Engaging Families in Case Planning: Guidelines & examples from the field
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Transcript of Engaging Families in Case Planning: Guidelines & examples from the field
Engaging Families in Case Engaging Families in Case Planning: Guidelines & Planning: Guidelines & examples from the fieldexamples from the field
Linkages Fall ConveningSeptember 16, 2009
Danielle McClain-Parks & Jean Texera, San Bernardino County
Bergen Filgas & Jennifer Valencia, Stanislaus CountyLeslie Ann Hay, CFPIC Project Associate
Learning objectivesLearning objectivesConsider how collaboration enhances
family engagement.Learn a variety of methods being
used by Linkages counties to involve families in case planning.
Observe specific techniques (video) for actively engaging families in their futures.
See examples of case plan documentation & other tools to preserve authentic family voice & choice.
Family Engagement Family Engagement GuidelinesGuidelinesLinkages was identified as a model
initiative for Family Engagement in the California Program Improvement Plan (PIP).
A Linkages/Family Engagement workgroup was formed:o Debbie Benevente, Tulareo Meherat Selassie, Santa Clarao Janice Rector, Mercedo Michael Reiser, Fresno o Cheryl Barrett, Parent Partner, Contra Costao Danna Fabella, CFPICo Leslie Ann Hay, Hay Consulting
Family Engagement Family Engagement GuidelinesGuidelinesWorkgroup’s objective—To create broad,
accessible Linkages/FE Guidelines useful for:◦ CalWORKs and Child Welfare Services settings◦ Counties already implementing Linkages and
counties who will in the futureGuidelines organized around 6 domains:
◦ Foundational Guidelines◦ Identifying Mutual Clients◦ Assessment◦ Coordinated Case Planning◦ Support and Monitoring◦ Transition and After Care
Family Engagement Family Engagement GuidelinesGuidelinesGuidelines enhanced with “examples
from the field” to illustrate how key principles are being put into practice.
Panelists will elaborate on more practices that reflect specific guidelines.
Last 15 min reserved for Q & A period.
Let’s start with some themes from the Guidelines…
Key themes from FE Key themes from FE GuidelinesGuidelinesIntegrative power of collaboration: economic
self-sufficiency helps reduce maltreatment risk; more stability at home improves likelihood of work participation.
Recognize and meet basic needs of families first (think Maslow’s hierarchy of needs).
Focus on client skills and potential more than insights/judgments.
Streamline conflicting expectations to improve family’s achievement of case plan goals.
Maximize coordinated time & attention spent with family by Linkages team to promote success.
Engaging families in your Engaging families in your locationlocation
What challenges do you face in
engaging families?
Child Welfare
CalWORKs
Examples from the field: what Examples from the field: what do the FE Guidelines look like in do the FE Guidelines look like in action?action?A philosophy to work for and with families,
rather than responding when families failParent partners: meeting someone who’s
been through both programs promotes trust for new clients
Joint home visits and interactions increases family’s experience of broad support
Co-located staff maximizes family’s access to needed expertise in one place
Inviting fathers to the table…recognizing their role as earners and parents
How does Linkages help How does Linkages help engage families in case engage families in case planning?planning?Family-focus of Linkages supports meeting
parent’s needs to broaden traditional child-centered case planning process (WIIFM)
Active involvement in WtW implies commitment to a better future; team encourages parent to transfer this strength to build parenting capacity
Blending goals of self-sufficiency and family stability creates sense of hope for the future, rather than compliance only
Shared understanding of case information in advance helps define service responses better matched to actual needs
How does Linkages help How does Linkages help engage families in case engage families in case planning?planning?Increased ownership of plan by family
increases their accountability for results:◦Enlist natural supports of family to help
monitor & support parent’s follow-through on goals
◦Set up triggers for regular communication between caseworkers, parent partners & family as part of case plan expectations
◦Model consistent communication among team members
◦Share relevant aspects of follow-up & support to impacted team members
◦Recognize need for case plan adjustments along the way
San Bernardino County San Bernardino County Engaging families: from policy to Engaging families: from policy to practicepracticeRealized that how we worked together
would play out in how our families were treated (parallel process)
Faced the challenge of working across systems with differing objectives
Formed a strong collaborative teamRealized that we needed to simplify
the process as much as possible
VisionVision Children living in a safe environment with
families that are stable and self-sufficient
maps to …
1. Include the family in all matters pertaining to their future.
9. Explore family’s strengths, needs and goals in context of CalWORKs and child welfare.
3. Both service systems share a strength-based, family-centered approach to practice.
11. Help families prioritize child safety and economic self-sufficiency needs to focus service planning efforts.
16. Use the structure of CalWORKs to guide and direct family members toward more productive use of their time and talents.
