Section 306 – Division in-home services for the preservation of families.

• (1)
  • (a) Within appropriations from the Legislature and money obtained under Subsection (5), the division shall provide in-home services for the purpose of family preservation to any family with a child whose health and safety is not immediately endangered, if:
    • (i)
      • (A) the child is at risk of being removed from the home; or
      • (B) the family is in crisis; and
    • (ii) the division determines that in-home services are reasonable and appropriate.
  • (b) In determining whether in-home services are reasonable and appropriate, and in keeping with Subsection 80-2a-201(1), the child’s health, safety, and welfare shall be the paramount concern.
  • (c) The division shall consider whether the services described in Subsection (1)(b):
    • (i) will be effective within a six-month period; and
    • (ii) are likely to prevent continued abuse or neglect of the child.

• (2)
  • (a) The division shall maintain a statewide inventory of in-home services available through public and private agencies or individuals for use by child welfare caseworkers.
  • (b) The inventory described in Subsection (2)(a) shall include:
    • (i) the method of accessing each service;
    • (ii) eligibility requirements for each service;
    • (iii) the geographic areas and the number of families that can be served by each service; and
    • (iv) information regarding waiting lists for each service.

• (3)
  • (a) As part of the division’s in-home services for the preservation of families, the division shall provide in-home services in varying degrees of intensity and contact that are specific to the needs of each individual family.
  • (b) As part of the division’s in-home services, the division shall:
    • (i) provide customized assistance;
    • (ii) provide support or interventions that are tailored to the needs of the family;
    • (iii) discuss the family’s needs with the parent;
    • (iv) discuss an assistance plan for the family with the parent; and
    • (v) address:
      • (A) the safety of children;
      • (B) the needs of the family; and
      • (C) services necessary to aid in the preservation of the family and a child’s ability to remain in the home.
  • (c) The division shall, as practicable, provide in-home services within the region that the family resides, using existing division staff.

• (4)
  • (a) The division may use specially trained child welfare caseworkers, private providers, or other persons to provide the in-home services described in Subsection (3).
  • (b) The division shall allow a child welfare caseworker to be flexible in responding to the needs of each individual family, including:
    • (i) limiting the number of families assigned; and
    • (ii) being available to respond to assigned families within 24 hours.

• (5) To provide, expand, and improve the delivery of in-home services to prevent the removal of children from the children’s homes and promote the preservation of families, the division shall make substantial effort to obtain funding, including:
  • (a) federal grants;
  • (b) federal waivers; and
  • (c) private money.

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 334, 2022 General Session