Father Engagement Qualifications

SERVICE STANDARD

INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SERVICES

FATHER ENGAGEMENT

I. Service Description

A. The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) intends to contract with

providers throughout the state to implement fatherhood programming to provide

assistance and support to fathers whose children are involved with DCS.

B. Providers will work actively with DCS employees to successfully engage fathers

in services that will improve safety, stability, well-being, and permanency for

their children.

C. Providers will assist fathers in strengthening the relationship with their children

and promoting positive relationships between the families, the local DCS Family

Case Managers, and others involved in their children’s care.

II. Service Delivery

A. The direct worker shall make efforts to make periodic visits to DCS offices to

network with FCMs and attend Child and Family Team Meetings (CFTMs) when

requested.

B. The provider will secure and maintain a working relationship with the Family

Case Manager and the other relevant DCS staff to provide a liaison between the

fathers and DCS.

C. When Family Case Managers have exhausted all known diligent search efforts

and inquiries, providers will assist in locating and engaging fathers (including

those who may be incarcerated or who live out of state).

D. The provider will actively engage referred fathers with the goal of increasing their

involvement in the DCS case.

E. The provider will conduct intake interviews, and collect demographic, and other

outcome data for reporting purposes.

1. Services must include ongoing monitoring of father/parental progress.

F. The provider will work collaboratively with DCS, other contracted providers,

community organizations, and individuals to develop, maintain, and provide

appropriate programming for fathers whose children are involved in the child

welfare system.

G. The provider will possess a clear understanding of male learning styles and male

help seeking behaviors.

H. The provider will practice effective techniques for father engagement through a

non-judgmental, holistic viewpoint regarding father/child relationship, focusing

on the child in the context of the family.

I. The provider will refer participants, when indicated, to community resources and

other organizations.

J. The provider will promote community awareness regarding the value of engaging

fathers of children involved in the child welfare process, through presentation and

written materials.

K. The provider will develop a working relationship with local child support

enforcement offices and staff members in order to be of mutual assistance in

helping obtain appropriate financial support of children.

L. Services will be provided at times convenient for or necessary to meet the

family’s needs, not according to a specified work week schedule.

M. Services will be provided in-home, in the community environment, in the DCS

office, and/or the provider’s office.

N. Services will be based on the families established DCS Case Plan/Disposition or

Informal Adjustment, while taking into consideration the recommendation of the

Child and Family Team, as applicable.

O. Services will be conducted with behavior and language that demonstrates respect

for socio-cultural values, personal goals, lifestyle choices, and complex family

interactions and be delivered in a neutral, valued, and culturally competent

manner.

P. The provider will coordinate and provide Fatherhood Programming utilizing a

DCS approved educational curricula such as Bringing Back the Dads, 24/7 Dads,

Inside Out Dads and Bridges out of Poverty.

1. Any other curricula must have prior approval from DCS Central Office

prior to use.

Q. The Programming can be provided through the use of group or one-on-one

sessions.

R. All curricula must include child support enforcement education and financial

responsibility education.

S. The Fatherhood Programming and other individual work with the father may

provide any combination of the following kinds of services:

1. Information regarding the CHINS legal process including court

procedures, parental participation requirements, court ordered services,

visitation with the children, reimbursement of cost for services, and other

aspects related to the legal process;

2. The expectations of the family related to participation in court ordered

services and visitation with the children, attendance at court, appropriate

dress for court, and other aspects related to the legal process;

3. Information regarding the parent’s rights and the CHINS proceedings, the

length of time the children may be in care prior to a permanency

procedure, termination of parental rights, and family and team meetings

procedures;

4. Role of the Court Appointed Special Advocate or Guardian Ad Litem;

5. An informal environment for fathers to discuss issues that brought them to

the attention of DCS and develop suggestions that may assist in resolving

these issues as a group;

6. Educational programs using speakers recruited from the local professional

community to assist and educate fathers in areas such as:

a) Abuse and neglect;

b) Increasing parenting skills;

c) Substance abuse;

d) Anger management;

e) Advocacy with public agencies including the children’s schools;

f) Issues of interest to the parents related to their needs and the needs

of their children

g) Coaching and information to develop attitudes and social skills

needed for improved family relations and personal responsibility;

h) After consultation with the Family Case Manager, providers will

make concerted, organized, and systematic efforts to connect

children with their incarcerated father (if applicable), through

video conferencing, face-to-face contact, correspondence and by

telephone, unless the court has determined that visiting would put

the child in danger; and

i) Supports fathers and parental relatives in court and Child and

Family Team Meetings by providing transportation and/or

transportation voucher when appropriate.

