Pennyrile Allied Community Services

^{FAMILY REUNIFICATION SERVICES (FRS)}

Beginning in January 1996, PACS began providing Intensive Family Reunification Services (FRS) for the CHFS/P&P who provides all of the referrals for this program.  PACS was given two In-Home Specialists positions to provide services in the two regions we serve.  FRS, like FPP seeks to empower families to help themselves. FRS provides services similar to FPP in working with families. The goal of FRS is to assist in the re-entry of the child(ren), under age 18, into the home and to prevent the replacement of the child(ren) into out of home care.  FRS In-Home Specialists also work a flexible schedule and are available to the families they serve on a twenty-four (24) hour per day seven (7) day per week basis.  The intervention is held almost entirely in the home at the convenience of the family.  FRS In-Home Specialists work with three (3) families at a time giving each family five (5) to eight (8) hours of services each week for an average of thirteen (13) weeks. The referral process is the same as with FPP and FPS.  In order to facilitate the reunification of the child(ren) safely and within a timely manner, the FRS works with families within the first fifteen (15) of the last twenty-two (22) months of the child being removed from the family home.  Best practice suggests that the FRS Specialist work with the parent(s) two (2) weeks prior to the return of the child to prepare them for the child’s reentry into the home and requires that the child(ren) be returned to the family home no later than twenty-eight (28) days after beginning the intervention.  These FRS services aid in the successful reentry of the child into the family home and in the community.

REFERRAL PROCESS

All referrals are made using the 1286 referral form in the DCBS TWIST program. Please call our office and speak to a Supervisor or the Director before faxing, mailing or e-mailing the referral to ensure an opening exists for the program you need.  All referrals must be approved by the Referral and Selection person in the DCBS District office in your area.  The original referral must be given to the FRS worker at the time the case is opened. Only P&P may refer families to this program.