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C1.8 Community Collaboration for Children

Legal Authority

Introduction

Community Collaboration for Children (CCC) is a federally funded program designed to prevent child abuse and neglect, to support and strengthen families, and to encourage communities to work together to support families. The CCC Program consists of regional networks and direct services offered in each of the seventeen (17) CCC service areas, which provide statewide coverage. As CCC services are funded by the Community Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) funding, they may not be used for families who have an open Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) child protection case or will have a substantiated finding at the time of referral for services.

Practice Guidance

The three (3) distinct prevention services offered through CCC include:

Regional Networks - A regional network is composed of community partners from family and child-serving agencies as well as parents and other local citizens. The mission of the regional network is to build awareness and educate communities regarding the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Additional goals include collaborating within communities, strengthening and supporting families, building parent leadership, and promoting responsible fatherhood. Networks are required to conduct an annual needs assessment to determine areas of need and service gaps. Activities of regional networks focus on primary and secondary prevention. Regional networks meet at least five (5) times per year and include a diverse representation of parents and community agencies. Regional networks play a key role in Child Abuse Prevention Month activities in each region. They may also offer training in the community.
Parent Engagement Meetings – This strength-based program assists children and families struggling with regular school attendance, thereby reducing educational neglect referrals to DCBS. Services are provided to families with children in elementary school (grades K-5). This program is described in greater detail in SOP C1.6: Supporting Families and Children to Engage in Education.
CCC In-home Services - CCC in-home services are intensive, short-term services that occur in the home and focus on addressing each family’s unique challenges. CCC works with low-risk families for up to eight (8) to twelve (12) weeks. Services focus on empowering the family unit by teaching parenting skills and problem-solving methods and coordinating available community resources. These services seek to educate, strengthen, and support families. Services address children’s physical, mental, and emotional needs while strengthening and supporting families. CCC accepts referrals from community partners, self-referrals, family, friends, and DCBS (with no open case or substantiated finding). CCC services are free and available to any family with children in their custody regardless of income or insurance status. This may include both relatives and non-relatives. Each CCC in-home service worker makes appropriate referrals to local resources as family needs are identified. Funds may also be available through CCC for concrete supports for families. There should be no stigma involved for families working with CCC, as these services are open to anyone.

Procedure

Division of Prevention and Community Wellbeing (DPCW) Staff:

Serve as agency liaison and represent the division in regional network meetings;
Provide administrative, consultative, monitoring, and technical support to CCC; and
Provide technical assistance to staff and community partners on ways to utilize CCC services to increase well-being and prevent maltreatment.

Regional Staff or Designees:

Participate as members in regional network meetings; and
Provide support and participate in Child Abuse Prevention Month activities.

The SSW:

In consultation with their supervisor:

Identifies a CCC-eligible family that includes:

A child(ren) at low risk of removal from the home because of future maltreatment;
Any investigation assessment that will not result in a substantiated finding; and
A family that does not have an ongoing DCBS case.

May make referrals for families when moderate to high risk of domestic violence or risk of sexual abuse are factors, only upon consultation and approval of the CCC Specialist, with consideration to the safety of CCC staff.

Upon approval from the FSOS, discusses the potential referral with the family to:

Inform the family that an in-home services referral is being made;
Determine the family’s willingness to participate in the referral to in-home services; and
Inform the family that a referral will be initiated upon the family’s agreement, and the CCC provider will be in contact within one (1) week of receipt of the referral.

Obtains signed releases of information from the family, DCBS-1, and DCBS 1A.
Provides the CCC in-home provider agency with information that outlines the reason for referral, basic demographics, contact information, and recommended intervention, via phone or email;
Completes the CCC Services Referral form;
Submits the CCC Services Referral form to their FSOS for review and signature;
Submits the CCC Services Referral form to their regional gatekeeper for review and approval;
Joins, if possible, the CCC staff for the initial visit of referral, if an opening is available;
Forwards the following to the CCC in-home provider agency within three (3) working days of referral:

Information about allegations of sexual abuse, domestic violence, substance use, and/or family violence, to include prior criminal charges and their disposition. This should include any charges that may indicate a risk of safety to the family or to the CCC in-home provider agency. The SSW will notify the CCC in-home provider agency of immediate threats to child safety and any known threats to SSW/CCC in-home provider safety;
A copy of the CPS prevention plan and court orders;
A copy of the case summary face sheet, with correct and updated case member demographic and relationship information; and
Release of information forms, DCBS 1, and DCBS 1A signed by the family.

Consults with CCC staff as often as necessary.

The FSOS:

Consults with the SSW to identify if the child is eligible for CCC in-home services by determining:

The child meets CCC program acceptance criteria and
The family will benefit from CCC prevention services intended to enhance the safety, stability, and sufficiency of families as well as prevent and build awareness of child abuse and neglect, and subsequent involvement with DCBS.