{"id":31839,"date":"2020-12-09T20:16:56","date_gmt":"2020-12-09T20:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caseyfamilyv2.wpengine.com\/ok-voluntary-services\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T19:59:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T19:59:33","slug":"de-acuerdo-servicios-voluntarios","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casey.org\/es\/ok-voluntary-services\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00bfC\u00f3mo ofrece Oklahoma servicios voluntarios?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\n \n \n \n \n

Overview<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

In Oklahoma, when a family\u2019s circumstances impact child safety and a child\u2019s living situation is determined to be unsafe, the Department of Human Services seeks to address these issues through Family Centered Services<\/b> <\/span>(FCS).1<\/sup><\/a> Cases assigned to FCS focus on child safety in an attempt to preserve the family unit and strengthen the caregiver\u2019s ability to keep the child safe. FCS involves opening a case at the agency, but not with the court.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the services are offered while the child remains in the home with a safety plan. To accomplish this goal, families are referred to services that appropriately meet their needs. Families also can be referred to Comprehensive Home-Based Services<\/span><\/a> (CHBS), which are designed for families where the child is at moderate risk of removal.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For the past few years, there also has been another option for families. As a result of the state\u2019s Title IV-E waiver demonstration project, Oklahoma offers Intensive Safety Services<\/span> (ISS), which target families at a higher risk of child removal, or families that may have had a child removed in the past and therefore may not be appropriate candidates for CHBS. The goal of ISS is to provide intensive services to mitigate safety concerns and prevent the removal of the child from the home. Because it is a waiver project, there is an initial determination of eligibility, and families deemed eligible are randomized to receive ISS or services as usual (entry into foster care).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Initiation of voluntary services<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Families that receive voluntary services often come to the attention of the child protection agency through a referral of child abuse or neglect. As a result, the case typically begins with a CPS investigation. In Oklahoma, the cases most frequently served by voluntary services are those involving neglect and those involving families with underlying substance abuse issues. When deciding whether to serve a family with voluntary services, caseworkers completing the investigation examine the risk of future maltreatment to the child, safety threats, protective capacities of the family, and the level of need within the family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The investigation includes an examination of the child\u2019s safety using the Assessment of Child Safety<\/b><\/span> (AOCS) form. The AOCS includes questions regarding the extent of any abuse and neglect, the circumstances that accompanied any maltreatment, child functioning, disciplinary approaches, overall family values, cultural influences, parenting practices, and adult functioning. It identifies protective capacities of the family as well as any safety threats and impending dangers. Completion of the AOCS results in one of three determinations: safe<\/i> (unsubstantiated); unsafe<\/i> (determination that at least one of the children is in an environment where safety threats exist); or not applicable<\/i> (unable to locate, failure to cooperate or child death).2<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If the child is determined to be unsafe, a Child Safety Meeting<\/b> <\/span>is held with the family to determine the level of intervention and services needed. During the meeting, participants establish the requirements for subsequent family meetings, as there are different requirements based on the needs of the case.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If it is determined that safety threats can be managed and controlled, the child may be allowed to remain in the home if the family agrees to develop a safety plan in collaboration with the caseworker, sign the safety plan, and participate in relevant services. The caseworker may also determine that there is a need for someone to serve as a safety plan monitor and may identify the monitor. A safety plan monitor either lives in the home or comes into the home on a regular basis to ensure that the safety plan is being followed. The family then enters the Family Centered Services program and the case is assigned an FCS worker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A voluntary placement is another option that can be used in conjunction with FCS to ensure child safety. This type of placement allows the child to be removed from the home informally, for a short period of time, while the safety issues are addressed. When children enter a voluntary placement, Oklahoma\u2019s goal is to get children back in their family home within 60 days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ongoing provision of voluntary services<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

FCS caseworkers are primarily responsible for voluntary cases, but given that Oklahoma is largely a rural state, the type of cases handled by a worker varies within the state. Outside the major metro areas, workers most likely have a caseload that is mixed between prevention and treatment cases, whereas the caseloads in a major metro area could be strictly prevention cases. FCS workers cannot carry more than eight families per worker and must have a supervisor with no more than five staff reporting to them. Supervisors must hold monthly case conferences for each FCS case.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

While participating in FCS, families can <\/span>be<\/span> referred<\/span> to:<\/p>\n