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C1.17 Kentucky Strengthening Ties and Empowering Parents (KSTEP)

Legal Authority

KRS 200.575 Family preservation services programs ...

Introduction

Kentucky Strengthening Ties and Empowering Parents (KSTEP) combines intensive in-home services and substance use disorder treatment to address parental substance use that places child safety at risk. The program places emphasis on quick access to treatment, providing transportation, removing financial barriers, and collaboration and joint decision-making occurring with the family, the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS), and community partners.

Practice Guidance

Procedure

The SSW:

In consultation with the FSOS:

Identifies a KSTEP eligible family:

Residing in a county where KSTEP services are provided;
With a child(ren) at moderate to imminent risk of removal from the home;
With at least one (1) household child under age ten (10);
With parental substance misuse as a primary feature affecting child safety;
Who did not have an ongoing DCBS case at the time the report was received; and
Whose assessment will result in the case being opened for ongoing services.

Identifies the referred child as a candidate for foster care by determining:

That a safety threat and/or risk factors have been identified and the child would need out-of-home care placement immediately or in the future without intervention; and
The safety threats and risk factors can be mitigated with the selection and use of child-specific, evidence-based intervention.

Reviews the EBP Selection Document for evidence-based practice (EBP) intervention selection;
Upon approval from the FSOS, discuss the potential referral with the family to:

Inform the family that in-home services are an alternative to out-of-home placement;
Determine the family’s willingness to participate with the referral to in-home services;
Review the KSTEP Program brochure with the family and obtain participants’ signatures on the KSTEP Acknowledgement Form;
Discuss with the family the appropriate EBP to be utilized with the family, based on regional and program availability;
Inform the family that a referral will be made upon the family’s agreement and that the KSTEP provider will schedule a visit within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of the referral; and
Upload the completed KSTEP Acknowledgement Form in TWIST.

Explains the Key Information Sheet for Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Program Evaluation:

Provides the family with a copy of the Family First Key Information Sheet;
Asks the family to complete and sign the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Evaluation Consent Form; and ₁
Uploads the completed consent form in TWIST.

Obtains signed releases of information from the family, DCBS-1 and DCBS 1A;
Provides the KSTEP in-home provider agency with information that outlines the reason for referral, basic demographics, contact information, and recommended EBP intervention via phone or email; ₂
Completes the Prevention Services Referral Form in TWIST, only identifying the candidate, identified risk factors, EBP interventions to mitigate risk factors, and provider agency; ₃
Joins, if possible, the KSTEP staff for the initial visit within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of referral, if an opening is available;
Forwards the following documents to the KSTEP in-home provider agency within three (3) days of referral:

Information about allegations of substance use and/or family violence to include prior criminal charges and their disposition. This should include any charges that may indicate risk or safety to the family or to the KSTEP in-home provider agency. The SSW will notify the KSTEP in-home provider agency of immediate threats to child safety and any known threats to SSW/KSTEP in-home provider safety.
Prior substantiated allegations, including but not limited to physical abuse to the child by a parent, domestic or family violence, and neglect where substance use, or family violence was a contributing risk factor.
Copy of Division of Protection and Permanency (DPP) prevention plan, safety plan, case plan, and/or court orders
A copy of the case summary face sheet, with correct and updated case member demographic and relationship information.
Release of information forms DCBS-1 & DCBS-1A signed by the family.

Attends family team meetings (FTMs);

Within six (6) to fourteen (14) days of referral;
Monthly (every thirty (30) calendar days); and
As needed.

Completes the DPP-1281 Family Case Plan:₄

Documenting the date of candidacy, candidate, prevention strategy (selected EBP), and the date of the prevention strategy (date of referral approval);
Incorporating the EBPs into a case plan objective; and
Incorporating the objectives of the KSTEP in-home provider case plan into the DCBS-1281 Family Case Plan. ₅

Completes candidacy redetermination via the selection on the case plan when the need for services extends beyond twelve (12) months;
Reviews weekly reports on the family’s progress, provided by the KSTEP in-home prevention provider, including an update from substance use treatment providers and from the in-home provider.

Footnotes

If families choose to participate in this study, their information will be kept strictly confidential, stored in secure ways, and only viewed by the researchers who are conducting the evaluation; and family participation is voluntary, and families are not required to do anything beyond what they will do to receive services as part of their ongoing case.
KSTEP referrals do not require the entire referral to be completed or gatekeeper approval.
Best practice is to make the referral from the home in collaboration with the family.
Prevention service providers should be invited to the case planning conference, and it should be documented as an FTM accordingly.
Family objectives will be specific to the childcare tasks that are at risk, and the individual objectives will be specific to the caretaker patterns of personal behavior that are threatening the ability of the caretakers to ensure the safety and well-being of their children.