Family · 2019. 1. 15. · about your family, a FAR caseworker will meet with you to talk about...

A CPS pathway to strengthen and support families

Family Assessment Response (FAR)

DSHS 22-1534 (Rev. 5/14)

• Children’sAdministrationreceivedareportwithconcernsaboutyourchild’ssafety.

• ThereportmetthelegaldefinitionofchildabuseandneglectinWashingtonstate(RCW26.44.020).

• Thereportdidnotsaythatyourchildwasinimmediatedanger.

• Children’sAdministrationwantstoworkwithyoutohelpkeepyourchildrensafe.

Why am I receiving a Family Assessment Response?

For more information about FAR use the QR code below, or go to the FAR website at:

www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/about/far.asp

Ifyouhaveacomplaintorconcernabouthowyourcaseisbeinghandled,callyourFARcaseworker’ssupervisor.

IfyourconcernsarestillnotresolvedyoucancalltheAreaAdministrator.

YoumaycalltheOfficeofConstituentRelationsat1-800-723-4831forhelpatanytime.

-or-

YoumaycalltheOfficeoftheFamily&Children’sOmbuds*at1-800-571-7321.

*ThisagencyisseparatefromDSHS.ItinvestigatesconcernsaboutChildren’sAdministration.

Who do I contact if I have concerns about my case?

WhenChildren’sAdministrationreceivesareportaboutyourfamily,aFARcaseworkerwillmeetwithyoutotalkaboutyourchildren’ssafety.

Thecaseworkerwillworkwithyoutodecideifyouneedservicesorsupportstolowertheriskoffuturechildabuseandneglect.Yourcaseworkerwillhelpyourfamilyworkthroughchallenges.

MostFARcaseswillclosewithin45days.However,youandtheFARcaseworkermaychoosetokeepyourcaseopenfor90days,ifitwouldbehelpfultocontinueservicesthatsupportthegoodworkyouhavebegun.

You have choices:

• YoumaychoosetoengageinFAR -or-• YoumaychoosetohaveatraditionalCPS

investigation

IfyoudonotagreewithyourFARcaseworkerabouttheservicesyourfamilyneeds,youmayaskforameetingwithFARstafftotalkaboutotheroptions.

How does Family Assessment Response work?

Your caseworker will help your family work through challenges.

Youknowwhatyouandyourfamilyneed.Your FAR caseworker will work with you to:

• Identifyhowyoucanimproveyourchild’ssafetyathome.

• Meetthebasicneedsofyourfamily.

• Increaseskillstohelpyouparentyourchildrenatallagesandstages.

• Developastrongerconnectiontoyourcommunity.

• Findcommunityresourcesandmentorstoaddressongoingconcernssuchashousing,work,orotherissuesthatarecreatingstressforyouandyourfamily.

Togetherwewillworktobuildyourconfidenceandskillstokeepyourchildrensafe.

How can Family Assessment Response help me?

FARisadifferentwayforWashingtonStateChildProtectiveServicestorespondtosomereportsofchildabuseandneglect.BeforeFAR,CPSrespondedtoreportsofchildabuseandneglectwithaninvestigation.

FAR works with families to:

• Supportthemwhentheyareincrisiswithoutfindingparentsresponsibleforchildabuseorneglect.

• Helpthemconnectwiththeircommunities.

Both investigators and FAR caseworkers:

• Workwithfamiliestokeepchildrensafe.

• Identifyfamilies’needs.

• Buildonparentandcommunitystrengthsandresources.

• Findservicestoeasestressfulsituationsthatmakeithardtofocusonchildren’sneeds.

Investigations:

• Determinewhetherchildabuseorneglectoccurred.

• Identifywhoisresponsiblefortheallegedabuseorneglect.

• Makeafindingaboutwhetherchildabuseorneglectoccurred.ThisiskeptinDSHSrecords,andmayaffectfutureemploymentwithchildrenorvulnerableadults.

What is Family Assessment Response (FAR)?