• Youth may be assigned to both a Probation officer and a Family Services caseworker in the following situations:
• The youth is sentenced to Probation for six (6) months or less.
• The Court orders that a youth receive dual supervision even though his or her sentence is longer than six (6) months.  Under no circumstances will a Probation officer or a FSU caseworker request directly or indirectly that a youth be Court ordered to have dual supervision.
• Either the Probation officer or the FSU caseworker in consultation with his/her immediate supervisor requests dual supervision.

• The decision to utilize dual supervision for a youth is based upon the needs of the child and family.  Once a determination is made that a youth will require dual supervision, the Probation officer and FSU worker or the respective supervisors discuss and mutually decide upon primary and secondary assignments in RICHIST as well as mutual responsibilities for other issues, such as case planning.  In some cases, the division with primary responsibility will be clearly identified.  The other division will provide backup assistance as needed.  In most instances, both divisions will have mutual roles to play in servicing the family.  This will require a conscious effort and ongoing communication from both divisions to work as a team in order to maximize the benefits of dual supervision to the youth and family as well as to the respective staff members.
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• Reasons for requesting dual supervision
• Youth is the subject of a non-adjudicated abuse/neglect/dependency petition.
• Other factors that could be considered include:
• Youth is under the age of fourteen (14).
• Committed youth has been charged only with status offense(s).
• Extenuating circumstances relating to the offense.
• Need for extensive family reunification casework services.
• Youth is part of an active sibling group.
• Youth is sent home pending a placement.
• Youth is under the legal guardianship of the Department.

• Responsibilities of the Probation officer in dual supervision cases include, but are not limited to:
• Probation case management activities
• Completion of Probation risk/needs assessment and reassessment
• Determination of the level of supervision
• Coordination with FSU to complete comprehensive family assessment and service planning activities, in particular, the inclusion of the conditions of Probation into the active service plan in RICHIST
• Other relevant case recording
• Probation services:
• Supervision of the youth through office visits and home and community contacts
• Contact with schools, police, and other agencies
• Monitoring compliance with COP including any special conditions, such as counseling, treatment, restitution and cooperating with placement.
• Appearing in Family Court for hearings relevant to criminal petitions and providing written reports to the Court as required with copies to the FSU caseworker
• Providing information to the FSU caseworker that is relevant to other Family Court petitions
• Filing of Violation of Probation (VOP) when the youth is not in compliance with his/her Conditions of Probation
• The FSU caseworker can request that a VOP be filed.  The Probation officer will discuss the request with his/her supervisor.
• If there is disagreement about the request, the respective supervisors will discuss the issue and attempt to resolve it.
• If they are unsuccessful, the matter will be referred to the Probation Administrator and the Regional Director for review and final decision.
• Participating in case planning activities with the FSU caseworker for all youth in placement to ensure Probation issues and alternatives to criminal or risky behavior are included.
• Participating in Administrative Reviews when needed for youth in placement.

• Family Services case management activities:
• Coordination with Probation to complete comprehensive family assessment and service planning process with input from Probation.
• Other relevant case recording
• Home, office and collateral contacts as needed
• Attending Family Court hearings relevant to abuse/neglect/dependency petitions as well as other non-criminal petitions (e.g., miscellaneous petitions and status offenses) and providing written reports to the Court as required with copies to the Probation officer.
• Providing information to the Probation officer that is relevant to criminal petitions before the Family Court.

• Team Responsibilities - Each division will support the other in the areas of responsibility identified above.  In addition, following are examples of the two divisions sharing responsibility and functions concerning the youth.
• Either staff person can make referrals for placement.
• The staff person first aware of the need for shelter placement is the one to make the referral to the placement unit.
• This person will in turn notify the other member of the dual supervision team that the referral has been made.
• The dual supervision team members mutually decide who will transport the youth to the placement.
• The staff person who completes the placement will document it in RICHIST.
• The dual supervision team members will:
• Keep each other aware of developments in the youth’s situation by promptly sharing information.
• Be available to provide requested assistance.
• Take responsibility in the absence of the other team member and supervisor.
• Maintain a minimum of twice monthly contacts to exchange information and coordinate efforts and have face-to-face meetings as necessary.
• Compliance with any orders issued by the Court that do not clearly identify either the FSU caseworker or the Probation officer as responsible for implementation will be carried out by mutual agreement between the involved staff.  If the FSU caseworker and Probation officer are unable to resolve an issue, it will be referred to the next level in the chain of command.

• Case Closure