Ky.gov
Effective: 4/16/2025

C1.19 Other Family First Evidence-Based Practice Specific Programs

Legal Authority

Introduction

​​​​​​​​I​n addition to Family Preservation and Reunification Services (FPRS), Kentucky Strengthening Ties and Empowering Parents (KSTEP) and Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Team (START), there are other tertiary prevention programs being utilized across the state that are specific to evidence based practices (EBP) which have been approved by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse. These EBPs have proven successful in mitigating risk and supporting the well-being of children and families with specific needs.  


Intercept

Intercept is an evidence-based intensive in-home parenting skills program used to safely prevent children from entering out-of-home care or to reunify them with family as quickly as possible if a period of out-of-home care is necessary. Intercept serves children from birth to age seventeen (17) who are experiencing serious emotional or behavioral problems or have experienced abuse or neglect. Intercept targets youth at high risk of entering foster care or other out-of-home placements. Services typically last three (3) to five (5) months. Intercept works with both the child and the caregivers to address issues impacting the stability of the family, meeting an average of three (3) times weekly in the home or community, depending on family need, and providing twenty-four (24) hour on-call crisis support. Intercept collaborates with other providers, schools, case workers, courts, and other community supports to formulate individualized treatment plans. 

Multisystemic Therapy (MST) 

MST provides intensive in-home services for youth who are at risk for out-of-home placement due to antisocial or delinquent behavior and/or serious juvenile offenses and juvenile justice-involved youth.  To be eligible for MST, the child must meet the definition of a candidate for foster care, have a substantiation of maltreatment or family in need of services findings leading to the referral for services, and have an in-home ongoing case disposition. The program serves youth between the ages of twelve (12) and seventeen (17) and their families. Youth must also be at risk for engaging in delinquent activity or substance misuse, as well as being at risk of out-of-home placement. Services typically last three (3) to five (5) months.
 
Intensive Care Coordination Using High-Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) 

HFW provides intensive services for families with children up to age seventeen (17) who have complex emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs. To be eligible for HFW, the child must meet the definition of a candidate for foster care, have a substantiation of maltreatment or family in need of services findings leading to the referral for services, and have an in-home ongoing case disposition. Additionally, the child must be experiencing serious emotional and behavioral issues or have experienced maltreatment. Services can last up to fourteen (14) months.  

The availability of EBPs by region may be found in the Family First Prevention Services Program Descriptions.  


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Practice Guidance

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Procedure

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The SSW:

