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Independent Third Party Review

The Independent Third Party Review Program, previously a program of the Westchester County Department of Social Services (DSS), is a program of the Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA). MHA is contracted by DSS to provide case record reviews and facilitate Service Plan Reviews (SPRs) for children in foster care. The Service Plan Review Conference monitors compliance with Court Ordered services in support of permanency planning goals for children and families. MHA has assumed responsibility for scheduling the conferences, inviting all participants, and monitoring the conference as a neutral third party.

MHA is also monitoring Westchester’s compliance with local, state and federal child welfare guidelines. Presently, MHA is conducting the Service Plan Reviews on children in foster care, therapeutic foster care, Group Homes, Residential Treatment Centers (within and outside of New York State), and Residential Treatment Facilities including the Juvenile Delinquent population and the PINS (Persons in Need of Supervision) populations.

Is It For Me?

Yes! If you are a parent, foster parent, relative, child, service provider or, interested party, you are entitled to attend a Service Plan Review conference. If your child has been placed into foster care by the Westchester County Department of Social Services, a Service Plan Review should be scheduled at least every six months. These conferences provide an opportunity to discuss the child’s adjustment in foster care, services provided to the family and progress towards permanency. The Service Plan Review is the perfect opportunity for everyone involved in the child’s life to discuss the steps that need to be taken to achieve permanency for the child and to address any unmet service needs.

For more information, please contact Jackie Boissonnault, Director of Children's Advocacy Services, at 914-345-3993, extension 208 or Keren Owings, Program Coordinator, at 914-345-3993, extension 201 or contact our Information and Referral Service at 914-345- 5900, extension 240 or e-mail us at help@mhawestchester.org.

What We Deliver

Case record reviews
Computerization of the review process
Expanded timeframes for Service Plan Reviews (SPRs) to 1 ½ hours
If necessary, expanded hours for SPRs to accommodate evening schedules
Increased participation of interested parties through telephone contacts
Increased participation of children over the age of 10

Case record review to include:

Progress toward client goals and objectives
Current risk to child
Visitation plan for both parents and siblings
Significant events during placement
Child’s health care including medical, dental, vision, hearing, developmental and mental health
ASFA (Adoption and Safe Families Act) timeframes and concurrent planning

Service Plan Review should include:

Discussion of changes or modifications in the Family Assessment Service Plan (FASP), formerly known as the Uniform Case Record (UCR)
Assessment of the appropriateness of permanency planning
Assessment of the appropriateness of placement, including type of placement and whether or not siblings are maintained together
Establishment of new or revision of goals, objectives, tasks and visitation plan as needed

Where

Service Plan Review conferences are held at the following DSS offices: Yonkers, Mount Vernon, White Plains, Peekskill and the Residential Units. In addition, reviews are held at group homes, therapeutic foster boarding homes and agencies, and the Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) within Westchester County.

When

Service Plan Reviews are typically scheduled Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

Languages Spoken

Services are available in English and Spanish.

Cost

There is no charge for these services.

Staff/ Service Providers

The program is staffed by a full time Program Assistant, five full time Reviewers, a full time Coordinator and a part time Director.

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