5.5.4.1

Family Assessment

The Family Assessment is an assessment designed to identify a family’s unique strengths, interests, opportunities for growth, and family aspirations (family goals). The data collected from the Family Assessment is used to identify appropriate referrals, set family goals, identify training needs, and is collected and submitted as part of the annual Program Information Report (PIR).

The Family Assessment is a tool designed to help Shasta Head Start in identifying how we can best support enrolled families by connecting them with helpful community resources to enhance overall family well-being. It includes 19 questions based on the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) family outcomes framework. This assessment will be conducted in an interview format with each enrolled family and must be completed within 90 days of the child’s enrollment date.

Let families know that these topics are discussed with all families to help identify areas where they may want more information, resources, or support. If a family expresses interest in additional support by answering “yes” to any of the red highlighted questions, staff must offer an appropriate referral, resource, or direct service.

Completing the Family Assessment

• The Family Assessment is completed by Family Workers and Home Visitors with all families each program year, including returning families, across all program options.
• The assessment includes 19 questions, beginning with general, less sensitive topics and gradually progressing to more personal and sensitive areas.
• The Family Assessment is completed within 90 days of a child’s entry date
• If a family is enrolled as prenatal, the Family Assessment is completed within 90 days of entry.
• If an infant is transitioned from enrolled prenatal to EHS Home Base, the Family Assessment will follow the family and does not need to be completed within 90 days of the infant’s entry date. Carry forward the Family Assessment & FPA completed with the prenatal mom to the enrolled infant’s child file
• The Family Assessment packet is printed out of ChildPlus (8.1.2.1 Printing Family Assessment Packet)
  and completed as follows:
  • Child’s Name: ChildPlus will fill this in for you
  • Parent/Guardian name: ChildPlus will fill this in for you
  • Staff Name: Document the name of the staff who completed the assessment and the date the assessment was completed.
  • Father/Father Figure participated: Check the “Yes” or “No” box if the father/father figure participated in the Family Assessment.

• The Family Assessment is completed through a conversation/interview with the parent/guardian(s) of the enrolled child or prenatal participant.
• Certain general categories have been identified as sensitive topics beginning with Relationship/Marriage Education, Mental Health, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse/Neglect Services, Substance Misuse Prevention and Treatment and Assistance with Incarcerated Family Members. Share with families that you understand these are sensitive topics and by sharing their experiences, you can help provide support and resources based on their response to these questions.
• There are four questions highlighted in Teal: Emergency/Crisis Intervention, Mental Health, Domestic Violence, and Substance Misuse Prevention and Treatment. These topics are an immediate need and as such, a resource, referral, or direct service must be provided as soon as possible. Follow-Up must be completed within three business days of providing the resource.

Resource, Referral or Direct Service Offered

If a family expresses interest in additional support by answering “yes” to any of the highlighted questions, staff must offer an appropriate referral, resource, or direct service.

The Data Systems Coordinator (DSC) will document each family’s expressed interest of additional support by entering an “Event” in the Family Services module in ChildPlus. Additionally, the DSC will schedule an “Action – RR: Resource Offered” to prompt Family Services staff to provide a resource or referral. A scheduled “Action – RR: Follow Up” will also be added by the DSC to remind staff to follow up on the resource or referral offered. Refer to Documenting Resource/Referral Offered and Follow-Up ChildPlus for further guidance.

After Family Services staff offers a resource, referral or direct service to a family, it must be documented in ChildPlus. (Refer to Documenting Resource/Referral Offered and Follow-Up for guidance.)

Follow Up to Resource, Referral or Direct Service Offered

All resources, referrals, and direct services offered to families require timely follow-up to ensure the family’s needs have been addressed. Staff must document the outcome of the follow-up in ChildPlus, including whether the family accessed the support and, if not, providing a brief explanation as to why the support was not utilized.

• If the family declines to accept a referral, resource, or direct service during communication, document in ChildPlus see SOP 8.1.2.6 Documenting resources/referrals Offered and Follow Up in ChildPlus.

Follow Up

Follow-up must be completed within one month of providing a resource, external referral, or direct service to a family. Document in ChildPlus, see SOP 8.1.2.6 (Documenting Resource/Referral Offered and Follow Up), how the family used or did not use the resource, referral or direct service offered (for example: family received food from Salvation Army).

Steps completed in ChildPlus

Family Services staff enter the Family Assessment in ChildPlus within three days of completing it with the family. SOP 8.1.2.5-Entering the Family Assessment

Resource/Referral and Follow Up Flow Chart

SOP 8.1.2.6 Documenting Resource/Referral Offered and Follow Up