T. Supervised visitation

1. Supervised visits will be billed separately from other services within the

standard and will consist of work within the scope of this service standard.

2. The Individual and Monthly Visitation Reports must be used to document

the supervised visitation portion of the services provided.

3. The Monthly Progress Report will be used to document other services

provided within this service standard.

4. Further instructions on how to facilitate, document, and bill for visitation

is outlined in the Visitation Facilitation Service Standards:

a) Section II (Service Delivery Referral Process)

b) Service VII (Billable Units)

c) Section XI (Training)

III. Target Population

A. Services must be restricted to the following eligibility categories:

1. Fathers of children who have substantiated cases of abuse and/or neglect

and will likely develop into an open Informal Adjustment (IA) or CHINS

status.

2. Fathers of children which have an IA or the children have the status of

CHINS.

IV. Goals and Outcomes

A. Goal #1: Timely initiation of services with the fathers.

1. Outcome Measure: 95% of all incarcerated fathers referred with a valid

contact and/or address will receive a telephone call or a drop by contact

attempt within 5 (five) business days of the referral.

2. Outcome Measure: 75% of all fathers will have face-to-face contact within

10 (ten) business days of the referral.

B. Goal #2: Timely receipt of electronic outcome reports.

1. Outcome Measure: 100% of reports will be received timely.

a) An approved data sharing process, documenting services for each

referred father, will be electronically forwarded to DCS Central

Office designated email address: Researchevaluation@dcs.in.gov.

C. Goal #3: Engage fathers in services that will reduce barriers to safety, stability,

well-being, and permanency for their children.

1. Outcome Measure: 60% of all fathers referred will become actively

engaged in the DCS open case as evidenced by visitation with their

children, participation in CFTM, and the DCS Case Plan.

2. Outcome Measure: 100% of all referred fathers who received a face-toface

contact will have a paternal genogram created and sent to the FCM

within 30 (thirty) days of the first face-to-face contact.

a) Genograms will be created using guidance found at

http://www.in.gov/dcs/files/Family_Network_Diagram.pdf

D. Goal #4: Coordinate efforts between the Department of Corrections and/or local

detention facilities, child welfare agencies, and the courts to ensure incarcerated

fathers are notified of court proceedings regarding the care and custody of their

child (ren) when appropriate.

1. Outcome Measure: 60% of incarcerated fathers will become actively

engaged in the DCS open case as evidenced by contact with their children

via email, visitation, phone, or video communication.

E. Goal #5: DCS/Probation and clients will report satisfaction with services.

1. Outcome Measure: DCS/Probation satisfaction will be rated 4 and above

on the Service Satisfaction Report.

2. 90% of clients will rate the services “Satisfactory” or above on satisfaction

survey developed by the service provider, unless one is distributed by

DCS/Probation to providers for their use with clients.

V. Minimum Qualifications

A. Direct Worker

1. Direct workers under this standard must meet one of the following

minimum qualifications:

a) Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or Sociology, or Social Work

b) Master’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work; OR

c) Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a directly related human services

field. The individual must also:

(1) Complete a minimum of 39 semester/58 quarter hours in

the following coursework:

(a) Human Growth and Development

(b) Social and Cultural Foundations

(d) Sexuality

(e) Gender and Sexual Orientation

(f) Ethnicity, Race, Status, and Culture

(g) Psychology

(h) Sociology

(i) Social Work

(j) Criminology

(k) Ethics and Philosophy

(l) Physical and Behavioral Health

(m) Family Relationships

(n) Advocacy and Mediation

(o) Case Management

(p) Resources and Systems

(q) Social Policy

(r) Community Planning and Relations

(s) Crisis Intervention

(t) Substance Use

(u) Counseling and Guidance

(v) Educational Studies

(2) The individual must complete the Human Service Related

Degree Course Worksheet.

(a) For auditing purposes, the worksheet should be

completed and placed in the individual’s personnel

file.

(b) Transcripts must be attached to the worksheet.

(3) Coursework must be completed at a satisfactory level, no

less than a C- for any quarter or semester grade in

applicable coursework.

d) Other non-Human Service related Bachelor’s degrees will be

accepted:

(1) Minimum of two years-experience

(a) Providing a service to families that need assistance

in the protection and care of their children and/or providing

skills training, development, and habilitation.

(i) Experience gained by an employee in which

the employee was not qualified to complete

the work at the current or previous employer

does not count toward the required two (2)

year experience in combination with a

Bachelor’s degree.

2. The individual must possess a valid driver’s license and the ability to use a

private car to transport self and others, and must comply with the state

policy concerning minimum car insurance coverage.

