1.                 Provide case management to children and their families

Follow up with the child's individual needs that may include the following:

a)                 Intake, counseling, A/D assessment, out-patient services

b)                 In-patient treatment services for A/D or Mental Health issues

c)                  Address any medical, dental, health, and educational needs of the child

d)                 Early Intervention services, IFSP's

e)                 Individual Education plans (K-12)

f)                   Independent Living Services for eligible foster children only (ages: 14-18)

g)                 Visitation plans

h)                 Treatment plans

i)                   Permanency plans

j)                   Case review of CPS services (Permanency Planning Review - PPR)

k)                 Transport child to necessary appointments (when applicable)

Assist parent with reunification efforts

l)                   Work on Written Service Agreement (WSA)

m)              Visitation plans

n)                 Treatment plans

o)                 Permanency plans

p)                 Case review of CPS services (PPR's)

q)                 Assist with Referrals to agencies when appropriate

r)                  Ensure parental accountability.  The parent is to bring in any necessary documentation for compliance with CPS and Tribal Court.

2.                 Clothing Assistance is given three times a year: 

·                    Fall distribution is in the middle of August (includes school supplies, school pictures, yearbooks, etc);

·                    Winter distribution is the beginning or middle of December (includes money for Christmas shopping, etc);

·                    Spring distribution is the end of March or beginning of April. 

·                    If a child is in need of clothing, shoes, bedding, furniture, etc., CPS can assist when applicable since the money is being utilized from the child's monies in their designated account. 

Please note:  Clothing assistance process applies only to those children in CPS' custody.  If a child is a TM, the money is utilized from child's IIM or CPS Finance account through the CTWS Finance Dept., and if the child is not a TM, CPS utilizes Tribal dollars from our CPS budget.  If a parent, family relative, or guardian has custody but CPS is monitoring the case -these individuals usually receives the child's monthly benefits or if their children are not enrolled- they are referred to AFS for further assistance.  Sometimes, if they have custody of the child , but the money is held, CPS assists.  Additionally, CPS has to submit any and all financial requests of a child to the Tribal Court for approval or denial of requests.

3.                 Make referrals to various agencies for further assistance

• If a parent is in need of services for emergency food, utility concerns, etc.; CPS refers them to the necessary services and if the parent's have exhausted resources where they have made contact with local agencies and resources - CPS is able to assist when applicable but this will not be done on an arbitrary basis.
• If a parent who is involved with CPS, is in need of employment, transportation, etc., CPS assists by referring them to the necessary agencies (e.g. Voc. Rehab., WFDD, etc…).

4.                 CPS receives reports of Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN).  A CAN report is completed and then distributed to the Warm Springs Police Department (WSPD)- it is both CPS and WSPD responsibility to go out to conduct and complete a joint investigation.

1)                 CPS- conducts a social investigation to determine level of risk for a child. 

2)                 WSPD- investigates criminal areas of concern.

• CPS is the only reporting agency for Warm Springs [ M-F 8-5 pm]; however, if it isAfter hours and or on weekends-  CAN reports need to be reported to the WSPD.
• CPS will make contact with the WSPD regarding any CAN reports made either after regular work hours or after the weekend.

5.                 Family Unity Meetings or Group Decision Making Meetings

• Utilized for Prevention or Intervention for various types of family situations.
• Family talks of concerns, works on identifying strengths, and draws up a Family Plan.
• Family members attend, as well as those people who the family has identified as their supportive resources.
• The Tribal Court acknowledges the family's plan and works with their plan.
• No plan is concrete or final, the family can revise the plan at any given time.

6.                 Parenting skill building

• Assist parent to empower and improve parenting skills that are unique to their situation by working individually with the parent(s).
• Identify plan that will enable parent to work independently.
• Positive Indian Parenting classes
• In Home Services for parents who have children in their care on a trial placement.

7.                 Adoption Evaluations

• The Warm Springs Tribal Court sends an Order for CPS to complete an Adoption Evaluation for a prospective adoptive family.
• The Foster Care Certifier arranges and coordinates with the prospective adoptive family to complete the Adoption Evaluation to answer any pertinent questions that the Warm Springs Tribal Court has identified.

8.                 Foster Care Maintenance Payments  *Note:  rates do change on occasion

• Foster parents that are certified receive financial assistance from CPS based on the age of the child which includes the following:

        AGES:                            0-5              6-12          13-18

   Room/Board/Other         $ 300           $ 298         $ 354

   Clothing Replacement       $ 42             $ 47           $ 68

   Personal Allowance            $ 8             $ 19           $ 27

   Totals                              $350            $364          $449

• Children who are Title IV-E eligible receive their foster payment the first of each month.  Title IV-E eligibility is determined from AFS' eligibility requirements.
• Children who are not Title IV-E eligible receive Tribal foster payments the first full week of each month.
• Foster parents are required to submit monthly reports and time/mileage sheets prior to receiving their monthly foster payments.
• Foster parents receive training monthly or can pursue training in their local community but are required to have 12 hours of specified training.

9.                 Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) cases

• All ICWA cases are referred to the ICWA Judge (Lola Sohappy) where a referral packet and all documentation is submitted for review.
• If CPS receives an Order to do a Preliminary Investigation for the ICWA Judge, CPS makes contact with the Vital Statistics Department to see if the child is enrolled, eligible for enrollment, or is a descendant of the Tribes.  CPS then submits the information to the ICWA Judge.
• The ICWA Judge makes the decision to either proceed with ICWA or decline ICWA.
• Please refer to ICWA flow chart.