FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM :

FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM : CAREGIVER COUNSELING/SUPPORT GROUP A. Definition and Purpose Caregiver counseling is defined as that service that provides an opportunity for the caregiver to receive one to one provision of guidance and instruction about options and methods for providing support to caregivers in an individual or group setting. The caregiver and professional develop a treatment plan to work through issues related to caregiver stress, burnout, role overload, grief and many other caregiving related issues. Support Group is defined as a group of caregivers with same or similar need(s) meeting with each other or professionals to discuss, for guidance, advice and best practices to work through issues related to caregiver stress, burnout, role overload, grief and many other caregiving related issues. The purpose of Caregiver counseling/support group is to: 1. assist in assessing the caregiver’s need(s) 2. provide one to one or group advice, guidance, instruction and support; 3. help grandparents and other relatives deal with their new, unexpected responsibilities; 4. secure basic services the children need, such as health care or education, if caregivers are not the legal guardians or custodians; 5. help work through burnout, role overload and issues related to caregiver stress; 6. help work through grief and many other care giving related issues; 4. help link caregivers to resources and information; and 5. provide group or individual counseling in the form of support groups and respite care. B. Eligibility A grandparent or relative caregiver who is 60 years of age or older caring for a child eighteen (18) or younger. Priority will be given to older individuals with greatest social and economic need. Particular attention will be given to low-income older individuals and to older individuals providing care and support to persons with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities. C. Unit of Service: One unit of service equals one hour of services provided to caregiver or older relative and/or their dependents. D. Minimum Program Requirements: Each service provider of the Family Caregiver Support Program must comply with the Minimum Program Requirements developed by the Division of Aging and Adult Services. 1. Service Activities The service provider for the FCSP will: a. Assess the caregiver’s strengths and needs creating a caregiver care plan that includes a series of workshops and counseling sessions. b. Provide a series of workshops to help orientate the family to new, and often unexpected, responsibilities. Topics may include: 1. crisis intervention (family tragedy); 2. the changing family structure/non traditional family 3. evaluating the children of the 21st century 4. communicating with children; 5. goal setting for adult and children c. Provide or develop support groups to address the multiple needs of caregivers and their families. d. Make appropriate referrals to community resources; e. Maintain current reference and resource files for the caregivers and family. 2. Location of Service Services shall be located in a centralized area accessible to the caregiver in the Agency’s service delivery area. 3. Access to Service The client may enter the service system at any point, through an appropriate referral. 4. Delivery Characteristics a. Each caregiver’s record shall include documentation of services requested/provided. (1) Screening/contact; (2) A care plan; (3) Authorization releases, where appropriate; and (4) Documentation of training sessions. b. Services must be available to persons seeking assistance, by phone or on a walk-in basis during normal working hours, Monday through Friday and any other times that are convenient for caregiver and services provider. c. The Provider Agency must have satisfactory arrangements to ensure that caregivers’ files are kept in a locked file cabinet and inaccessible to the general public. d. Provider Agency must have satisfactory procedures established to provide or obtain services for the non-English speaking caregiver, where appropriate. 5. Staffing a. There shall be a person responsible for the day-to-day operation of the program. b. There must be an appropriate adult/child ratio when respite, group activities and/or counseling sessions are provided. Some suggested ratios are as follows: ages infant-2, 1:3; ages 3-4, 1:4; ages 5-7, 1:5; ages 7-12, 1:6; and ages 13-18, 1:10. Levels of disability may require ratios smaller than those suggested. c. Staff must be knowledgeable of the available services and resources in the community. d. All staff must be able to communicate with caregivers who have speech, visual or hearing impairment. e. In-service training is required of all staff and is the responsibility of the contracting agency. Training must consist of: (1) information on available community service providers and resources; (2) the agency’s operational policies and procedures; (3) completing screening/intake, referral and assessment form (4) telephone techniques and procedures; (5) the interviewing process; (6) counseling skills; (7) the Aging process; (8) active listening skills; and (9) use of the resource directory (to be able to collect, organize, update and retrieve resource information on a continuous basis). 6. Monitoring The Bureau of Audit and Evaluation, Department of Human Services, shall monitor at least annually.