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Page 4.1 <br /> <br /> Work with families of these residents is done mainly by the DSS social <br /> worker. The sociul worke~ begins by doing an assessment of the home setting <br /> inclnding identifying problems that contributed to the child's placement, fi <br /> service agreement is then finalized between the parent and social worker <br /> identifyiug goals and time limits and activities to alleviate those <br /> problems. Home visits with the family as well as plan of care conferences <br /> at the home and office meetings at the DSS are held often between the social <br /> worker and the family. A visitfftion agreement is signed stating when the <br /> child may visit, tile length of visit, and any special requirements for <br /> sopervision duriug the visit. Community referrals are made for families <br /> needing services through Mental Health, Vocational Rehnbilitation, financial <br /> services, and housing services. Transportation by DSS social worker is <br /> provided to the family in identifying problems, goal setting, problem <br /> solving, communication, reality based therapy, and parent-child <br /> relationships. Education is provided regarding parenting skills, child <br /> development, budgeting, and other identified needs within ~he family. The <br /> family participates in staffings and review team meetings and accompanies <br /> the social worker in assessing long term placement plans if they do not <br /> inclnde a return ho~ne. <br /> <br /> The Temporary Shelter is housed in the city of Concord and is a two <br /> store structure containing six bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room, <br /> laundry area, and office. Two baths are available for the children and <br /> five bedrooms are available for them. ~ separate bedroom and bath is <br /> available for a child care worker so tbat one is on the premises at all <br /> times. The back yard is fenced in and there is a three space carport and <br /> basketball goal outside. The facility is located ill the down, town area <br /> close to Boys Club, library, shopping centers, and recreational center. <br /> <br /> The program ca~l be very effective with children whose needs can be met <br />by a behavior modification system. Concerns that affect the success of the <br />program are: II The severely emotionally disturbed child or chronic <br />substance abuser who is unable to be served in a facility that is not <br />treatment oriented for specific problems; 2] The lack of long term care <br />facilities for the child to enter after leaving the program when he cannot <br />return home. During the past year the problems identified by these <br />residents have been very severe and the lack of resouz-ces for placement for <br />treatment or unavailability of a timely long term placement facility creates <br />concern because tbe child cannot move directly into continued placement. <br /> <br /> A group home specializing in working with teenagers before the court <br />such as this facility bas impact on changing ~ child's behavior. The child <br />receives structure i~ consistent discipline, constant supervision, and can <br />show nondelinquent/undisciplined behaviors while in placement. <br /> <br /> We have found that the home [las beam full almost constantly. Some of <br />the children at the home'have ended up going to psychiatric care including <br />hospitalization and some h~ve gone to training school. We [lave found the <br />problems ol the children placed in the home have been severe and resources <br />for long term placements l~ave declined for the severe emotionally disturbed <br />child. <br /> <br />CHANGES: Last year we changed the residential coordinator position to <br />a child care worker. This gave two workers o~ duty with the children and <br />preve~lt ~taff burnout because of no .time off after being on duty 26 hours a <br />day for 6 days. We plan to have family couoseling emphasized by the group <br />home staff nnd DSS Grot~p borne director and DSS staff have attended <br />training in preparation for implementing tilts. <br /> <br /> <br />