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Department
of Human Services Families
First Online Policy Manual Family Services Counseling |
Revised: |
28.1 |
POLICY STATEMENT |
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Family Services Counseling is generally
used as a Families First support service tailored to address the specific
concerns or problems of an individual client and/or the family. The purpose of Family Services Counseling
(FSC) is to provide supportive help to clients who are not making progress
and to those who may have barriers to their progress. In addition, Family Services Counseling
will help the caseworkers, client reps, and/or FF work activity contractors
who may be struggling with situations where clients are not making progress
or not following through with the requirements of Families First. Family Services Counseling will provide
immediate assistance to clients struggling with issues related to any of the
following: ·
Mental
health. ·
Domestic
violence. ·
Substance
abuse. ·
Learning
disabilities. ·
Children’s
health or behavioral problems. Family Services Counseling can help with a range of services that may
make the path to self-sufficiency easier for some clients. Family Services Counseling includes: ·
A
preliminary assessment. ·
An in-depth
assessment, if needed. ·
A family
assessment. ·
Individual
and family counseling. ·
Advocacy. ·
Follow-up. ·
Referrals
and access to treatment facilities or other appropriate services. ·
Access to
treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. ·
Access to
treatment for mental health disorders. ·
Access to
domestic violence shelters and counseling resources. ·
Access to
services for help with learning disabilities. ·
Identification
of multiple and co-existing barriers. ·
Services to
children. Family Services Counseling is available to all Families First
assistance units that contain an eligible adult, who faces any of the issues
listed above. This includes both
individuals who are required to work and individuals who are exempt from the
work requirement. Children can also
receive Family Services Counseling. Family Services counselors from local mental health, treatment, and/or
counseling programs will be available to all county offices and to all work
activity contractors. Some counselors
may cover more than one county, making them available to each county on a
rotating basis. All Families First assistance units must be informed of the
availability and content of Family Services Counseling. |
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