(a) CHBS services. Comprehensive Home-Based Services (CHBS) is a service that offers resources, options, and guidance to families to better care for their children and strengthen and preserve the family unit. CHBS offers an intensive, short‑term educational approach that is effective for a family when there is moderate to high risk to the child and the child is at imminent risk of placement in out-of-home care.
(b) Determining referrals for CHBS. Criteria in this subsection and OAC 340:75-4-12.1 are used in determining whether to refer a family to CHBS. A formal staffing with the CW supervisor is required for exceptions to the referral guidelines, per OAC 340:75‑1-151. Oklahoma Children's Services (OCS) contract liaisons may also request a justification for utilizing CHBS under such circumstances. The OCS contract liaison has the right to reject any referral, per OAC 340:75‑1-151.
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(1) A family who received CHBS in the past and failed to meet goals due to lack of cooperation may be offered a trial service period or denied service by the OCS contract liaison.
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(2) Since CHBS is comprehensive and time-limited, it is not appropriate to meet a singular need, such as transportation, or address pervasive safety concerns, such as parents who are chronically unwilling or unable to protect their young children.
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(3) There are no provisions in the contract for ongoing drug and alcohol treatment services. A brief self-assessment of drug and alcohol abuse and dependency is included. Drug screening may be provided if specified by court order.
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(4) A referral for the purpose of maintaining placement or adoption is appropriate only for a child who has an established connection or attachment to the resource family. CHBS is not used to maintain therapeutic placements or to rectify deficient parenting skills of paid placement providers.
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(5) At least one child in the family must be at imminent risk of removal from the home.
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(6) All other less intensive services within the community must be exhausted or it must be established that community resources are not sufficient to avert placement of the child in out-of-home care.
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(7) Reunification services may be provided to a family who has an active court case regardless whether the child has been removed, has yet to be returned to the family's home, or has been returned to the home.
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(8) A permanent placement, kinship adoptive, or trial adoptive home at risk of disruption due to acting out behavior of the child may be referred to CHBS. When a permanent placement is at risk of disruption due to a caregiver's behavior, any referral to CHBS must be discussed with and approved by the CW worker responsible for maintaining the kinship home.
(c) PAS services. Parent Aide Services (PAS) is a voluntary in-home, non‑therapeutic service provided by a paraprofessional designed to encourage parenting skill development for families affected by or at risk for child abuse and neglect due to lack of knowledge and experience in parenting and home management skills
(d) Determining referrals for PAS. Criteria in this subsection and 340:75-4-12.1 are used in determining whether to refer a family to PAS. A formal staffing with the CW supervisor is required for exceptions to the referral guidelines, per OAC 340:75‑1‑151. OCS contract liaisons may request a justification for utilizing PAS under such circumstances.
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(1) PAS is designed to assist families who are new to parenting and unfamiliar with how to access available resources.
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(2) A family who received PAS and failed to meet goals due to lack of cooperation may be offered a trial service period or denied service by the OCS contract liaison.
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(3) Since PAS provides time-limited, non-therapeutic services, it is not appropriate to meet a singular need, such as transportation, or address pervasive safety concerns, such as a parent(s) who:
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(A) is chronically unwilling or unable to protect his or her young child;
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(B) does not acknowledge there is a problem;
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(C) appears to be seriously mentally ill; or
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(D) exhibits evidence of significant substance abuse.