The SIUC
School of Social
Work has received a
three-year contract from the Illinois Department of Children and Family
Services to help implement
an "Integrated Assessment" program. Traditional models of case
assessment have focused primarily on the behavior and competence of
adults influential in the client (child's) life and have not provided
sufficient information about the unmet needs of the child.
The Integrated Assessment process
seeks to provide comprehensive screening and assessment by a clinical
professional to all clients entering DCFS custody. Assessments will be
done jointly by casework staff and licensed clinical intake screeners
within the Department. The Clinical Screener will create a comprehensive
assessment report from which a service plan will be developed in
conjunction with the caregiver, birth parent and client at a Child and
Family Team meeting. The goal is to provide adequate, permanent
placement of the child as quickly as possible, and to this end a time
line is set out for the various phases of the process so that by day 45
after case opening, the assessment and service plan can be submitted to
juvenile court. The SIUC School of Social Work will provide extensive
training to Clinical Screeners and supervise implementation of the
program.