3. In addition to the above:

a) Knowledge of child abuse and neglect, and child and adult

development

b) Knowledge of community resources and ability to work as a team

member

c) Belief in helping clients change their circumstances, not just adapt

to them

d) Belief in adoption as a viable means to build families

e) Understanding regarding issues that are specific and unique to

adoptions such as loss, mismatched expectations and flexibility,

loss of familiar surroundings, customs and traditions of the child’s

culture, entitlement, gratification delaying, flexible parental roles,

and humor.

B. Supervisor

4. Supervisors under this standard must meet one of the following minimum

qualifications:

a) Master’s or Doctorate degree in Social Work, Psychology, or

directly related human services field from an accredited college

and completion of DCS Supervision Qualification Training

requirements specified for Masters level supervisors.

b) Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Marriage and

Family Therapy, or related human services field, and two (2) years

related clinical experience with a clinical license issued by the

Indiana Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, or Mental

Health Counselor Board

c) A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, or directly

related human services field from an accredited college with five

years-experience delivering home based child welfare or home

based probation services with one year experience under the DCS

Home Based Casework Service Standards (Community Partners,

Father Engagement, or Home Based Family Centered Casework)

and completion of DCS Supervisor Qualification Training

requirements specified for Bachelor’s level supervisors.

(1) The individual must have a minimum of 6 months of

experience with the current agency or must have provided

supervision under the service standard for at least 1 year at

a different agency.

(2) All staff who are supervised by a bachelor’s level

supervisor must have clinical consultation a minimum of

quarterly.

(a) This supervision can be provided in a group format.

(b) Supervisors should be present during clinical

consultation, as this time can apply towards the

minimum staffing requirements required for

supervision.

5. Supervision Training Criteria:

a) All providers providing supervision must adhere to the DCS

Supervisor Qualification Training.

b) The DCS Supervisor Qualification Training outlines a training

criteria.

c) These trainings can be completed by the agencies own training

program if it meets the competencies or utilizes DCS resources to

train staff.

d) The link for the DCS Supervisor Qualification Training can be

found at http://www.in.gov/dcs/3493.htm

6. Supervision:

a) Supervisors must respond to the ongoing individual needs of staff

by providing them with the appropriate combination of training

and supervision.

b) The frequency and intensity of training and supervision are to be

consistent with “best practices” and comply with the requirements

of each provider’s accreditation body.

c) Supervision should include individual, group, and direct

observation modalities and can utilize teleconference technologies.

d) Under no circumstance is one-on-one supervision to be less than

one (1) hour of supervision per 25 hours of face-to-face direct

client services provided, nor occur less than every two (2) weeks.

7. Shadowing:

a) All agencies must have policies that require regular shadowing (by

supervisor) of all staff at established intervals based on staff

experience and need.

b) Shadowing must be provided in accordance with the policy.

c) The agency must provide clear documentation that shadowing has

occurred.

C. Clinical Consultation

1. Applicable when the supervisor meets the requirements at a Bachelor’s

Degree level, as described above. The individual providing Clinical

Consultation under this standard must meet one of the following minimum

qualifications:

a) Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Marriage and

Family Therapy, or related human services field, and two (2) years

related clinical experience with a clinical license issued by the

Indiana Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, or Mental

Health Counselor Board

b) All staff who are supervised by a Bachelor’s level supervisor must

have a minimum of quarterly clinical supervision.

(1) The consultation can be provided in a group or individual

setting.

(2) Bachelor’s level Supervisor should be present during

clinical consultation with direct staff.

(3) This time is applicable to minimum supervision

requirements only if conducted one-on-one with staff.

VI. Billing Units

A. Face to Face

1. Includes client specific face-to-face contact with the identified

client/family during which services as defined in the applicable Service

Standard are performed.

2. Includes Child and Family Team Meetings or case conferences initiated or

approved by DCS for the purposes of goal directed communication

regarding the services to be provided to the client/family.

a) Members of the client family are to be defined in consultation with

the family and approved by DCS. This may include persons not

legally defined as part of the family.

3. Includes no more than five (5) hours of time spent locating fathers

including making telephone calls, attempted face-to-face contacts,

collateral contacts, or completing online searches.

4. Includes crisis intervention via telephone with the identified client family.

a) Best practice would include a follow up face to face visit with the

client family.

b) Crisis over the phone is for extraordinary circumstances and

should not be the mode to which ongoing services are provided.

5. Billing for additional collateral contacts can be approved by DCS when

attempting to locate and/or engage an incarcerated client or client living

out of state.

6. Not included are routine report writing and scheduling of appointments,

collateral contacts, travel time, and no shows.

a) These activities are built into the cost of the face-to-face rate and

shall be billed separately.

