In-Home Ongoing Services Information

A primary action step of Wisconsin’s Program Improvement Plan (PIP) is to improve case planning which includes the implementation of an integrated case planning approach outlined in the DCF Ongoing Services Standards. 

In-Home Child Protective Services (CPS) Cases

These cases involve an unsafe child. Safety is controlled with a safety plan that allows the child to remain in the home. Ongoing safety assessment, analysis and planning, as outlined in the Safety Intervention Standards are very important for these families. With these families, professionals will:

• Review, monitor and change safety plans when needed
• Develop goals with the family in a case plan
• Involve families in making and changing plans
• Help families change to keep kids safe and families stable
• Direct families to appropriate services
• Achieve safe case closure

There are certain points to remember when providing CPS in-home services:

• Professionals will assess families’ strengths and needs throughout the case. Professionals may use the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) tool for this.
• Specific requirements for In-Home CPS Cases are listed in the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Ongoing Services Standards.
• These cases may be court-ordered through a Child In Need of Protection or Services dispositional order under Chapter DCF 48.355 of the Wisconsin Children’s Code.
• Some families may be willing to work voluntarily with CPS. These families may sign an Informal Disposition Agreement under Chapter DCF 48.245 of the Wisconsin Children’s Code.

Child Welfare In-Home Cases

When a child is safe but is in need of services, an agency may open a child welfare case. Agencies are not required to open child welfare cases unless a child is in need of a placement. Examples of In-Home Child Welfare cases include, but are not limited to:

• A child with disabilities whose family needs help and support to provide treatment to their child
• A youth with a mental health condition whose family needs help and support to provide treatment to their child

The focus of the agency in these cases is to provide support and services to the child and family. Workers also continue to check the safety of the children. The professional focuses on:

• Assessing families for strengths and needs (Professionals may use the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) tool
• Providing support to families
• Directing families to appropriate services
• Maintaining safety and stability for families
• Achieving well-being for children
• Attaining safe case closure

There are certain points to remember when providing child welfare in-home services:

• If at any time a family situation changes and a child becomes unsafe, this becomes a CPS case.
• Specific requirements for In-Home Child Welfare Cases are listed in the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Ongoing Services Standards.
• These cases may be court-ordered through a Child In Need of Protection or Services dispositional order under Chapter DCF 48.355 of the Wisconsin Children’s Code.
• Some families may be willing to work voluntarily with CPS. These families may sign an Informal Disposition Agreement under Chapter DCF 48.245 of the Wisconsin Children’s Code.