This RFP is to procure a provider for assistance to families that are at risk of having their children removed from their home due to child abuse and/or neglect, and/or to families that are in need of supervised visitations. The Family Assistance Program is an in-home service which provides guidance for the parents and children to increase the parents’ confidence and competence in their parenting abilities to successfully nurture their children and provide them with a healthy and safe environment. In addition, the Contractor must provide, as needed, supervised parenting time for parents and their children allowing the interaction to take place in a safe environment while promoting healthy relationships. Requirements General Requirements Client Eligibility Criteria a. Definition of Eligibility 1) For Child and Family Safety Stability and Permanency (CFSSP) Funding: Families with an active Children’s Protective Services (CPS) investigation or open case. Families with an open Prevention services case. Families with minor children investigated by MDHHS CPS within the previous 18 months. Families that do not have a preponderance of evidence of child abuse or neglect after a CPS investigation, but there is a risk of future harm to the child. Families with one or more children in a MDHHS supervised out-of-home placement (inclusive of MDHHS supervised Foster Care, Juvenile Justice and relative placement). MDHHS adoptive families for whom a need for post adoptive services has been identified by MDHHS to prevent disruption or dissolution. 2) For Strong Families Safe Children (SFSC) Funding: a) Time – Limited Family Reunification Services must be provided to Parent(s) or primary caregiver(s) who are responsible for the care and supervision of minor child(ren) and who have a MDHHS supervised open case in out-of-home placement, with family reunification as the goal. Intent of funds is to mitigate barriers to reunification. In the case of a child who has been returned home, the services and activities must only be provided during the 15-month period that begins on the date that the child returns home. b) Family Support Services must be provided to parents or primary caregiver(s) responsible for the care and supervision of minor child(ren) and have one or more of the of the following: (1) An open MDHHS Child Protective Services (Category I, II, and III), foster care or delinquency case (2) An open case which has been closed within the past 18-months (3) A Child Protective Services investigation within the past 18-months (4) Three or more rejected Child Protective Services complaints b. Determination of Eligibility MDHHS determines eligibility. Referral Process Use the referral process below or enter an appropriate referral process.
