3000. Family Voluntary Services (FVS)

Applies To: This policy applies to child welfare (CW) employees.

Policy Number & Title: 3000. Family Voluntary Services (FVS)

Effective Date: July 1, 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance when providing Family Voluntary Services (FVS) to families, a program which allows parents and guardians to engage voluntarily in services that improve their protective capacities to meet the safety, health, and well-being needs of children and youth.

Authority

PL 105-89 Adoption and Safe Families Act

PL 113-183 Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act

RCW 13.32A.140 Out-of-Home placement-Child in need of services petition by Department-Procedure

RCW 26.44.030 Reports–Duty and authority to make-Duty of receiving agency-Duty to notify-Case planning and consultation-Penalty for unauthorized exchange of information

RCW 26.44.056 Protective detention or custody of abused child-Reasonable cause-Notice-Time limits-Monitoring Plan

RCW 26.44.195 Negligent treatment or maltreatment-Offer of services-Evidence of substance abuse-In-home services-Initiation of dependency proceedings

RCW 43.185C.315 Youth services-HOPE centers-Establishment-Requirements

RCW 43.185C.320 Youth services-HOPE centers-Eligibility-Minors

RCW 74.14A.020 Services for emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children, potentially dependent children, and families-in-conflict

Chapter 74.14C RCW Family Preservation Services

Policy

FVS supervisors must assign FVS caseworkers to the following cases:
1. Non-Child Protective Services (CPS) intakes when:
  1. Families are requesting services from the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF).
  2. Intakes are screened-in on runaway children or youth under age 12 and they are at any of the following:
    1. Crisis Residential Center (CRC)
    2. Hope center
    3. Overnight youth shelter
  3. Additional considerations exist as outlined in the CPS Service Delivery policy.
2. CPS investigations or risk-only cases, per the Case Assignment policy, when the family has agreed to participate in services and any of the following exist:
  1. A moderately high or high risk score on the Structured Decision Making Risk Assessment (SDMRA) tool.
  2. The Safety Assessment/Safety Plan DCYF 15-258 form identified a safety threat that can be managed with a safety plan.
  3. Children or youth are placed in out-of-home care on a Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA) due to a safety threat that cannot be managed in the home.
FVS caseworkers must:
1. Determine if there is reason to know children are or may be Indian children, per the Indian Child Welfare (ICW) Reason to Know policy.
2. If there is reason to know children are or may be Indian children, follow ICW policies:
  1. Tribal State Memoranda of Agreements (MOA) if there is a MOA in place with the tribe.
  2. Active Efforts and Tribal Collaboration.
FVS supervisors must assign a risk-only intake to a CPS investigation caseworker if the case is co-assigned to FVS and CPS investigations, per the Child Protective Services Investigation policy.