DCS and Home-Based Services

What a DCS Referral Can Mean

In general terms, a referral means DCS has connected a family with a provider for services. Receiving one can stir up worry, frustration, relief or a mix of all three. It is reasonable to want a clear picture of what the referral involves before services begin.

The details of a referral, including what was requested and why, are questions for your family case manager. If anything about the referral is unclear, it is fine to say so and ask for an explanation in plain language.

What Home-Based Means

As the name suggests, home-based services are delivered in the family’s home rather than in an office. For some families, meeting at home can make support feel more connected to the routines, relationships and responsibilities of everyday life.

Having a provider in your home can also feel unfamiliar at first. Asking questions is not a sign of resistance; it helps everyone involved understand the plan and how to work together. Questions you might ask before and during services include:

• 01Who you will be working with
• 02How visits are scheduled and what to do if one needs to change
• 03What to expect during the first visit
• 04Who in the household is expected to take part
• 05How to reach the right person when a question comes up

Staying in Touch With Your Family Case Manager

Families involved with DCS keep working with their DCS family case manager on questions about their case. If something about your situation changes, or you are unsure what is expected of you, your family case manager is generally the person to ask.

Keeping both your family case manager and Infinity informed about practical matters, such as a new phone number or a conflict with a scheduled time, can reduce confusion. If you are not sure who to ask, it is fine to start with either one and ask to be pointed in the right direction.

The People Supporting Infinity’s DCS Programs

Charita J. Johnson serves as Program Supervisor for the DCS Department and Everything Home Based. She helps assign and coordinate DCS referrals and offers support across the Home Based staff. Clinneka R. Cobb, the DCS Administrative Assistant, is a native of Northwest Indiana whose professional background includes the Indiana Department of Child Services. Her role is to support the administrative side of Infinity’s DCS programs.

Shanise Kemp, MSW, Infinity’s Regional Director, brings more than 17 years of leadership experience with Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA). Her role includes supporting program operations, compliance and community partnerships across the region. You can read more about each of them on the Our Team page.

A Family-Focused Organization

Compassionate care, clinical quality, community impact and family stability sit at the center of Infinity’s work. Alongside its DCS programs, Infinity offers family counseling, child and adolescent counseling, individual counseling and couples counseling.

Parents and caregivers looking for support of their own can learn more on the Support for Parents and Caregivers page. To ask about any of Infinity’s counseling services, call (219) 472-8277 or send an appointment request through the Contact page.