3200 Case Plan Foundations

A. The Case Plan is a mutual, ongoing, cooperative agreement between the family, child or young person, DCF or Child Welfare Case Management Provider (CWCMP), and others as identified or agreed upon by the family, or required by the type of case plan. A case plan conference shall be completed with the family when:

1. There is an open family services case, and the child is not in the custody of the Secretary.

2. There is an open family preservation case and no child in the family is in the custody of the Secretary.

3. A child is in the custody of the Secretary, regardless of placement setting. Each child requires their own specific case plan. 

B. Case planning services shall be directed toward maintaining the integrity of the family, consistent with child safety; permanency and improved family functioning.

1. Case planning is based on Kansas Practice Model principles which include: 

a. Engaging families in the development of their plan;

b. Relevant to critical issues in the families situation with priority of the issues that led to the service referral;

c. Treating families with respect;

d. Respecting families’ privacy;

e. Involving immediate and extended family members, and non-related kin as active partners in planning;

f. Providing services in the most family-like setting possible;

g. Linking families to community-based, diverse, and comprehensive supports and services which are culturally sensitive;

h. Strengthening the capacity of families and their network to function independently;

i Realistic in terms of emotional, physical, and intellectual capabilities of the family members;

j. Using family language that is clear and understandable to the family;

C. Case plans shall utilize information provided by the mother, father, child, relative/non-related kin, and other support persons identified or agreed upon by the family. Additional information may be provided by DCF Child Protection Specialist, resource families, school personnel, guardians, CASA, GAL, and others who have knowledge of the family and child. Case plans shall also utilize information contained in the Family Based Assessment, psychological and other assessments, medical reports, and therapist reports. Information from the Family Based Assessment (FBA), and documentation from PPM 2748 and PPM 2750 depending on the service referral type, shall also be used to support the foundations of the case plan. 

1. Elements of the parent or caregiver to be assessed include, but are not limited to:

a. Support network;

b. Housing;

c. Economic Conditions;

d. Physical and emotional care of the child;

e. Discipline methods;

f. Coping methods and problem-solving abilities;

g. Physical and mental health needs; 

h. Trauma history;

2. Elements of the child or youth to be assessed include, but are not limited to:

a. Academic adjustment and progress;

b. Social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development;

c. Relationship with the parent(s) or caregiver(s);  

d. Physical and behavioral health;

e. Trauma history;

f. Child time;