Frustrated Parents: Here's Help

A guide of options for parents whose children runaway, often skip school, sneak out, & continually disobey rules at home.

ALL FAMILIES AND CHILDREN EXPERIENCE CRISIS
Sometimes one or more crises may be going on at the same time within families. Families may be able to handle and resolve most of these problems quickly. However, sometimes families have problems that push them to the limit. These problems might include a child who: often skips or misses school, runs away from home or threatens to, and/or, will not follow any directions and is beyond parental control.

THERE IS HELP FOR YOUR FAMILY
Twenty-five years ago the Florida legislature passed a law (now Chapter 984, F.S.) that provides help to families and children who need services to improve the behaviors on the part of the child, help the the family to move beyond the crisis and to prevent further problems. The Department of Juvenile Justice funds and supports these programs to keep kids out of trouble.

CINS/FINS
The services Under the law are called A Child In Need of Services (CINS). CINS is a child who has been found by the court to be runaway, habitually (often) truant, or ungovernable (does not obey you). A Family In Need of Services (FINS) is the term used for a family that has a child who is displaying any of the problem behaviors listed above as outlined in the law.

LOCAL PROGRAMS CAN PROVIDE SOLUTIONS
There are local programs that can help you find ways to reduce or stop these kinds of behaviors. Most of the time families can get services in their homes or at a local program. Some solutions require families to go to court, but only as a last resort. In Florida, as a parent, you are responsible for your children and cannot deny them food, clothing, medical care or shelter. If your child often skips school (truant), you must first work with his/her school and use all school resources available through your local CINS program.

Steps to get the help you need

CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800- RUNAWAY. A trained and experienced counselor can answer your questions and direct you and your child to the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services, Inc. program nearest to you.

ANSWER the counselor's questions so that it can be determined if your child can get the services offered through this law. Your child cannot have an open delinquency case with the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and cannot be under the supervision of Department of Children and Families (DCF).

TELL your story so that the counselor can understand the situation. This will help the counselor see that you get the right kind of help at the right place.

LISTEN to the suggestions and directions for getting help

ASK questions if you do not understand

FOLLOW-UP by going to the CINS/FINS program in your area and by making the appointments or phone calls suggested to you.

Continue to work with your local CINS/FINS program and school to improve the situation.

SERVICES OFFERED BY LOCAL PROGRAMS

Screening and Assessment
Screening is the beginning of gathering of information about you and your child that helps decide if you are eligible to receive CINS/FINS services. You will be asked questions. You are not eligible for/can not get services if your child is currently under supervision for delinquency (DJJ) or dependency (DCF). Assessment is the further review and evaluation of the information you give to help you and your child to get the right services.

Planning for Improvement/Service Plan
Your counselor will work with you, your child and others to write a plan that fits your and your child's needs and goals, the things that will need to be done and the time it will take to finish them.

Counseling
You and your child may be offered group, family and individual counseling.

Residential Shelter
If you and your child need a break from each other, your CINS/FINS counselor may suggest your child go to the local shelter for "time-out." They will provide safe shelter, food, clothing, and counseling (if necessary), to your child. This short time-out will give you and your child a chance to "cool off" so that work can begin on family issues. The shelter may offer other services that will be explained to you and your child during the intake phase.

Case Management
Case management is the coordinating and monitoring of services provided to you and your child.

Referral Service
Your local CINS/FINS programs can refer you to other agencies in your community that may be able to help you and your child.

Case Staffing Committee
A Case Staffing Committee is made up of people from the CINS/FINS program, schools, and other social service agencies and you. The committee may include a representative from the State Attorney"s office or the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) attorney. The purpose of this "staffing" is to review your child"s case and the first service plan developed by you, your child and the CINS/FINS program. If too little or no progress has been made, the plan can be changed. The Case Staffing Committee will meet with you and your child to review the case if:

You, the parent(s), may ask the local program to hold a case staffing. Your request must be in writing. Please talk to your CINS/FINS counselor before you ask for a case staffing to be scheduled.If you ask for a case staffing in writing, it must be scheduled within 7 days after the program receives your written request. This 7- day period does not include holidays or weekends.

Options with the Juvenile Court

CINS Petition: A CINS Petition is a written request to the court to find that your child is a CINS (child-in-need-of-services). A CINS petition is usually filed if the child refuses services or continues to exhibit problem behaviors.

The Case Staffing Committee could recommend that a CINS petition be filed in court. Sometimes going to court may be the best way to deal with your problems. Going to court is the last resort. The local DJJ attorney will file a CINS petition, if recommended by the Case Staffing Committee. Either at the case staffing or within 7 days of the case staffing, the Case Staffing Committee will send you another plan. This plan will state if filing of a petition to the court is going to happen or not going to happen. If you, as a parent do not participate, do not allow your child to participate, or you allow your child to ignore the services in this plan, you may be taken to court and a judge may:

You, as a parent or legal guardian, can also file a CINS petition with the court if:

If you wish to file your own petition, the law requires that you let the local DJJ attorney know in writing of your wish to file a petition.

In your CINS petition, you must show that you have participated in and tried all the types of help that have been offered and that none of them helped you and your child with your problems.

If a judge decides that your child is a CINS, the court will have oversight of your child and your family. The judge may: