Florida Guardian ad Litem Academy

Presenters: Kimberly Lauterbach, Case Management Implementation Lead - Florida Department of Children and Families

Course Description: 

The Family Functioning Assessment (FFA) training outlines a structured approach for evaluating child safety, caregiver protective capacities, and family functioning within both investigation and ongoing casework contexts. It introduces the purpose of the FFA, emphasizing its role in identifying danger threats, assessing child vulnerabilities, and determining whether caregivers possess the behavioral, cognitive, and emotional capacities needed to keep children safe. The presentation also breaks down the six core information domains—ranging from maltreatment and surrounding circumstances to child functioning, adult functioning, parenting, and discipline practices—forming the foundation for consistent and comprehensive assessment.

The training further distinguishes between the Family Functioning Assessment-Investigations (FFA-I) and Family Functioning Assessment-Ongoing (FFA-O). FFA-I focuses on determining immediate child safety, identifying present or impending danger, and establishing whether an in‑home safety plan is feasible. FFA-O, on the other hand, supports ongoing evaluation, scaling of caregiver capacities and child needs, and development of a family’s change strategy. Both assessments incorporate risk tools to evaluate the likelihood of future maltreatment and guide decisions about supports, services, and intervention intensity.

A key highlight of the training is the development and use of Conditions for Return for children placed out of the home. These conditions must be specific, applicable, and measurable, aligning directly with unmet safety analysis criteria. The training underscores that Conditions for Return are behavior‑focused, not compliance‑based, and must clearly describe what must change to allow a child to safely return home under an in‑home safety plan. Through examples and practice scenarios, the training reinforces how clear articulation of danger, family needs, and safety planning supports reunification efforts that are least restrictive, trauma‑informed, and centered on measurable progress.

Original Webinar Date: September 1st, 2026

This course has been approved for 2.5 General Continuing Legal Education credits and 2.5 Juvenile Law credits through March 31, 2028.