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A burglar alarm was installed in the group home and this has tremendously <br />affected the number of runaways. Prior to the installation of the alarm, <br />the juveniles could crawl out of the window during the night and run away. <br />Now the alarm goes off and staff is alerted during the night; however, <br />juveniles do not attempt to run since they know all windows and doors have <br />an alarm activated. <br /> <br />Referrals for placement are accepted from community agencies and the biggest <br />majority come from the Juvenile Court counselors. The counselor notifies <br />the Department of Social Services that a child needs placement and provides <br />information regarding the child. The DSS social worker visits the child <br />and family and assesses for placement at the home. Ail youth served in this <br />program will be under the custody of and recommended by the Cabarrus County <br />Department of Social Services. The decision for admitting a youth will be <br />theresponsibility of the program manager and a consultation with the <br />director of the facility. Any youth may be admitted except those who are so <br />emotionally handicapped that their inclusion would possibly be harmful to <br />the other youths or the staff. A youth may be admitted to the program at <br />any time through the day or night on any day of the year. He may remain <br />for a maximum of ninety days after consultation with the director of the <br />facility. A child remains in the program as long as there is a need, not <br />to exceed ninety days unless an extension is granted. Child is terminated <br />from the program when a long-term placement is located; the child is returned <br />to his natural home; or the child is admitted to some other facility including <br />treatment for psychiatric problems. <br /> <br />Work with families of these residents is done mainly by the DSS social <br />worker. The social worker begins by doing an assessment of the home <br />setting including identifying problems that contributed to the child's <br />placement. A service agreement is them finalized between the parent and <br />social worker identifying goals and time limits and activities to alleviate <br />those problems. <br /> <br />Home visits with the family as well as plan of care conferences at the home <br />and off~ce meetings at the DSS are held often between the social worker amd <br />the family, a visitation agreement is signed stating when the child may <br />visit, the length of visit, and any special requirements for supervision <br />during the visit. Community referral sare made for families needing services <br />through Mental Health, Vocational Rehabilitation, financial services, and <br />housing services. Transportation by DSS social worker is provided to the <br />family in identifyimg problems, goal setting, problem solving, communication, <br />reality-based therapy, and parent-child relationships. Education is provided <br />regarding parenting skills, child development, budgeting, and other identified <br />needs within the family. The family participates in staffings and review team <br />meetings and accompanies the social worker in assessing long-term placement <br />plans if they do not include a return home. <br /> <br />Ail children in the program will be responsible for maintaining their own <br />laundry and keeping their room clean. Children will be assigned household <br />chores and inspections will be held once a week. Ail children in the program <br />attend public school and if they are suspension, they follow a school schedule <br />with educaitonal materials in the home. Individual privileges and activities <br />according to the child's interests are given daily unless the child is on <br />restriction. Group activities are planned and the group decides on the activity <br /> <br /> <br />