The state of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families is seeking a contractor to provide services to eligible families within the Reunification and Therapeutic Family Time program. As part of the program model, contractors engage, support and intervene with parents whose children are placed in out-of-home care by offering a menu of services designed to promote and effect successful reunification, strengthen parent/child relationships and attachments, and reduce the risk for further abuse and neglect.
There are three service types that may be used in combination with one another or may be referred for as individual components based on the needs of the family. The three service types are: 1) Reunification Readiness, 2) Reunification Services and 3) Therapeutic Family Time.
The contracted agency will be expected to:
- Assess the family and/or individual family member needs (including issues that precipitated the child’s removal), building upon the family’s strengths;
- Coordinate and co-facilitate, with DCF, family team meetings based upon the family’s identification of the individuals needed to help sort out and address needs;
- Identify and help facilitate familial and social connections;
- Provide personalized advocacy and support including but not limited to: working with medical, mental health and substance abuse providers, local educational agencies and/or early childhood programs;
- Assist with conflict resolution within the family or external agencies as necessary;
- Assist with connections to concrete, traditional and non-traditional supports and services in the families neighborhood and community, including faith-based organizations and supports;
- Facilitate connections or affiliations with parent advocacy groups or organizations;
- Follow-up to assure that identified services are in place and needs have been addressed;
- Assist with transportation;
- Amend the family’s service plan as necessary to reflect changes within the family; and
- Assist the family in navigating Juvenile Court.
Mandatory Letter of intent due July 23, 2014.