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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  PERSONNEL

The body of employees and/or volunteers that carries out the organization's tasks under the organization's administration and/or supervision. This definition does not include foster parents who are specifically referenced in relevant standards		  
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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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  WORKLOAD

The amount of work assigned to or expected from a person within a specified period of time. See also CASELOAD.		  
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  ADVANCED DEGREE

A degree at the Master's level or beyond from an institution of higher education. An advanced degree does not include a Bachelor's degree, an associate's degree, or an educational certificate.		  
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  SOCIAL WORK

Professionally responsible interventions carried out by persons with formal, professional education at the BSW or MSW level from an accredited school of social work and appropriate licensing, certification, and registration credentials. Interventions are directed toward improving the transactions between people and environments to enhance the adaptive capacities of the participants and improve environments for all that function within them. Social work is a professional practice with a consumer group consisting of individuals, families, small groups, organizations, neighborhoods, and communities and involving the disciplined application of knowledge and skill.		  
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  SPECIAL NEEDS

A designation used in reference to conditions or characteristics of a person that reflect a need for special care, services, or treatment. When the term is used in the context of adoption services, special needs refers to conditions that make a child harder to place for adoption. This includes children who are members of sibling groups, older children, children with disabilities, children of certain racial /ethnic backgrounds, etc. When the term is used in the context of foster care it refers to the need for a higher degree of specialized case services and attention due to mental and physical disabilities. When the term is used in the context of out-of-school time services, a child or youth may have special physical, behavioral, medical, emotional, or cognitive needs that should be addressed or accommodated. The term is also used in other contexts. See also DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.		  
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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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  TRAINING

Instruction so as to make fit, qualified, or proficient in a skill or body of knowledge.		  
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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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  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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  PROCEDURES

Written instructions that outline the steps for performing a task(s) or operationalizing an administrative or service delivery process. A procedure can be written as a step-by-step set of instructions or as a narrative description of a process. A procedure tells someone how to do something not just what to do.

Unlike policies, procedures do not need to be approved or reviewed by the governing body, and need not be associated with a specific policy. For example, whereas a broad anti-discrimination policy requires grievance or other procedures in order to be operationalized within an organization, assessment procedures do not require a governing body approved assessment policy.

Note: Procedures are sometimes referred to as administrative policies.

  
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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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  CASELOAD

The aggregate number of clients and/or consumers of service (including individuals, families, and groups) for whom a given employee is responsible. See also WORKLOAD 		 
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  PRACTICE

Established actions or ways of proceeding in the regular performance of organizational duties. Policies and procedures often guide practice.		  
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  NON-EXEMPT EMPLOYEE

Employees subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act based on duties performed and manner of compensation. Non-exempt employees must account for hours and fractional hours worked, are guaranteed at least minimum wage compensation, and are compensated for overtime hours at the premium, time-and-one-half, rate		  
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Child Protective Services
  
Private Org Public Agency  

PA-CPS 14: Personnel

 
Personnel are qualified and receive support to provide immediate and ongoing services to children in need of protection.
Note: When the agency is unable to fully implement one or more personnel standards, intensive efforts should be made to fully implement the other standards. For example, if the agency is unable to recruit workers with specific qualifications, it can ensure that appropriate supervision and workload standards are implemented.

PA-CPS 14.01

 

Child protection workers are qualified by:

  1. an advanced degree in social work or a comparable human service field; or
  2. a bachelor’s degree in social work or a comparable human service field with two years of related experience.

PA-CPS 14.02

 
Supervisors are qualified by an advanced degree in social work or a comparable human service field and at least two years experience working with children and families, preferably in child protective services.
related PA-TS 3

PA-CPS 14.03

 

Child protection workers have the competencies needed to:

  1. empower and engage families;
  2. assess risk and safety and identify families with special needs;
  3. collaborate with community providers;
  4. exercise good judgment and competent decision making; and
  5. work with the court system when necessary.
related PA-TS 1,  PA-TS 2
Interpretation: Competency can be demonstrated through education, training, or experience.

PA-CPS 14.04

 

Child protective services workers and supervisors, depending on job responsibilities, are knowledgeable about relevant provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), including:

  1. the importance of ICWA and special considerations for working with Indian children;
  2. the identification of Indian children;
  3. determination of jurisdiction;
  4. appropriate notice and collaboration with the child's tribe;
  5. active efforts to prevent removal or reunify families;
  6. placement preferences that support the child's connection to their native culture and heritage; and
  7. court procedures.
related PA-TS 1,  PA-TS 2
Interpretation: The agency can consider the average number of cases where the Indian Child Welfare Act applies when determining which personnel need to be trained. Screening personal must be trained on relevant provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act.

PA-CPS 14.05

 

A manageable workload, which includes caseload and other organizational responsibilities:

  1. makes it possible for workers to meet practice requirements;
  2. does not impede the achievement of outcomes; and
  3. takes into consideration the qualifications and competencies of the worker and case status and complexity.

Interpretation: Case complexity can take into account: intensity of child and family needs, size of the family, and the goal of the case. Generally, caseloads do not exceed 15 investigations or 15-30 open cases. However, there are circumstances under which caseloads may exceed these limits. For example, caseload size may vary depending upon the volume of administrative case functions (e.g., entering notes, filing, etc.) assigned to the worker. Caseloads may also be higher when agencies are faced with temporary vacancies on staff. New personnel should not carry independent caseloads prior to the completion of training.

Note: The evaluation of this standard will focus on whether the assigned workload is manageable for staff, taking into account the factors cited in the standard and interpretation. The specific caseload sizes stated in the interpretation are only a suggestion of what might be appropriate. Each agency should determine what caseload size is appropriate, and reviewers will evaluate: (1) whether the agency’s designated caseload size reflects a manageable workload, and (2) whether the agency maintains caseloads of the size it deemed appropriate.
Research Note: Two themes in staff retention literature indicate that high caseloads and time-consuming paperwork are primary factors in child welfare workforce turnover.

PA-CPS 14.06

 
Supervisory personnel are involved in all decisions related to child safety and permanency, and workers have access to a supervisor by telephone 24 hours a day.
related PA-TS 3

PA-CPS 14.07

 
Supervisors or experienced workers provide additional support when personnel are new or are still developing competencies.
related PA-TS 3

PA-CPS 14.08

 

The program director or designee ensures:

  1. work schedules are flexible;
  2. sufficient staff coverage at all times;
  3. supports are in place to prevent burnout; and
  4. non-exempt employees that work overtime are appropriately compensated.
Interpretation: Non-exempt employees are compensated for overtime according to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
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PURPOSE: Child Protective Services protect children from abuse and neglect and increase child well-being and family stability.
 
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