DCFS School Support Services Liason: Healthy Start

0700-502.10

DCFS SCHOOL SUPPORT SERVICES LIAISON: HEALTHY START

DATE OF ISSUE: 10/30/01

APPLICABLE TO: All CSWs and Their SCSWs

LEGAL BASIS: Education Code Section 8800 (e and f)-8803

RELATED POLICY RELEASE(S): None

NON-CWS/CMS FORM(S): None

CWS/CMS FORM(S): Education Notebook Health Notebook Health and Education Passport

SUPERSEDES AND CANCELS: CSWH SD 93-02, DCS School Supportive Services Liaisons, dated November, 1993

Education Code Section 8800(e and f)-8803 is known as the Healthy Start Support Services for Children Act. The Act states that services to children and their families can be most effectively provided through consortia, which include schools, other health and human service providers, parents, and community groups. Collaboration is necessary and more effective because the goals of schools and community services are interdependent. Community-based services offer resources and competence that supplement the resources of the schools.

The Healthy Start Services for Children Act states that counties must develop policies and incentives to improve collaboration at the local level. It is intended to help children overcome the barriers to healthy and productive lives. Per Education Code Section 8801 (f), the goal is to provide children with assistance by:

1. creating a learning environment that is optimally responsive to the physical, emotional, and intellectual needs of each child;

2. fostering interagency collaboration and communication at the local level to more efficiently and effectively deliver human support services to children and their families;

3. encouraging the full use of existing agencies’ professional personnel and public and private funds to ensure that children are ready and able to learn;

4. to prevent duplication of services and unnecessary expenditures;

0700-502.10 (10/01) PAGE 1 OF 4 5. encouraging a local interagency oversight mechanism that includes a records system to evaluate cost and effectiveness, and the development of a process of self- assessment of those records and the way in which they are used, to improve the effectiveness of services.

The Healthy Start Philosophy incorporates the following belief:

1. Early intervention by DCFS in collaboration with other agencies is an effective method for ameliorating child abuse and neglect and preventing the need for placement services.

2. A multi-service assessment and intervention provide a unique opportunity to provide services to children and families.

3. Family-centered multi-service collaborative provides easy access to a broad range of preventive high quality services

4. Families should be empowered within the context of mutual respect and recognition of family strengths.

The Healthy Start Programs provide comprehensive and integrated community-based services to children and families. Services vary from program to program, as they are based on the community’s need and the form in which the grant was written. Services provided by Healthy Start Programs may consist of on-site counseling; tutoring; after- school programs; facilitated access to report cards, school reports and Individualized Educational Plans; case management; mental health; and medical or recreational services.

1. Regional Administrators designate the appropriate personnel to participate with the school/district in planning for DCFS participation in Healthy Start collaboratives. Participation varies, depending on whether the local school qualifies for the Healthy Start grant. Some schools may not have Healthy Start services.

2. Regional Administrators determine on an individual basis the duties, responsibilities and patterns of participation for staff designated to work with each Healthy Start collaborative.

3. Children’s Social Workers and other staff participating in collaboratives must clearly define their case management and technical assistance responsibilities to agencies involved. The duties and responsibilities of DCFS staff will vary depending upon the needs of the children and families served and the kinds of services provided by the agencies involved.

4. Staff designated by Regional Administrators to work with Healthy Start will keep the appropriate level of DCFS administration apprised of their activities.

0700-502.10 (10/01) PAGE 2 OF 4 A. WHEN: CHILDREN NEED ADDITIONAL SCHOOL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

WHO HOW

Case-Carrying CSW 1. Refer concerns regarding children’s educational needs to the local school official. If the school has a participating Healthy Start Program, the school official will refer the child to the program, once (s)he determines that the school cannot otherwise provide the specific services needed.

NOTE: The Healthy Start Program does not replace the local school programs. It provides supportive services which the schools do not provide in their regular programs. The school will exhaust all of its resources prior to referring the child to Healthy Start. The Healthy Start Coordinator sends an enrollment form to the family or caregiver. The family or caregiver must give their approval prior to the child being admitted into the program.

2. Define your case management role and responsibilities to agencies involved in the Healthy Start collaborative once it has been determined that the child will be receiving Healthy Start supportive services through those agencies.

3. Determine which services from the DCFS case plan can be implemented by the Healthy Start Program.

4. Collaborate with the Healthy Start Coordinator and the regional Healthy Start Liaison to determine what services are appropriate to the child and his/her family.

5. As a participating member of the collaborative, specify the length of services, occurrence and who will follow up with progress reports. Ensure that the Healthy Start services are consistent with our Department’s service plan.

0700-502.10 (10/01) PAGE 3 OF 4 WHO HOW

Case-Carrying CSW 6. Consult with the regional Education Liaison if the school does not have a participating Healthy Start Program, or if the child does not qualify for Healthy Start Services.

NOTE: Regional Education Liaisons are knowledgeable staff from the Los Angeles County Office of Education. The liaisons are located in every region and are experts who provide guidance and assistance on educational issues and when CSWs encounter problems with the schools.

7. Refer the child and his/her family to other community resources once it has been determined that he/she does not qualify for Healthy Start Services or when there isn’t a participating Healthy Start Program with the local school.

8. Monitor for progress and ensure that the family is complying with the DCFS case plan as it relates to the Healthy Start Program.

9. Document school-related information in the Education Notebook.

10. Document medical information in the Health Notebook.

11. Document educational and medical information in the Health and Education Passport.

0700-502.10 (10/01) PAGE 4 OF 4