B. Group

1. A minimum of three (3) fathers from at least 2 different referral sources

must be in attendance in order to bill for group.

2. Services include group goal direct work with clients.

3. To be billed per group hour.

C. Supervised Visitation

1. Time spent supervising visits will be billed separately from other services

within this standard and will consist of work within the scope of this

service standard.

2. The rate will be the same as the face-to-face rate, but will include only

time spent face-to-face supervising the visit.

3. Any other billable time as defined in the face-to-face rate should be billed

under the face-to-face rate.

4. Services may be billed in 15 minute increments; partial units are rounded

to the nearest quarter hour using the following guidelines:

a) 0 to 7 minutes – do not bill (0.00 hour)

b) 8 to 22 minutes- 1 fifteen minute unit (0. 25 hour)

c) 23 to 37 minutes – 2 fifteen minute units (0.50 hour)

d) 38 to 52 minutes- 3 fifteen minute units (0.75 hour)

e) 53 to 60 minutes- 4 fifteen minute units (1.00 hour)

5. When DCS requests the provider to check in intermittently - at least once

per hour - , the provider can bill in increments of 30 minutes for each

check-in, provided that the total amount of time billed should not exceed

the total length of the visit.

D. Interpretation, Translation, and Sign Language Services

1. The location of and cost of Interpretation, Translation, and Sign Language

Services are the responsibility of the Service Provider.

2. If the service is needed in the delivery of services referred, DCS will

reimburse the Provider for the cost of the Interpretation, Translation, or

Sign Language service at the actual cost of the service to the provider.

3. The referral from DCS must include the request for Interpretation services

and the agencies’ invoice for this service must be provided when billing

DCS for the service. Providers can use DCS contracted agencies and

request that they be given the DCS contracted rate but this is not required.

4. The Service Provider Agency is free to use an agency or persons of their

choosing as long as the service is provided in an accurate and competent

manner and billed at a fair market rate.

5. Certification of the Interpreter is not required; however, the interpreter

should have passed a proficiency test in both the spoken and the written

language in which they are interpreting.

E. Court

1. The provider of this service may be requested to testify in court.

2. A Court Appearance is defined as appearing for a court hearing after

receiving a written or email request or subpoena from DCS to appear in

court, and can be billed per appearance.

3. If the provider appeared in court two different days, they could bill for 2

court appearances.

a) Maximum of 1 court appearance per day.

4. The Rate of the Court Appearance includes all cost associated with the

court appearance, therefore additional costs associated with the

appearance cannot be billed separately.

F. Reports

1. If the services provided are not funded by DCS, the “Report” hourly rate

will be paid.

2. A referral for “Reports” must be issued by DCS in order to bill.

G. Incarcerated Father Communication Services

1. To enhance communication with DOC incarcerated fathers.

2. Services include:

a) Email communication

b) Inbound video grams

c) Video visits

3. Agencies will partner with the current DOC’s incarcerated father

communications service provider and will be reimbursed at actual cost.

4. Incarcerated father communication will be approved during a CFTM, and

CFTM minutes must authorize the request, along with the appropriate

level of communication.

VII. Case Record Documentation

A. Case record documentation for service eligibility must include:

1. A completed, and dated DCS/Probation referral form authorizing services

2. Copy of DCS/Probation Case Plan, Informal Adjustment documentation,

or documentation of requests for these documents from referral source

3. Safety issues and Safety Plan documentation

4. Documentation of Termination/Transition/Discharge Plans

5. Treatment/Service Plan

a) Must incorporate DCS Case Plan goals and child safety goals

b) Must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time

Sensitive goal language

6. Monthly reports are due to the 10th day of each month following the

month of service. Case documentation shall show when report is sent.

a) The monthly report will include the following:

(1) Summary of services;

(2) Father’s involvement with the child(ren);

(3) Father’s parental progression as evidence by visitation

supervision and unsupervised visitation with child(ren);

(4) Participation in Child and Family Team Meetings;

(5) Father’s involvement in the DCS Case Plan;

(6) Established paternity and if the father is paying child

support

(7) Engagement in fatherhood curriculum and/or

successfully/unsuccessful completion of referral sources

will be provided to the referring FCM monthly.

b) Provider recommendations to modify the service/treatment plan

c) Discuss overall progress related to treatment plan goals including

specific examples to illustrate progress

7. Progress/Case Notes must document:

a) Date

b) Start time

c) End time

d) Participants

e) Individual providing service

f) Location

8. When applicable, Progress/Case notes may also include:

a) Service/Treatment plan goal addressed (if applicable)

b) Description of Intervention/Activity used towards treatment plan

goal

c) Progress related to treatment plan goal including demonstration of

learned skills

d) Barriers: lack of progress related to goals

e) Clinical impressions regarding diagnosis and or symptoms (if

applicable)

f) Collaboration with other professionals

g) Consultations/Supervision staffing

h) Crisis interventions/emergencies

i) Attempts of contact with clients, FCMs, resource parents, other

professionals, etc.

