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  2. County Services
  3. Social Services
  4. Family & Children Services
  5. Family In-Home Services

Contact Information

  • Karen Harrington, Director
  • (828) 695-5600
  • Main Location:3030 11th Ave Dr SE Hickory, NC 28602

Family In-Home Services

CPS Family In-Home Services

The CPS Family In-Home Services unit believes that children should remain with their families whenever it is possible and safe. Families are only referred to CPS Family In-Home Services when there is sufficient information and facts to support that children are at risk for entering foster care if effective services are not provided because CPS Family In-Home is a mandated service.

CPS Family In-Home teams with the family and their supports to participate in identifying problems and creating a plan with specific activities to correct the problems; this is called a Family Services Agreement. The goals of these services are to maintain the safety of children; to strengthen the family's capacity to protect and nurture its children; and to maintain children in their own families. The majority of children who come to the attention of child welfare agencies because of possible abuse or neglect are not removed from their families but, instead, receive services in their homes and communities.

When CPS Family In-Home Services gets involved with families:

  • The social worker will have direct contact with all family members regularly. The frequency may vary depending on the family’s needs and the level of risk to the child.
  • The social worker will work with the family to identify their strengths and needs and assist the family in accessing services. This involves referring children and families to a variety of resources. The social worker will also make sure the family can access services and will monitor the effectiveness of these services.
  • To help partner with parents and their supports, the social worker will offer a Child and Family Team (CFT) meeting. At the CFT meeting, participants work together to develop a service plan that:
    • builds on the strengths of the family,
    • addresses the needs of the children, and
    • focuses on safety and wellbeing of the children in the family.
  • Length of service depends on how quickly the problem leading to the mistreatment of the child can be corrected and the risk to the child reduced.
  • If a family is unable to correct the problem that led to the mistreatment and the child remains at risk, or Social Services is unable to ensure the safety of the child in the home, the agency will file a petition with the court.
  • When a petition is filed, the agency must show the court that reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the child’s safety at home.
  • The court may decide to place the child in Social Services custody and in foster care or may decide to leave the child at home and order the parents to follow the Family Services Case Plan.