Preventive Services
These programs are designed to promote family stability and integration. In our General and PINS (Persons In Need of Supervision) Preventive Programs we respond to factors which may place children at risk of foster care placement. As with all programs at Community Mediation Services, Inc. the staff works with the family and their children to foster understanding and communication while helping them to identify areas that need change. The case workers are committed to assisting the families to resolve the problems they face and planning for the future.
General Preventive Program– Community Board #12
The General Preventive Program is funded to work with referred families where there is a risk of child needing placement. These families are located in Community District #12 in Queens and are referred from both the city agencies and the community.
The purpose of the General Preventive Program for Community District #12:
- Ensure the safety, supervision, health and well-being of all children in the household as well as family members.
- Prevent out-of-home placements.
- Identify and intervene in crises that negatively affect the functioning of the family.
- Identify and build upon family strength.
- Identify potential for child abuse or neglect and work with the families to prevent such possibilities from occurring.
PINS (Persons In Need of Supervision) Preventive Program
The PINS Preventive Program is funded to provide long term services to families who are referred from the PINS Designated Assessment Services (DAS) Unit of CMS as well as from city agencies. The focus is on the family and teenage child who is a behavior problem and/or truant. This program provides long term integrated assistance to the family. The caseworkers work with the families to foster better communication and attain goals that the family feels are important to their stability and success. Individual, group and educational approaches are used to help the family work together to strengthen the positive elements of the home and address issues clearly and constructively.
The purpose of the PINS Preventive:
- Divert at risk youth from the Family Court who would otherwise be designated PINS.
- Build upon the plans of the designated assessment unit to foster communication and problem solving to build relationships and help families plan for the future.
- Insure service integration at all levels.
- Make further assessments as they are needed for family members.
- Utilize community resources for the benefit of the family.
Among the services offered are:
- Crisis management
- Needs assessment
- Case management
- Home visits
- Clinical consultation
- Substance abuse assessment
- Educational advocacy
- Support Groups
- Parenting skills workshops
- Linkage with resources
These programs are part of the child welfare system and are funded by the New York City Administration for Children Services.
