Social Work - Professional TerminologyNASW-National Organization of Social Workers
DHS- The Iowa Department of Human Services, 1200 University, often referred to as Cityview.
DHS Worker-Social worker employed by the state who manages the case. 4 Units:
-CPT: Child Protective Treatment Unit
-Foster Care Unit
-MR/DD: Deals with Mentally Retarded/Disabled adults and children
-CPA: Child Protective Assessment
CPS-Child Protective Services/ CPA-Child Protective Assessment assesses allegations of abuse or neglect
(Just a note, this used to be called CPI (Child Abuse Investigation) so you may hear people refer to the CPI worker and CPI report)
CASA-Court Appointed Special Advocate
JCO-Juvenile Court Officer
CINA-Child in Need of Assistance
FINA-Family in Need of Assistance
DCAT-Decatagorization Team, special funding source within DHS to assist children.
Service ProvidersOP-Orchard Place
CFI-Children and Families of Iowa
LSS-Lutheran Social Services
YHMA-Youth Homes of Mid-America
YESS-Youth Emergency Services and Shelter~voluntary, parents may utilize without court.
PCYS-Polk County Youth Shelter~need a court order for placement.
Access Center-Lutheran Hospital's Adolescent Mental Health Unit
EFR-Employee and Family Resources
CGC-Counseling for Growth and Change
Mercy Franklin-Short term hospitalization, day treatment, in home services, Child and Adolescent Guidance Center-Counseling services, Sexual Abuse treatment
Types of ServicesTherapy Services: Individual therapy often done by a LISW (Licensed Social Worker) Psychologist or Psychiatrist. Done in a professional office setting.
Psychosocial evaluation: Professional testing and evaluation done by a LISW or Psychologist in order to make recommendations to the court about parenting ability and mental health status.
In-home Counseling: Counseling in the family's home, service is child focused.
Family Preservation Services: Short, intense services, usually last 30-45 days.
Independent Living: Apartment based living for children who are at least 16 ½ years of age.
Day Treatment: For the child who remains in the home but needs structure after school.
Tracking and Monitoring: Most often delinquent child has to report to an adult as ordered by the court.
Residential Treatment: Long term (3-9 months) treatment where the child lives at the facility.
PMIC: Second highest level of treatment.
Hospitalization: Highest level of treatment. Often long term and referred to as an MHI. Centers located in Cherokee and Independence.
FYIA LISW is a social worker licensed by the state who has their masters and 2 years of experience.
A child psychologist can do therapy and testing.
A child psychiatrist is most often used for medication and consultation in a residential and hospital setting.
Within the system there are many types of social workers. For example, school social workers, agency social workers, DHS social workers. Often times there are a few on each case.
