Program Eligibility Requirements

(1) In order to receive funding, any child abuse prevention program must provide some or all of the following services: (a) Counseling for prevention of child abuse and neglect. Counseling services may be provided for children, parents, perpetrators and any other involved individual through individual, group, or family method. This service is intended to remedy the conditions which cause the child or family to be at risk of abuse or neglect and may include stress reduction, crisis intervention, and development of self-esteem. (b) Child abuse prevention self-help groups. Self-help group services may be provided for children, parents, perpetrator and others involved in the situation. Self-help groups are to provide a supportive network for individuals to resolve the crisis and to develop and strengthen the individuals’ resources. These groups are to be facilitated by a professional. (c) Child abuse prevention hot lines. Telephone “hot line” services are available to any individual who seeks their use. These hot lines must be staffed by professionals or trained volunteers and accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Hot lines provide information, release for pent- CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION STANDARDS CHAPTER 0250-7-5 up emotions, reassurance, crisis counseling, basic advice and education, and defuse crisis situations. (d) Community and direct education services. Community and direct education services may be provided for any individual or organization. Both of these educational services may involve such topics as parenting skills, coping with family stress, child abuse awareness, prevention of child neglect and abuse, child development, prenatal care for a child at risk, and personal safety at home for latch-key children. Community education services may include public information efforts attained through conferences, seminars, public displays, media campaigns on TV, radio, billboards, newspapers or other publications, directed at individuals or organizations. Direct education services may include education activities designed to train or instruct, and provide consultation or technical assistance. (e) Direct Intervention Services. Direct intervention services are provided for children, parents, perpetrators, and any other involved individual. These services are designed as “hands on” or “one-on-one” assistance to defuse stressful situations, to relieve the impact of abuse and neglect, to provide growth models, to strengthen resources, and to deter the repeating cycles of abuse and neglect. Direct intervention services may include natural helpers (parent aides), respite care, crisis care, lay therapy, and family support services such as referrals to health care, family planning, child care, employment services, marriage counseling, and related services. (f) Family Advocacy. Family advocacy services may be provided on behalf of any individual or group related to any issue concerning child neglect or abuse. (2) Any agency which desires to secure funding for child abuse prevention services must submit a contract proposal to the Department. The proposal must include the following information, as well as any other information which may be required by the Department. (a) A statement defining the needs of the population it intends to serve. (b) A statement of the services to be provided, as well as the level of service delivery (as defined below) for each such service. (c) For purposes of this rule, “level of service delivery” refers to the particular population at which a service is directed, and the stage in the child abuse scenario at which that population is involved. The three levels of service delivery are: 1. Primary. Intervention activities directed toward a general population to prevent initial instances of abuse. 2. Secondary. Intervention activities directed toward families and/or individuals at risk of abuse or neglect to defuse stressful situations where child abuse is likely to occur. 3. Tertiary. Intervention activities directed toward families and/or individuals who have been abused or neglected or subjected to the threat of abuse or neglect to include victims, perpetrators, or significant others. (3) Documentation. The agency must maintain adequate documentation, including the following. Such records must be available for inspection, upon reasonable notice, by the Department. (a) Individual case files shall be kept as appropriate to the service being provided. Each file shall contain as a minimum: 1. intake and eligibility documentation 2. case assessment materials CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION STANDARDS CHAPTER 0250-7-5 3. service plan or plans to include a goal statement 4. on-going documentation detailing the progress of the service activities including a summary of contact. (b) A log shall be maintained on all referrals of abuse and neglect from hot line referrals shall warrant an individual file. (c) A log containing referrals to the Department of Children’s Services by contract agencies of suspected child abuse or neglect requires the name of the victim and the name of the DHS intake worker who received the referral. (d) Group service activities such as Community Education or activities delivered at the primary level require documentation to include: 1. group or organizational name statement of goal 3. the schedule of the event such as the date, time, and site 4. approximate number in attendance, the type of individual attending (i.e. adult/child, teachers medical personnel, 3rd grade, etc. 5. the number and names of referrals received