j) Communication with client, significant others, other professionals,

school, resource parents, etc.

k) Summary of Child and Family Team Meetings, case conferences,

staffing

9. Supervision Notes must include:

a) Date and time of supervision

b) Individuals present

c) Summary of supervision discussion including presenting issues

and guidance given

10. Child and Family Team Meeting minutes authorizing usage of JPAY

11. Paternal genogram and documentation of when it was sent to referral

source.

VIII. Service Access

A. All services must be accessed and pre-approved through a referral form from the

referring DCS staff.

B. In the event a service provider receives verbal or email authorization to provide

services from DCS/Probation an approved referral will still be required.

C. Referrals are valid for a maximum of six (6) months unless otherwise specified by

the DCS.

D. Providers must initiate a re-authorization for services to continue beyond the

approved period.

IX. Adherence to the DCS Practice Model

A. Services must be provided according to the Indiana Practice Model, providers will

build trust-based relationships with families and partners by exhibiting empathy,

professionalism, genuineness and respect.

B. Providers will use the skills of engaging, teaming, assessing, planning and

intervening to partner with families and the community to achieve better

outcomes for children.

X. Interpretation, Translation, and Sign Language Services

A. All Services provided on behalf of the Department of Child Services must include

Interpretation, Translation, or Sign Language for families who are non-English

language speakers or who are hearing- impaired.

B. Interpretation is done by an Interpreter who is fluent in English and the non-

English language and is the spoken exchange from one language to another.

C. Certification of the interpreter is not required; however, the interpreter should

have passed a proficiency test in both the spoken and the written language in

which they are interpreting.

D. Interpreters can assist in translating a document for a non-English speaking client

on an individual basis, (i.e., An interpreter may be able to explain what a

document says to the non-English speaking client).

E. Sign Language should be done in the language familiar to the family.

F. These services must be provided by a non-family member of the client, be

conducted with respect for the socio- cultural values, life style choices, and

complex family interactions of the clients, and be delivered in a neutral-valued

culturally-competent manner.

G. The Interpreters are to be competent in both English and the non-English

Language (and dialect) that is being requested and are to refrain from adding or

deleting any of the information given or received during an interpretation

session.

H. No side comments or conversations between the Interpreters and the clients

should occur.

XI. Trauma Informed Care

A. Provider must develop a core competency in Trauma Informed Care as defined by

the National Center for Trauma Informed Care—SAMHSA

(http://www.samhsa.gov/nctic/):

1. Trauma-informed care is an approach to engaging people with histories of

trauma that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and

acknowledges the role that trauma has played in their lives.

2. NCTIC facilitates the adoption of trauma-informed environments in the

delivery of a broad range of services including mental health, substance

use, housing, vocational or employment support, domestic violence and

victim assistance, and peer support. In all of these environments, NCTIC

seeks to change the paradigm from one that asks, "What's wrong with

you?" to one that asks, "What has happened to you?"

3. When a human service program takes the step to become traumainformed,

every part of its organization, management, and service

delivery system is assessed and potentially modified to include a basic

understanding of how trauma affects the life of an individual seeking

services.

4. Trauma-informed organizations, programs, and services are based on an

understanding of the vulnerabilities or triggers of trauma survivors that

traditional service delivery approaches may exacerbate, so that these

services and programs can be more supportive and avoid re-traumatization

B. Trauma Specific Interventions: (modified from the SAMHSA definition)

1. The services will be delivered in such a way that the clients/families feel

respected, informed, connected, and hopeful regarding their own future.

2. The provider must demonstrate an understanding, through the services

provided, of the interrelation between trauma and symptoms of trauma

(e.g., substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety)

3. The provider will work in a collaborative way with child/family, extended

family and friends, and other human services agencies in a manner that

will empower child/family.

XII. Training

A. Service provider employees are required to complete general training

competencies at various levels.

B. Levels are labeled in Modules (I-IV), and requirements for each employee are

based on the employee’s level of work with DCS clients.

C. Training requirements, documents, and resources are outlined at:

http://www.in.gov/dcs/3493.htm

1. Review the Resource Guide for Training Requirements to understand

Training Modules, expectations, and Agency responsibility.

2. Review Training Competencies, Curricula, and Resources to learn