The following is a link to video instruction on using the Continuing Services Tool.

CAT Continuing Services Tool - Instructional Video

The Continuing Services Assessment (CS) Tool is completed for all open cases at the initial case plan:

• To identify the best possible strategies for changing the conditions and/or behaviors that pose risk of harm to the child.

Subsequent CS Tools are open to determine:

• If it is safe to return a child to his or her home, if a reunification case, or
• The family’s needs for continuing public child welfare
  and/or community services, if a voluntary or court-ordered family maintenance case or a permanency planning case or
  

The social worker assigned responsibility for ongoing case management completes the Continuing Services (CS) Assessment Tool.  This includes:

• DI social workers
• ER social workers
  • Only if the Initial Case Plan is completed.
• VFM social workers
• IS social workers
• Continuing social workers

Also refer to page 49 of the CAT User Guide.

• One Tool is completed for each child in the case.
• The CS Tool is completed:
  • At the time of the Initial Case Plan.
  • At the time of each judicial review hearing, or at least every six months from the initial case plan.
  • Any time a change to the case plan is made while children are in care, including when there is a change of case plan goals, placements and reunification efforts.

In completing the Continuing Services Assessment Tool, the social worker:

• Opens the case in CWS/CMS.

• Creates a CAT Continuing Services (CS) Assessment (single child) Tool.  

• Enters:
  • Date
  • The type of case planning associated with the assessment, either initial case plan or case plan update
  • Reunification readiness assessment, if the recommendation is for the child to be returned to the care of the parent(s)
  • Demographics of the parents and child(ren)
  • Name of substitute care provider
    • Use first name and last initial along with an abbreviation for the facility type (e.g. FH, RH, FFA, CCF)
  • Case Plan Goal
    
    
• Clicks the Start/Resume WIZARD button to complete the remaining Tool.

• Completes questions 2 through 13.

• Types in his/her name and the date on the signature and date lines at the end of the Tool

• Saves the Tool online by clicking the Exit and Save Document button at the lower right of the WIZARD Main Menu.  
  
  
  

Supervisor:

• Opens and reviews the Tool in CWS/CMS.
• Types in his/her signature and date on the signature and date lines at the end of the Tool to indicate approval.
• Saves the Tool by clicking on the   Form Completed, Save for Analysis   button at the bottom of the Wizard Main Menu, if approving the Tool.