NCJ Number
60140
Date Published
1978
Length
75 pages
Annotation
BASED ON A CASE MANAGEMENT MODEL USED BY THE GEORGIA DIVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES, THIS MANUAL PROVIDES WORKERS IN CHILDREN'S PROTECTIVE SERVICES WITH GUIDELINES FOR ORGANIZING THEIR WORK AND SOLVING PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE CREATION OF THE CASE MANAGEMENT FOR CHILDREN'S PROTECTIVE SERVICES (CMCPS) WAS STIMULATED BY PREVIOUS RESEARCH PROJECTS WHICH DISCOVERED THAT MOST SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES LACKED STANDARD METHODS AND ROUTINES FOR PROCESSING THEIR CASES. CMCPS IS DESIGNED AS A GUIDE FOR LOCAL SYSTEMS TO STANDARDIZE THEIR PROCEDURES AT THE CASEWORKER LEVEL, AND RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEMS THAT THESE WORKERS ENCOUNTER DAILY. AN INITIAL DISCUSSION DESCRIBES IN GREATER DETAIL THE BACKGROUND AND GOALS FOR CMCPS, AND IS FOLLOWED BY A SECTION THAT DEALS WITH DECISIONS, PROCEDURES, AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES THAT A CASEWORKER FACES. PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT, SUCH AS CHANGING ATTITUDES ABOUT FOSTER CARE AND INTERAGENCY CONFLICTS, ARE IDENTIFIED AND WORKED THROUGH. REQUIREMENTS FOR ORDERLY CASE PROCESSING, FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE DECISIONMAKING, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CHILD PROTECTION AGENCY, OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES, AND THE COMMUNITY ALL ARE DISCUSSED. REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CASE MANAGEMENT MODEL ALSO ARE GIVEN. BECAUSE CMCPS IS DIRECTED AT THE INDIVIDUAL CASE LEVEL, THE SIZE AND STYLE OF A PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION SHOULD NOT AFFECT ITS APPLICATION. THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS IS NECESSARILY A GRADUAL ONE DEPENDING ON CIRCUMSTANCES AND MOTIVATION. CRITERIA AND THE STEPS NECESSARY FOR APPLICATION OF THE CMCPS MODEL ARE PRESENTED AND A FLOW CHART ILLUSTRATES THE ACTUAL PROCESS. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN DETAILED OUTLINES AND DIAGRAMS TO ASSIST SOCIAL WORKERS WITH THEIR REORGANIZATION PROGRAM PATTERNED ON THE CMCPS MODEL. (MJM)