SERVICE

One or more organization-operated programs or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organization's material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organization that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licensed to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.		  
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  FAMILY

Two or more people who consider themselves family and who assume obligations, functions, and responsibilities generally essential to healthy family life. Child care and child socialization, income support, long-term care, and other caregiving are among the functions of family life. The definition of "family" will rest with an individual's indication of who plays a family member role, including current or former foster family, adoptive family, extended family members, fictive kin, or significant others. Organizations that believe family is the central constellation in a child's life, and that family attachments are of primary importance for human development, will strive to work with professional staff to develop a common understanding of "family."		  
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  CULTURE

The customs, habits, values, skills, technology, beliefs, and religious, social, and political behaviors of a group of people in a specific period of time.		  
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  COMMUNITY

A specific group of people living in the same locality and who may share a common culture, values, and norms. Communities can also be defined by race, religion, ethnicity, age, occupation, political status, tribal affiliation, interest in particular problems or outcomes, or other common bonds. The term "community" encompasses worksites, schools, tribes, residential neighborhoods, business districts, recreational areas, and health and human service sites.		  
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  CASE

A general term used to designate clients (including individuals, families, and groups) served by an organization for purposes of monitoring the provision of services. A foster care case is generally based on the placement of an individual child, although casework for the child may include services to the child's family. A child protective services case is based on an entire family household if a family assessment model is used; otherwise a case is defined as a child.		  
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  INDIAN CHILD

As defined in the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), "Any unmarried person who is under age eighteen and is either (a) a member of an Indian tribe or (b) eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and is the biological child of a member of an Indian tribe." For purposes of compliance with ICWA, the definition provided in the Act shall apply. For purposes of access to services and resources, other more inclusive definitions may apply (e.g. Indian Education Act, tribal definitions, etc.). 		 
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  INDIAN ORGANIZATION

As defined in ICWA, "Any group, association, partnership, cooperation, or other legal entity owned or controlled by Indians, or a majority of whose members are Indians."		  
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  PARENTS

Parents can include: birth, foster, kinship, and adoptive parents. Please see service standards for more specific information about use of this term. 		 
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  CAREGIVER

The provider of physical, emotional, and social needs to another person, often dependent and unable to provide for his or her own needs. Caregiver is the generic term used for the direct service providers in Community Care and Support Services (CCS). 		 
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  SUPERVISION

Assumption of responsibility for directly overseeing and evaluating the work or work products of personnel within an organization. Also includes inspecting the act or process of accomplishing a function or activity.		  
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  PLANNING

The process of specifying objectives, evaluating the means for their achievement, and exercising deliberate decision making about appropriate courses of action.		  
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  POLICY

A written statement of principles, values, or intent that provides a basis for consistent decision making and guides the actions of staff, management, and board of trustees. A policy is intentionally broad in its language and application. The following is an example of an anti-discrimination policy:

"[Organization Name] shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers, selection of vendors, and provision of services."

In contrast, a procedure is a detailed, step-by-step description of a process. It tells the reader how to do something. Generally, policies are implemented through procedures. For example, the above anti-discrimination policy would require a detailed grievance procedure in order to operationalize it within an organization.

The governing body has the fiduciary responsibility for setting organizational policy. Therefore, policies must be approved and periodically reviewed by the organization's governing body. However, the governing body typically delegates (via policy) the responsibility for policy development to management. In owner-operated for-profit companies, the owner can act as the company's governing body, depending on the company's corporate structure.

In a public agency the responsibility for setting and reviewing policies may belong to the agency's management team, elected officials, another governmental agency, or as is often the case, a combination of the above.

  
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Kinship Care Services
  
Private Org Public Agency  

PA-KC 7: Maintaining Connections

 
The agency promotes positive connections among the child, family members, friends, and community.
Interpretation: When the case involves an Indian child, the tribe or a local Indian organization should be seen as a resource to help maintain the child’s connection to their extended family and the tribal community.
Note: When the agency is not directly responsible for certain activities specified in the standards, efforts made to support the activities are documented.
NA The agency only provides informal kinship care services.

PA-KC 7.01

 

The agency helps parents to:

  1. understand and cope with separation and loss;
  2. redefine relationship roles and boundaries;
  3. visit and maintain contact with their child, except when contraindicated;
  4. maintain connections with the child's community or tribe; and
  5. resolve issues that prevent visitation or their involvement in the child’s care.
Research Note: Contact with tribal relatives is commonly practiced among tribal communities and is believed to support the child’s cultural identity and an improved sense of belonging.

PA-KC 7.02

 

A constructive visitation plan is developed and updated in collaboration with parents, kinship caregivers, and the child, and is appropriate to the:

  1. child’s age and developmental stage;
  2. parents’ strengths and needs;
  3. participants’ schedule; and
  4. social and cultural context of the family.
Interpretation: When the case involves an Indian child, a representative from the tribe or a local Indian organization should be included in the development of the visitation plan.
Note: The visitation plan is part of the permanency plan and should include goals of visitation. Visitation plans specify the participants and can include: the purpose, frequency, length, and location of the visit. The plan can also specify requirements for supervision, supportive services that will be provided, and activities.
Research Note: Literature suggests that visitation can be stressful for children and it is recommended that children are actively involved in visitation planning, which considers the child’s best interests, needs, and developmental state.

PA-KC 7.03

 

Unless contraindicated, regular, constructive visits and ongoing contact occur between the child and his or her parents and the organization provides support to help the child build and maintain healthy, meaningful relationships with:

  1. extended family;
  2. individuals with whom the child has had a prior relationship; and
  3. members of the child’s faith community or tribe.

Interpretation: Contact may be maintained through visits, phone calls, written correspondence, and shared activities.

Contact with the child may be contraindicated due to legal requirements or court findings, for safety reasons, or when parental rights have been terminated. In some situations, contact can occur even when parents are in declining health or when rights have been terminated. The standard requires engagement of parents whenever possible.

PA-KC 7.04

 
Sibling relationships are maintained through placement together or through communication, visits, and shared activities.

PA-KC 7.05

 

As appropriate to the status of the care and purpose of visitation, the kinship care worker, or designee:

  1. provides the child, siblings, kinship caregivers, and parents with guidance and support before visits to help prepare for the visit, and after visits to help families learn from issues that arise during visits;
  2. assesses relationships and parenting skills during visitation; and
  3. documents events that occur.

PA-KC 7.06

 
Agency policy prohibits cancellation of visits as a disciplinary action.
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PURPOSE: Kinship Care Services maintain the family system as the primary source of care and preserve the continuity of care, culture, relationships, and environment essential for child safety and well-being.
 
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