Task 1 Ensure sufficient visitation slots (typically one-hour slots) for direct assignment by DHS caseworker staff, with an identified number or percentage of slots set aside specifically for Foster Care Intake cases. Task 2 Provide daily sharing with DHS point of contact personnel around the visitation and slot schedule/availability. Deliverable 2.1 All missed, delayed, or cancelled visits must be identified, documented, and communicated to DHS within 24 hours of the scheduled visit and documented in Connections within 48 hours of occurrence. Deliverable 2.2 A prioritized waiting list must be maintained based on parameters agreed upon between DHS and the selected Respondent. DHS must be notified daily of additional capacity status. It is expected the selected Respondent will absorb additional visits from DHS staff when they have cancellations or availability. Deliverable 2.3 Track all issues related to visitation with the DHS transportation vendor, including late arrival or pick up, no shows, etc. and report the issues to the designated DHS contact. Deliverable 3.1 Provide sufficient staff and resources to meet contracted visitation capacity requirements, including back-up staff needed for vacation, sickness, etc. Respondents must describe the regular staffing pattern and the plan(s) for back-up in detail. Deliverable 3.2 Conduct initial visits based on Foster Care Intake referrals and focus on presenting concerns that necessitated a child’s removal from the home, identify the goals of visitation, and highlight areas of focus for each family. Deliverable 3.3 Structure visitation services to support connectivity between Starlight Pediatrics and the Visitation Center, currently co-located on East Henrietta Road in Rochester, NY. Develop and maintain a dialogue with Foster Care staff and Starlight Pediatrics staff to ensure coordinated care and consistency in goals for the family/parent(s)/child(ren). Deliverable 3.4 Promote the acquisition of parenting skills throughout the visitation process, as well as parent-child attachment and engagement. The selected Respondent must utilize and integrate visitation coaching and best practice models before, during and/or after visits, which may include, but may not be limited to, Parents as Teachers, Circle of Security, Reflective Parenting, and/or other well supported practices to expand parenting knowledge and improve parent-child relationships. Respondents must detail the model(s) they plan to utilize and any certification(s), training, and/or experience the organization has in the delivery of this work. Deliverable 3.5 Approximately 20 percent of the families being served by the visitation program require a higher level ofsupport. The selected Respondent must be able to offer Therapeutic Visitation up to 380 hours per month to support healthy familial visitation and/or increase speed to permanency. Families that most benefit from Therapeutic Visitation Services are those in which there is a need to increase emotional availability between the parent and child, where there is mistrust/fear in the parent-child relationship, a history of trauma that requires relationship repair, challenges in parental functioning that impact the child, or conflictual situation between bio-parents and foster/adoptive parents. Deliverable 3.6 Document parent-child interactions and behaviors during the visits. Significant events should be communicated immediately to DHS staff (i.e., a visit ended due to unsafe behavior). The selected Respondent will update case notes in the NYS Office of Children and Family Services Connections system within the timeframe(s) required by DHS. Respondents must detail any and all experiences they have with the facilitation of parent-child interaction, the documentation of interactions in a supervised setting, and the preparation of reports or summaries of interactions/visits over a period of time, such as for caseworkers or the court. Respondents must also describe their familiarity with the Connections system, if any.
