Family and Systems Teams for Reunification
The Family and System Teams for Reunification (FAST) is a
unique partnership between families, The Allegheny County Department of Human
Services, Allegheny County Juvenile Probation, HSAO and the Allegheny Family
Network. A facilitator trained in
the model of High Fidelity Wrap Around, will work alongside the family to
identify the natural and professional supports available to achieve successful
and supportive reunification.
Youth who are active with CYF and Juvenile Probation and in
an “out-of-home” placement, such as Foster Care, Group Home, Juvenile Justice,
Relative “kinship care” and Residential Treatment Facility are eligible.
In addition to placement, families must have both a goal of reunification
and not eclipsed the ASFA timelines for reunification (15 out of 22 months).
The FAST program assists with obtaining individual, group
and family counseling, Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence
Services. In addition the
program offers assistance with transportation to or from any of the services and
activities as well as providing resources for temporary child care and
therapeutic services for families.
The expected outcomes of the program are to reduce the
length of time that children spend in foster care as well as reducing the
re-entry rates and number of placement moves for children in foster care.
We also want to increase the stabilization of families who have a child
in foster care in order to facilitate reunification with the family within 15
months, as well as to increase the rates and timeliness of that reunification.
In addition, we are working to enhance the working relationships between
agencies and service providers at the count and community levels to support
families.
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