The DCS Specialist gathers the information through contacts with the parents, the child(ren), extended family, the out-of-home provider, case participants, and other service team members. While the child is assessed as unsafe and the safety plan remains active, the DCS Specialist will actively manage child safety and continuously gather information to assess progress made toward enhancing diminished protective capacities and eliminating the impending danger threats identified in the Family Functioning Assessment вЂ“ Investigation. The DCS Specialist conducts the FFA вЂ“ Ongoing through contacts with the parents, guardians, and/or custodians, in order to guide a mutual understanding of what must change for the parents to regain responsibility for the care and safety of the child. The change actions, services, and activities that will be used to enhance diminished protective capacities. How existing protective capacities can be built upon in order to make needed behavioral changes and The areas of disagreement between the parents, guardians, and/or custodians and the Department regarding what needs to change The parentвЂ™s, guardianвЂ™s, or custodianвЂ™s readiness for change The parentвЂ™s, guardianвЂ™s, or custodianвЂ™s perspective or awareness regarding danger threats and their relationship to diminished protective capacities The relationship between the identified impending danger threat(s) and currently diminished protective capacities Whether or not the safety plan is sufficiently managing impending danger threats in the least intrusive way possible The DCS Specialist conducts the FFA вЂ“ Ongoing to assess the following: The DCS Specialist conducts the Family Functioning Assessment вЂ“ Ongoing (FFA вЂ“ Ongoing) to identify enhanced and diminished protective capacities that are directly related to the identified impending danger threat(s). Without compromising child safety, coordinate services to achieve and maintain permanency on behalf of the child, strengthen the family, and provide prevention, intervention, and treatment services.ДЄ case cannot be closed when a child is unsafe. The DCS Specialist shall complete a Family Functioning Assessment вЂ“ Ongoing within 60 days of a childвЂ™s removal or opening the case for ongoing services, whichever is earlier. While a child is assessed as unsafe and a safety plan is active, the Department shall complete the Family Functioning Assessment вЂ“ Ongoing to continue to assess safety and to develop a change strategy and case plan for the family. In response to allegations of abuse or neglect, the Department shall assess, promote, and support the safety of a child in a safe and stable family or other appropriate placement.

What is family functioning