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Chapter 39.4085, F.S. states the design and delivery of child welfare services should be directed by the principle that the health and safety of children should be of paramount concern. Communication and planning between the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and Department of Children and Families (DCF)/Safe Children Coalition (SCC) are essential to ensure successful intervention when a youth is under the jurisdiction of both departments.

As best practice, the Case Manager has additional responsibilities when a child in care is served by DJJ. The Case Manager MUST:

  • Maintain at least monthly contact with the DJJ facility contact and/or Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO) to obtain status, service, and sanction information.
  • Communicate with the parents and ensure they are involved in the planning process and kept informed of the child’s status, if the parent’s rights have not been terminated.
  • Attend and participate in all case staffings, commitment staffings, release staffings, transition planning, or court hearings for the child.
  • Collaborate with DJJ/JPO, parents/caregivers, Guardian ad Litem (GAL) and the child to develop a plan that will ensure the child’s needs are met.
  • Provide the name, address, and phone number of the child’s caregivers and any other needed information to DJJ/JPO.
  • Obtain copies of all case planning, pre-disposition reports, assessments, and other documents from DJJ/JPO for filing with dependency court and placement in the case file.
  • Ensure the child is receiving Independent Living Skills (IL) training and services while involved with the DJJ/JPO, provided by either DJJ or SCC.
  • Coordinate with DJJ/JPO to schedule the child for the DJJ Comprehensive Behavioral Health Assessment (CBHA), arrange transportation to the assessment and obtain copies of the CBHA once it is completed.
  • Coordinate mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and services not provided by DJJ/JPO. Ensure the child receives the needed services and they are incorporated into the child’s case plan.
  • Create visitation plans with the child, parents (if applicable) and DJJ/JPO that state who is allowed to visit with the child and who the child is allowed to speak with by telephone when the child is in detention or a commitment program.
  • Participate in transition planning with the DJJ/JPO to ensure the child has a place to go when released from a DJJ program or detention.
  • Document all contacts made with the DJJ/JPO or other providers in FSFN within 48 hours of the contact.

If efforts to communicate between SCC and DJJ/JPO are not responded to timely or if a dispute develops between agencies, the next level of supervisor will be notified or if it remains unresolved then if should be referred to the next level of supervision up the chain of command until resolved. If a resolution cannot be reached, it will be referred to the DCF for review and resolution.