ERNs must:

1. Determine whether the family or young person requires ongoing Economic Security support beyond case closure.

This determination should happen by 4-6 weeks before the end of the ACS case, to have enough time to find a new ERN and to conduct a warm handoff of the family or young person to them.

2. Identify suitable external Economic Security providers if external referral is needed.

Consider language and program needs. Families or young people might also prefer to speak with a provider that has no connection to ACS. Consult the Economic Security Referral Directory).

3. Reach out to possible appropriate ERN matches to confirm capacity and fit of the referral.

The Economic Security Referral Directory offers email contact for the ERN Dispatcher at each organization accepting external referrals. Reach out with the subject line ‘Economic Security Referral.’ Send a short summary of the family or young person’s needs and ask if the provider has capacity and willingness to take on the referral. If they don’t, move on to the next Navigation provider.

4. ERN Dispatcher confirms that they have capacity and willingness to accept the referral.

5. Send the referral, sharing needs and priorities identified previously. 

6. ERN Dispatcher confirms receipt of referral, follows up with questions, and offers contact information for the ERN.

7. ERN Dispatcher shares the referral with the ERN and shares their contact information with the Child Welfare Worker.

8. Prepare the family or young person for the hand-off.

Set expectations and clarify roles. 

9. Determine the warm handoff method likeliest to work for the family or young person.

Consider a three-way phone call or in-person meeting. A three-way email is the least ideal but still better than no warm handoff.

10. Schedule and conduct a three-way warm handoff conversation with ERN and the family or young person. 

11. Update the referring Child Welfare Worker about final Economic Security outcomes and referrals.