2015 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 10 - Highways, Military, Juvenile Code, Human Services
Chapter 418 - Child Welfare Services
Section 418.580 - Strengthening, Preserving and Reunifying Families programs; implementation; contracts; services provided; rules; training; funding; annual report.

(1) To the extent practicable using available resources, the Department of Human Services and county partners shall implement Strengthening, Preserving and Reunifying Families programs as described in this section. County partners are encouraged to form collaborations with programs to design, oversee and participate in program development and implementation as appropriate. The department shall be the lead agency in efforts undertaken pursuant to this section, but all officers, boards, commissions and other agencies of the State of Oregon shall cooperate with the department to accomplish the duties imposed on the department by ORS 418.575 to 418.598 and to allocate services provided by programs as described in this section.

(2)(a) The Director of Human Services or the director’s designee, the Director of the Oregon Health Authority or the director’s designee or the Director of the Housing and Community Services Department or the director’s designee shall enter into a contract with, and make reasonable payment for services provided by, a program in accordance with ORS 418.575 to 418.598, and shall, where necessary, enter into contracts with a lead agency or with county and community entities that have been designated by the county partners to coordinate services provided under this section.

(b) A contract entered into under this subsection shall require only those services that are reasonably available in the county or region where the program is or will be providing services. Services may or may not be located in a given county or region.

(c) At the election of any director or director’s designee, a contract entered into under this subsection may be a performance-based contract.

(3) The programs implemented under this section shall provide an array of services. Depending on resources and availability, the services provided may include but are not limited to the following:

(a) Front end intervention services that include alcohol and drug treatment providers or mental health providers accompanying department caseworkers on initial calls and visits in response to allegations or reports of abuse or neglect. County partners shall participate in assessments to determine the appropriateness and level of program services required for a child and the child’s family, the creation of safety plans to enable the provision of in-home services if appropriate and the development of family preservation and reunification plans for presentation to the juvenile court.

(b) Residential treatment whereby a member of a child’s family with care, custody or control of the child enters a treatment facility accompanied by the child with 24-hour supervision while the child and the member of the child’s family engage in family strengthening activities and receive appropriate mental health and addiction treatment support and services.

(c) Supervised housing whereby a child and the child’s family remain together in program housing while they participate in family strengthening activities, receive mental health and addiction support and services and have the appropriate level of supervision to ensure the physical health, care and safety of the child.

(d) Family-centered day and outpatient treatment services, either after completion of residential treatment or in lieu of residential treatment, designed specifically for substance-abusing parents of children involved in the child welfare system.

(e) Intensive in-home services while the child and family engage in family strengthening activities.

(f) Facilitation of regular contact between a child and the child’s family, if separation has occurred, to facilitate an easier, quicker and more successful transition of the child back into the family home.

(g) Case managers who provide child and family supervision, assistance identifying and accessing needed services, observation and monitoring of parenting behavior, assistance with life skills development and assistance in removing barriers to system independence.

(h) Immediate access to supervised drug-free emergency and short-term housing.

(i) Access to permanent, drug-free housing with on-site case managers and access to supportive services that increase stability for a child and the child’s family.

(j) Family finding services to identify extended family members to provide additional support, resources and alternative placement options if necessary.

(k) Services of a court appointed special advocate appointed under ORS 419B.112 where available.

(L) Other services and interventions as programs evolve, research develops and funding becomes available.

(4) The services provided by programs must be culturally competent and include evidence-informed or evidence-based practices.

(5) The department shall establish by rule client-focused functional outcome measures for programs implemented under this section.

(6) Client-focused functional outcome measures may be used as a basis for funding programs and entering into or renewing contracts with programs.

(7) Programs shall develop and implement training and continuing education curricula for persons delivering program services and, when adequate funding exists, sponsor the attendance of service providers at state or national training programs, conferences or other similar events.

(8) Programs may seek funds from public and private sources to:

(a) Meet match requirements for state or federal grants to support the provision of program services;

(b) Implement and operate the training and educational requirements of subsection (7) of this section; and

(c) Provide financial resources for the hiring of personnel and the provision of existing or enhanced program services.

(9) The department, in consultation with programs, shall report annually to the Governor and the appropriate interim committees of the Legislative Assembly that address child welfare issues on the progress toward and projected costs of full implementation of ORS 418.575 to 418.598.

[2011 c.568 §4; 2012 c.97 §29; 2013 c.1 §60]