8233 Concrete Services
CPS November 2006
A worker may authorize concrete services to obtain goods and/or services that the client cannot purchase to increase the safety of the home and/or allow the parent or relative caregiver to better meet the needs of the child or family.
8233.1 Determining Eligibility
CPS November 2006
Clients are eligible for concrete services when:
• The purchase of the service will allow the child to remain in the home or expedite the return of the child to the home;
• Resources are not available from another source; and
• Negotiations on family contribution have taken place.
Note: First priority is given to clients in Intensive Family-Based Safety Services (INT-FPR).
8233.2 Identifying Available Services
CPS November 2006
The specific goods and services that may be purchased under the a concrete services contract include the following:
• Assistance locating and obtaining housing;
• Transportation reimbursement for family visits, medical treatment, or employment;
• Personal care items, such as clothing, and personal hygiene products;
• Security deposits and rental assistance for housing;
• Utility deposits or emergency grants to avoid utilities from being cut off;
• Car repairs for family visits, treatment, or employment;
• Essential household items, furniture, and appliances, such as cribs, beds, stoves, tables, refrigerators, heaters, and sheets;
• Essential household supplies, such as brooms, mops, and cleaning supplies;
• Essential home repairs, such as plumbing, heating, and structural repairs;
• Parenting education;
• Therapeutic family recreation;
• Special medical services or equipment not covered by Medicaid, health insurance, or charitable organizations;
• Special learning aids, such as books, computers, flash cards, and auxiliary aids like TTY or TTD;
• Respite care;
• Employment-related items, such as tools or equipment, uniforms, and footwear;
• Special educational services, such as tutoring, GED classes, ESL classes, and undergraduate standardized test preparation classes; and
• Other goods and services, when documentation on the service plan supports:
• how the family will benefit from the goods or services, and
• that the goods or services will directly contribute to the safety of the home, thereby allowing the child to remain in the home or expediting the child's return to the home.
Note: The maximum annual expenditure for each family may not exceed $200 without approval of the program administrator or designee.
8233.3 Referring Clients
CPS June 2010
For complete referral instructions, see 8161.1 Active Cases — Authorizing, Extending, or Terminating Direct Services and its subitems.
In addition to following the procedures explained in 8161.1, the caseworker must:
• negotiate with the family about whether the family can contribute to the purchase of concrete goods or services in any amount;
• document the content of the conversation with the family in the IMPACT system, in the Contact Detail and Comments fields of Form 2054 Service Authorization (see 3434.4 Documenting and Authorizing Concrete Services), even if the family is unable to contribute;
• print Form 2054 from IMPACT;
• obtain the signatures of the parents on Form 2054, acknowledging the negotiation;
• obtain the signatures of the appropriate supervisors on Form 2054, when applicable according to the budgeted amount (see 3343.5 Reviewing and Approving a Request for Concrete Services); and
• ensure that the provider of the goods and services receives the printed and signed version of Form 2054.
8233.4 Using IMPACT
CPS November 2006
To authorize services, workers must enter the following details into the IMPACT case management system:
IMPACT Field: |
IMPACT Entry: |
|---|---|
Stage: |
INV, FPR, FSU, FRE |
Category: |
Basic Needs |
Service: |
Concrete Services |
Unit of Service: |
Deliverable |
Service Code: |
82C |
8233.41 When IMPACT is Unavailable
CPS November 2006
If the IMPACT case management system is not functioning or the worker is otherwise unable to access it, the worker may authorize concrete services by submitting a paper copy of Form 2054, Service Authorization.
For complete instructions, see:
8164 Manual Authorization — Submitting a Paper Form
8233.5 Handling Additional Duties
CPS November 2006
A worker may be required to pick up and deliver goods. There is a prohibition on giving money directly to the client or writing a check that is payable to the client or the worker.
To authorize additional units of service, or extend or reauthorize the service, the worker must follow the procedures in:
8161.1 Active Cases — Authorizing, Extending, or Terminating Direct Services
8233.6 Terminating Services
CPS November 2006
If the concrete service is being terminated before the end date on Form 2054, Service Authorization, see:
8161.1 Active Cases — Authorizing, Extending, or Terminating Direct Services