Family Maintenance (FM) provides time-limited supportive and protective services to families in crisis, designed to prevent or remedy abuse or neglect. This allows Social Workers to work with the family while keeping the child in the home. Services can include counseling, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence intervention, victim services, and parenting education. Family Maintenance can be court ordered or a voluntary agreement between the family and the Department that address specific behavioral issues and achieve family stabilization related goals. 
 
If the family’s conditions do not improve or worsen and the child’s safety and well-being is at risk, the Social Services Department may petition the Juvenile Court to place the child/youth in out-of-home care.