Post on 31-Jul-2020
LA CROSSE AREA FAMILY COLLABORATIVE
Presentation for Wisconsin Legislative Children’s Caucus
March 10th, 2017
A.Why Our Community Created LAFC
THE URGENCY TO ACT:
A rise in child safety issues
1,000
1,100
1,200
1,300
1,400
1,500
1,600
1,700
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Number of CPS Referrals: 2010-2015
FAMILY STABILITY
1,000
1,100
1,200
1,300
1,400
1,500
1,600
1,700
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Number of CPS Referrals: 2010-2015
Overall, 35% increase in referrals
since 2010
45% Increase in Out of Placements 2009 - 2015
A rise in child safety issues
FAMILY STABILITY THE URGENCY TO ACT:
0
10
20
30
40
50
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
“Caretaker Drug Abuse” as Removal Reason
THE URGENCY TO ACT:
A rise in child safety issues
FAMILY STABILITY
“Hot Spots”
Juvenile Justice & Child Protective Services
Placement Cases
City of La Crosse
System at a Crossroads
B. What is LAFC?
County Human Services
Schools
City Planning &
Law Enforcement
Agencies & Neighborhood
Supports
The LAFC Model
Neighborhood Social Worker
• Embedded in neighborhoods & schools of focus • Focused on building trust & relationships • Working in a way that’s flexible and unencumbered by bureaucracy • Highly integrated with agencies and grassroots partners
GOAL: STABILIZE FAMILIES
Our Neighborhood Offices
Washburn Corner
Trinity Lutheran Church
Northside Elementary Hamilton Elementary A. Schools where Neighborhood Social Workers are “Embedded”
Our Schools of Focus
B. Other Schools that may Refer Families of Concern to LAFC Emerson Elementary North Woods Elementary
Office Space:
- Mayo Clinic Health System - Trinity Lutheran Church - School District of La Crosse
Resource Pool for LAFC Clients:
Direct Service Donations:
- La Crosse County - Gundersen Health System - First Presbyterian Church - Health Science Consortium
Community Building:
- La Crosse Community Foundation, June Kjome Justice & Peace Fund
Neighborhood Social Workers & Administration:
- La Crosse County - City of La Crosse - School District of La Crosse
Partners Providing Funding & In-Kind Support
- La Crosse Community Foundation - Great Rivers United Way - Neighborhood City Church - Trinity Lutheran Church - African American Mutual Assistance Network - CouleeCap - Many Others…
- Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration - Landlords - Churches
Assistance with Planning:
C. Early Experience
Common Issues Addressed
179 Families Served in Year One (2016) Referral Sources
Schools (36%)
Self (34%)
Other Agencies (30%)
• Behavioral Health • Housing
• Transportation
• Employment
• Domestic Violence
CPS Referrals: 2010-2015
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Changes in CPS Referrals
Changes in CPS Referrals
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
CPS Referrals: 2010-2015
D. What Explains LAFC’s Early Success?
• Taking time to build trust & relationships
Current Barriers within Wisconsin’s Child Welfare System
Achieving Success with Families
Vs.
LAFC’s Approach to Family Intervention
• One on one help in addressing basic needs
• Timely & flexible approach
Ability to holistically Leverage Social Work Skills
• High caseloads • Burdensome paperwork demands • Less time to address basic needs Often only time to focus on control of safety factors
See TED Talks: Hilary Cottam, “Social services are broken. How we can fix them.” https://www.ted.com/talks/hilary_cottam_social_services_are_broken_how_we_can_fix_them
E. Partner Testimonials
• Schools • Law Enforcement
“At the [neighborhood] level, we can better define and solve our problems. String together enough neighborhoods and you move a county”
- “A Declaration of Hope” Casey Family Programs
Familes Served:
La Crosse Area Family Collaborative Empowered Families. Thriving Neighborhoods.
THANK FOR YOUR INTEREST! ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LAFC, INCLUDING LINKS TO MEDIA COVERAGE & HOW TO DONATE, CAN BE FOUND AT THE
LA CROSSE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WEBSITE
HTTP://WWW.CO.LA-CROSSE.WI.US/HUMANSERVICES/