2116 Requirements for Children Under the Age of One
Supporting families by connecting them with services, and information designed to promote the health and well-being of children under the age of one, is one way to help build lasting safety and prevent future maltreatment.
A. Parent Skill Building
When a family with a child under the age of one is involved in an assessment for Abuse/Neglect, Family In Need of Assessment (FINA) or Pregnant Woman Using Substances (PWS), the Child Protection Specialist (CPS) shall:
1. Engage the family in an assessment of the child’s developmental milestones and needs and document using the PPS 2019 DCF Conversation Note.
2. Inform the family of the benefit of available resources.
3. Request the family engage in services and document the family’s initial decision for services on the PPS 2019 DCF Conversation Note.
4. When appropriate, assist the family with a referral to the program of the parent’s choice using the PPS 2014 A Referral for Services. Families may choose to have the CPS submit a referral or the family may choose to self-refer.
Parent Skill Building programs involve community partners assessing the needs of the child(ren). These assessments include occupational and physical therapy, speech and language development, and educational needs. Parent Skill Building programs include Infant-Toddler Services or Home Visitor programs.
Resources include:
Kansas Department for Children and Families Child Care in Kansas child development resources: https://childcareinkansas.com/resource/child-development/
Kansas Early Childhood Developmental Services: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/677/Kansas-Early-Childhood-Developmental-Ser
Healthy Families affiliate locator: https://www.healthyfamiliesamerica.org/map/
Early Head Start: https://www.kcsl.org/EarlyHeadStart.aspx
KCSL Parent Helpline: 1-800-CHILDREN (1-800-332-6378) or email/text 1800children@kcsl.org
B. Safe Sleep
When a family with a child under the age of one is involved in an assessment for Abuse/Neglect, FINA or PWS, the CPS Specialist shall:
1. Assess the infant’s sleep environment using guidance from Safe Sleep Kansas (https://safesleepkansas.kdhe.ks.gov/) and document observations on the PPS 2019 Conversation Note.
2. Engage the family in a conversation and provide information and resources to help support a safe sleep environment for the infant by informing the family of the ABCs of safe sleep; babies are safest when they are:
a. Alone,
b. on their Back and
c. in a Crib.