1021               FAMILY SUPPORT TEAM

The Family Support Team (FST Family Support Team) is an essential component of the Families First Work Services (FFWS Families First Work Services) model. The purpose of the FST Family Support Team is to provide the FFWS Families First Work Services client wraparound services using a team approach to service support. The FST Family Support Team is composed of the FFWS Families First Work Services client, the Work Services case manager assigned to work with the client and family, as well as other agency providers and natural supports such as neighbors, friends, family, clergy or other advocates. The FST Family Support Teams primary responsibility is to collaborate with the common goal of making life more manageable for the FFWS Families First Work Services client and their family, both from a service and self-sufficiency perspective. The most tangible outcome of the FST Family Support Team is to develop the Informed Family Self-Sufficiency Plan (IFSSP Informed Family Self Sufficiency Plan) as a tool that incorporates all wraparound services and supports provided by FST Family Support Team members.

Collaborative partnerships between Work Services, DHSS Department of Health and Social Services divisions (i.e., Public Assistance, Juvenile Justice, Children’s Services, and Behavioral Health) and other human service programs (i.e., domestic violence shelters, schools, disability programs) are required as part of the Families First Work Services (FFWS Families First Work Services) model to develop responsive IFSSP Informed Family Self Sufficiency Plans. The collaborative effort of the FST Family Support Team results in streamlined services, reducing duplicative or competing agency expectations and referral to additional service supports as family needs are identified. The FST Family Support Team’s focus on wraparound type services ensures that both agency service priorities are met, as well as family service needs. The FST Family Support Team approaches identified needs in a holistic manner, inclusive of supporting the health, safety, well-being and self-sufficiency of the entire family unit.

The Families First Facilitator (FFF Families First Facilitators) has an ongoing role as a liaison to initiate and nurture working relationships between Division of Public Assistance (DPA Division of Public Assistance)/ Work Services and community agencies to enhance community partnerships and connections. The FFF Families First Facilitators is responsible for introducing human service agency representatives to the FFWS Families First Work Services model and purpose of FST Family Support Teams. The FFF Families First Facilitators additionally acts as a consultant to the case manager to learn more about local community agency and program resources. Furthermore, the FFF Families First Facilitators is available to partner with the case manager to facilitate the process of establishing FST Family Support Teams, or problem-solving any challenging issue(s) faced by an existing FST Family Support Team.

Following completion of the FFWS Families First Work Services client’s Employability Assessment and subsequent initial FSSP Family Self Sufficiency Plan, the case manager has sole responsibility for establishing the FST Family Support Teamand initiating the meeting of FST Family Support Teams within a specified timeline. In addition, the case manager’s responsibility extends to scheduling, coordinating, conducting and facilitating all FST Family Support Team meetings. The case manager must maintain regular contact with FST Family Support Team members to keep abreast of the client and family’s status. Lastly, the case manager is required to document all FST Family Support Team activities, meeting outcomes/action plans developed, current services and client progress.

Effort of due diligence on the part of the case manager are demonstrated by his/her level of effort to collaborate with FST Family Support Team members both through FST Family Support Team meetings and other means of communication. Such effort must be documented through such methods as a signed and comprehensive IFSSP Informed Family Self Sufficiency Plan (WSPM Work Services Procedure Manual Section 1008) in the form of CLNO Client Notess using the Case Management System (CMS Case Management System) and hard copy invitations and notes in the FFWS Families First Work Services client’s hard copy file.

Note:

FST Family Support Teams are not required of all clients. The necessity to identify and establish a FST is dependent upon the unique needs and circumstances of the FF Families First client.