DPCS 140R Saratoga County Family Treatment Court Enhanced Parenting Time Services

The mission of the New York State Unified Court System (UCS) is to deliver equal justice under the law and to achieve the just, fair and timely resolution of all matters that come before our courts. In the service of our mission, the UCS is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, and to ensuring that all who enter or serve in our courts are treated with respect, dignity, and professionalism. We affirm our responsibility to promote a court system free from any and all forms of bias and discrimination and to promote a judiciary and workforce that reflect the rich diversity of New York State. More information about the UCS is available at https://www.nycourts.gov .

The UCS Office of Court Administration’s (OCA) Division of Professional and Court Services (DPCS) is soliciting proposals via this RFP for the purpose of providing enhanced parenting time services to the Saratoga County Family Treatment Court.

UCS operates adult drug treatment courts throughout the state. Family drug treatment courts identify parents who have a dependency petition filed against them in which alcohol and/or substance use contributed to the neglect of their children. A drug court involves an intervention by the court in cooperation with a team of specialists in social services, treatment, and child welfare professionals in the local community. In return for enhanced services and support for family re-unification, respondents are given the option of entering voluntarily into court-supervised treatment.

Coordination of court, treatment and social services to participants requires a specialized combination of expertise with the justice, substance use, mental health, and social services communities.

II. PROJECT INFORMATION

UCS is the recipient of an award (the “Grant Award”) by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) (the “Grantor”) to implement a Family Treatment Court in Saratoga, New York (the “Project”). Pursuant to the terms of the Grant Award, $215,640 is the maximum available funding for Project Services (as set forth in Article V below) performed during April 15, 2024 – September 30, 2026, provided, however, that such period may be extended upon mutual agreement of Grantor and UCS (the “Project Term”). UCS reserves the right to request a no-cost extension of the Project Term from the Grantor.

UCS anticipates that the selected applicant will be designated a “subrecipient” rather than a “contractor” for purposes of federal requirements of the Grant Award.

PROJECT SERVICES

UCS seeks proposals describing how the applicant will provide the services listed below (“Project Services”). The selected applicant shall be required to:

1. Deliver enhanced parenting time services to parents by communicating with the Saratoga County Department of Social Services (DSS), the agency that coordinates the parenting time, to learn and understand what each parent is working to achieve and support these objectives during parenting times.

2. Promote early engagement with parents who enter the FTC to facilitate parenting sessions.

3. Discuss with each parent their individual priorities, observe their strengths and weaknesses, and discuss with them strategies for improving parent-child interactions, always working consistently with the plan developed by the Saratoga County DSS.

4. Facilitate parent attendance at parenting sessions, including providing transportation assistance.

5. Provide parenting time sessions at least two (2) times per week, if not more, for two (2) hours at a time, depending on the needs of the family, with a designated plan as to where the parenting time sessions will occur.

6. Supervise parenting time between parents and their children who are named in an article 10 Petition and said parenting time to occur at a designated location/venue.

7. Provide parenting time after normal business hours, as needed at a location/venue that would be available to FTC participants.

8. Provide the location/venue in Saratoga County wherein the parenting time will occur, if said location/venue is not operated by the applicant.

9. Provide parenting time in a location that offers a setting that is home-like and preferably includes access to features, such as a working kitchen, so that mealtime can be incorporated into parenting time sessions, as well as other child-centered activities.

10. Provide age-appropriate skills, strategies, and education with a focus on substance abuse and how this affects the family.

11. Work with parents before and after each parenting time session to review the session and prepare for upcoming sessions.

12. Work with families to identify available resources in their lives that can assist with parenting time and transportation.

13. Prepare for and attend weekly pre-court FTC meeting as requested by the FTC team.

14. Write progress notes and provide feedback about the parenting time session.

15. Work with families and prepare them for the children returning to the home.

16. Work with families, including the children, during the transition home.

17. Work with the families, including the children, after the transition home for at least three (3) months to make sure the family has the support they need to ensure stability and continued long-term reunification.

18. Provide recovery education to FTC parents for every phase of recovery from pre-recovery engagement through recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery.

19. Assist FTC parents in developing a recovery plan to identify their personal interests, goals, strengths, and weaknesses regarding recovery.

20. Promote self-advocacy by assisting FTC parents to have their voices fully heard by the FTC team.

21. Support connections to community-based supports and mutual self-help groups. Link individuals to appropriate professional resources. Attend court and other system meetings for support.

22. Attend court, staffing, and permanency planning meeting/hearings. Provide the families with support, information, and assistance solving problems.

23. Conduct evaluations of the families, including the parents, identify needs and strengths, and make appropriate recommendations and referrals, always working consistently with the plan developed by the Saratoga County DSS.

24. Attend trainings offered by Family Court.

25. Maintain project logs, reports and records in appropriate files and database(s).

Required Staffing:

1. Parenting Time Family Case Manager (full-time) with previous experience working with substance use disorder treatment systems, support services, and Family Court is preferred. The person will work closely with the designated FTC Coordinator to provide support, foster communication, and coordinate services and activities with FTC parents, their families, and the community to foster strength, healthy living, and overall well-being. Must be available by cell phone, have flexible hours, and be able to escort FTC parents and family members to off-site referrals, community services and events, and sober support meetings.
2. Required qualifications:

Master’s Degree in counseling or social work OR Bachelor’s Degree in counseling or social work OR Associate Degree in counseling or social work along with demonstrated “lived experience” as an individual involved with the child welfare system and/or the substance use disorder treatment system.

Minimum of three (3) years’ experience working in the field.

Preferred qualification:

Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with treatment and criminal justice systems.