  1. Consults with the FSOS to identify that a child is a candidate for foster care or a pregnant or parenting youth; 1 
  2. Determines that a child is a candidate for foster care by documenting:
    1. That a safety threat and/or risk factor has been identified and the child would need out-of-home care placement immediately or in the future without intervention; and 
    2. The safety threat and risk factor can be mitigated with the selection and use of a child-specific, evidence-based intervention. 
  3. Must identify whether child is or is not a candidate for foster care, or if not a candidate for foster care that a child is a pregnant or parenting youth. Children cannot be identified as candidates for foster care if services start prior to the child's return home;  
  4. Identifies that the familial assessment will result in an ongoing case, through a substantiation or services needed finding, except that no new assessment or findings are needed for a pregnant or parenting youth;
  5. Reviews the Family First Prevention Services Description and Eligibility Criteria;  
  6. Reviews the regionally relevant evidenced-based practice (EBP) selection document for EBP intervention selection;
  7. Upon approval from the FSOS, discusses the potential referral with the family to: 
    1. Inform the family that in-home services are an alternative to out-of-home placement; 
    2. Determine the family’s willingness to participate with the referral to in-home services; 
    3. Discuss with the family the appropriate EBPs to be utilized with the family, based on regional and program availability; and 
    4. Informs the family that if the selected EBP is appropriate and available, a referral will be initiated upon the family’s agreement and notify the family if the referral is approved. 
  8. Completes the Prevention Services Referral Form in TWIST, identifying the candidate, the identified risk factors, and EBP interventions to mitigate risk factors;
  9. Submits the Prevention Services Referral Form in TWIST for FSOS and referral and selection specialist approval;
  10. Upon receipt and approval of referral from the referral and selection specialist, informs the family that the EBP provider will initiate contact within three (3) days; 
  11. Joins the EBP provider, if possible, for the initial visit or team meeting when scheduled, depending on the receipt of referral, level of risk, and if an opening is available; 
  12. Completes the DPP-1281 Family Case Plan: 2 
    1. Documenting the date of candidacy, candidate or pregnant or parenting youth, prevention strategy (selected EBP), and the date of the prevention strategy (date of referral approval); and 
    2. Incorporating the EBPs into a case plan objective. 
  13. Explains the Family First Evidenced-Based Prevention Service Program Evaluation and Consent Form : 
    1. Provides the family with a copy of the Key Information Sheet for Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Program Evaluation;​  
    2. Asks the family to complete and sign the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Evaluation Consent Form; and 3 
    3. Uploads the completed consent form into TWIST.  
  14. Obtains signed releases of information from the family (DCBS-1 and DCBS 1A); 
  15. Completes candidacy redetermination via the selection on the case plan when the need for services extends beyond twelve (12) months; 
  16. Conducts (at minimum) one (1) joint home visit with EBP provider staff and is encouraged to consult with EBP provider staff regarding assessments, services provided, and family progress through:
    1. Phone; 
    2. Provider’s case conferences; 
    3. Cabinet for Health and Family Services (Cabinet/CHFS) case planning meetings; or 
    4. Other face-to-face contacts.
  17. Reviews the EBP provider’s termination or discharge summary and provides follow-up services as necessary once termination of provider involvement occurs; 
  18. Ensures that the case record includes the following documentation: 
    1. Prevention Services Referral Form; 
    2. Assessment and initial treatment goals; 
    3. Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Evaluation Consent Form;
    4. Program termination or discharge summary; and 
    5. Contacts with EBP provider staff.
The FSOS:

  1. Consults with the SSW to identify if the child is a candidate for foster care or a pregnant or parenting youth; 
  2. Determines that a child is a candidate for foster care by confirming:
    1. 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 
    2. The safety threat and risk factors can be mitigated by selecting and using a child-specific, evidence-based intervention. 
  3. Reviews Prevention Services Referral Form for appropriate program selection and EBP selection; and
  4. Assigns a risk level and approves the Prevention Services Referral Form.
The SRA:

  1. Designates a Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) staff person to be the regional referral and selection staff; and 4 
  2. Establishes an EBP management team, consisting of: 
    1. SRA or designee; 
    2. Referral and selection staff; 
    3. The program specialist in central office; 
    4. The EBP program supervisor (contract agency); and 
    5. The EBP program director (contract agency).
The Referral and Selection Specialist:

  1. Checks TWIST workbasket daily for region-specific referrals; 
  2. Reviews the Prevention Services Referral Form for appropriate program selection and EBP selection; 
  3. Communicates with providers regarding their availability to accept referred cases; 
  4. Tracks referrals in TWIST with the below designations: 
    1. Approved; 
    2. Rejected; 
    3. Waitlist start date; or 
    4. Waitlist end date; 
      1. Waitlist end date reasons: 
        1. Accepted; 
        2. Diverted to other services; or 
        3. Closed out without services.




​​Footnotes

  1. Pregnant or parenting youth in out-of-home care (OOHC) do not require a candidacy determination to receive services. Pregnant youth in care are eligible for services, as are parenting youth in care when their child is in their custody and living with them.  
  2. Prevention service providers should be invited to the case planning conference, and it should be documented as a family team meeting (FTM) accordingly. 
  3. 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. 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. 
  4. This individual assumes responsibility for reviewing all referrals for EBPs.


Documents

Revisions