected number of Partners Plus partnerships per year is twenty. MONITORING: The process of referral and matching for the Partners Plus program will be as follows: 1. Youth is screened and determined to be heading for or currently in need of out-of-home placement or group care. 2. Youth is evaluated by the Department as being appropriate for Partners Plus program. 3. Youth is matched with a Senior Partner to live with in the Senior Partner's home or to be worked with by the Senior Partner while the youth is at home or in another temporary foster care arrangement. 4. The Department caseworker that is responsible for the Partners Plus program, the Junior Partner, the Senior Partner, and the coordinator from Partners Plus will agree on individualized prescriptive objectives to be contracted for. 5. Progress toward the objectives is evaluated weekly for the first eight weeks and bi-monthly thereafter. Partners, Inc. will be responsible for the recruiting and training of Senior Partners, in addition to the management of relationship building recreational opportunities which are available to all partnerships. The Department will provide additional training, supervision and support to the Partners Plus people in regards to the special dynamics around foster care and/or working with the youth in his own home. Case records detailing individualized goals, foster care eligibility, custody arrangements, dates of placement, etc. , will be maintained by the Department and updated weekly and/or quarterly as needed. EVALUATION: Each youth deemed appropriate for the Partners Plus program will be matched with a similar youth moving toward, going into, or already in group care or RCCF care. This should be feasible based on the placement criteria and psychological profiles included with the project. We will then compare each youth within and without the Partners Plus program regarding the following goals: 1. Avoiding placement and/or keeping the youth in county of residence. 2. Shortening placement to six (6) months or less. 3. Providing foster care for youth at less of an expense than group care. h PROGRAM #3 - Parent Child Support System PROGRAM IDENTIFICATION: Families have been identified within the county that have children with high risk of being placed in foster care. These families have multiple problems: low or inadequate income, unemployment, cultural isolation, ignorance of their children's needs, and of effective parenting. These parents are so "needy" themselves they are unable to recognize or provide for the needs of their children and as a result, children are abused or neglected. A number of these families have had children placed in foster care. It is expected that unless there is timely intervention, many children in these families will reach an acute stage where the children will be removed from their parents and full-time foster care will be necessary. Separation from parents and foster care placements translate into higher public costs and, often, further emotional damage for family members. TARGET GROUP: Families with pre-school children that are being neglected and/or abused. This includes families that have had older or previous children placed in foster care. This population is assessed to be significant. For example, in August, 1982 out of 56 protective service referrals received by the Department of Social Services, 38 could be identified as families probably needing immediate and intensive intervention. GOALS: 1. Prevent repeated neglect and abuse of children. 2. Teach families to improve their functioning level and reduce the risk of out-of-home placements of their children. 3. Increase family knowledge of parenting skills. OBJECTIVES: To maintain children in their own homes through early treatment intervention with selected families thus preventing full-time foster care. These families are evaluated to have: 1. A record of child abuse and/or neglect. 2. To be in a situation where child abuse or neglect can reasonably be expected to occur. PROGRAM SOLUTIONS: 1. Intervention as soon after the initial referral as possible but no later than 30 days. 2. Development of an individual treatment plan for each family. 3. Providing a positive child care experience for the pre-school child during the day. 4. Coordinating resources to meet the need of the individual family. Providing direct treatment and case management. 5. Providing transportation as needed for specialized services outlines in the treatment plan. 6. Intensive counseling work with parents to change behavior. 7. Children will be accepted in the project for a six month period. This treatment period may be extended an additional six months if progress has been shown and further treatment is indicated. RESOURCE ALLOCATION: Social Worker 1. The Parent Child Learning Center will provide a Social Worker on their staff, in addition to the regular day care staff, who will be responsible for the planning and implementing of individualized services for each family in the program. 2. The Parent Child Learning Center Social Worker will utilize and work cooperatively with existing programs offered through the Weld Mental Health Center, Community Center Foundation, AIMS Community College, Weld County Public Health Department and any other appropriate agency. 3. Case acceptance and treatment plans will be supervised and administered through the Department of Social Services staff. 4. Since the constructive involvement of the natural parents will be necessary, the Social Worker will be conducting many sessions in the family home when the parent(s) are available. 5. The Social Worker will also be available to train and work with the day care staff in assuring each child is given the individual treatment necessary for continuation of the family treatment plan. 6. The Social Worker will spend 100% of her time with project parents and children. Special Education Specialist 1. The Special Education Specialist will spend 100% of her time on project assignments. 2. Since most children from multi-problem families exhibit some behavior problems and/or developmental delays, the Special Education Specialist will develop an educational behavioral assessment and treatment plan for each child in the project. 3. Since the school district programs ordinarily do not deal with children under the age of 4, this assessment will allow the Center to begin working with the child at an earlier age and reduce the length of time a bad behavior can become "learned." 4. The Special Education Specialist will work closely with the Community Center Foundation and Mental Health Center and utilize the existing resources and programs available. 5. By introducing a comprehensive program at an early stage of the child's life, problems with later adjustments can be alleviated and lead to overall improved functioning. ADMINISTRATION: The Parent Child Learning Center will provide the above stated services for Weld County in compliance with rules and regulations set forth by the County and the Colorado State Department of Social Services. Although case referrals may come from anywhere, the County Department of Social Services is responsible for case acceptance or rejection (intake) and referral to the Project. As the Weld County Department of Social Services has fiscal responsibility for project monies, termination of project placement, if necessary, must also be the responsibility of the Weld County Department of Social Services. A thirty day assessment of the family will be made prior to their formal acceptance into the program to determine their motivation and to establish a contract which results in the treatment plan. Families that evidence little motivation will be assigned to a regular on-going caseworker until their motivation improves. MONITORING: 1. Monitoring the progress of all families in the program will be done weekly by the Parent Child Learning Center and the Department of Social Services. 2. Attendance of parents at group/individual sessions will be expected unless illness should occur. 3. Quarterly staffings with other service providers to ensure compliance with all facets of the treatment plan will be expected. 4. When a referral is made to the Department of Social Services alleging abuse and/or neglect on a family in the program, the project Social Worker will be notified so that the problem(s) that caused the referral to be made can be dealt with as part of the treatment plan. 5. Families will be allowed to remain in the project for at least six months or until they have achieved at least 60% of their treatment goals. EVALUATION: The Department of Social Services and the Parent Child Learning Center will meet as necessary to make evaluation of project cases. Where there is a disagreement, the case will be referred to the Department of Social Services Division Supervisor and Administration for a decision. Department of Social Services will monitor appropriate case records and reports. The following criteria will be used to determine the success of the project: 1. 80% of the families who are in the project will avoid foster care for their children. 2. Less than 20% of the families who are in the project six months or more will have a confirmed neglect/abuse during the treatment period. 3. 75% of the families who are in the program six months or more will achieve at least 60% of their treatment plan objectives. 4. The total cost of the program will not exceed the cost of foster placement for equivalently sized and composed families. This will be calculated as follows: a. The per client monthly cost of the program will be determined by dividing the total cost by the number of children served. b. This cost will be compared to the hypothetical cost of foster placement for families the same size as those of the children served. c. If more than one sibling is served in a family, they will be counted as separate families. Hello