17. Help the family to connect with a community network of services and support prior to ending system involvement.
18. Manage the possibility of one of the plans continuing for a time after the other has concluded.
Strengthen families by offering clients the services needed to enhance their quality of life.
Increase the client’s care for their children and transition to self-sufficiency.
Treat all families with respect and honesty while meeting their basic needs.
Provide competent, consistent and fair services while meeting program requirements and clients’ needs.
2. Value and reinforce a collaborative service philosophy.
4. Establish basic knowledge about the other program across caseworkers, supervisors and managers.
6. Collaborate w/ CalWORKs to inform safety planning meetings for mutual clients.
7. Coordinate child welfare plans and welfare-to-work plans to improve a family’s chance for success.
Mission
maps to …
Family Engagement Guidelines
Team approach for coordinated case management. Family-driven coordination of care with extensive family leadership. Simplified process of service delivery to reduce duplication of effort. Services meet individual needs of family. Build community capacity to serve families & emphasize prevention. Timely service in a respectful manner. Protect rights of families and honor client choices. Evaluate outcomes.
5. Determine whether family is involved in other program at time of intake.
8. Conduct ongoing screening for a family’s participation in or potential eligibility for CalWORKs thru their involvement with CWS.
10. Review CalWORKs status factors (sanctions, timed out, exempt) that may impact the parent’s ability to engage in service activities.
Guiding Principles
maps to …
FE Guidelines
Who will we serve?Who will we serve?Our legislation and research staff analyst
was able to identify mutual clients by cross referencing C-IV and CWS/CMS
Groups to serve◦ Original proposal (in order of priority)
CalWORKS Sanctioned Non-compliance Active participating (substance abuse or other
counseling activity) Active participating (work or work related)
◦ In practice, did not have enough families to need to prioritize
◦ In CW Family Maintenance (FR not an option at this point in our process)
OutcomesOutcomesSpecific outcome measures to address
safety, permanency and child well-being (examples)◦ Percentage of Linkages children with no
subsequent substantiated referral (safety)◦ Percentage of Linkages children with siblings
who remained home with all siblings during and after Linkages services (permanency and stability)
◦ Physical and mental health needs of children being met during Linkages (well-being)
◦ Wages before and after Linkages (parents have resources)
Getting started…Getting started…Pilot in San Bernardino’s Central Region –
May 2008Training done for both agencies (Guideline
4 – expand knowledge of other systems)FM families after reunification and any other
Court FMDifficult but not impossible Many families not interested at this point –
“done” with servicesFamily to Family has reduced numbers of
Court FM cases in our countyBy end of 2009, needed to expand to FR
Our team grows…expand to Our team grows…expand to FRFR
AB429 put in place & additional state level clarifications made in late 2008
Early in 2009 the upper management of all departments agreed and gave us the go ahead to start the planning process
At this point we added to our team: ◦Transitional Assistance foster care
eligibility worker, supervisor and manager
◦PDD TAD program specialist
The work continues…The work continues…ESP manager and Child Welfare manager
meet with immediate deputy managers Clarify need and approval for further
planningResearch done in other counties who have
AB429 cases by PDD program specialistsThree PS’s collaborated—one unified
handbook chapter ◦ Incorporated into all Handbooks – child welfare,
transitional assistance, foster care and employment services.
◦ All aspects of the pilot covered in one place
Putting AB429 into Putting AB429 into practicepracticeLinkages FR pilot implemented in August
2009Nearly a year and a half of persistent
planning and coordinationRoll out to other regions in 2010-2011Linkages tied to our Child Welfare System
Improvement Plan (Reunification in 12 months)
Parallel process in effect with FE Guidelines◦ fostered cooperation, collaboration and
engagement of all parties involved ◦ created a more robust plan for implementation with
everyone involvedRelatively easy to move into action, everyone
is communicating and accountable to each other
San Bernardino case San Bernardino case processprocessCases are referred through TDM
notifications, referral from ESS or SW, and identification through the mutual client list◦ Both office’s staff members received training in
the other program to help identify clients and educate about Linkages (Guideline 4)
◦ Linkages SW is notified of all TDM’s in the region and screens for Linkages eligibility prior to the TDM; Linkages SW participates in initial TDM if case is identified as eligible (Guidelines 1, 5, 10)
◦ Monthly report is provided that identifies mutual clients from both programs’ computer systems (Guidelines 4, 8)
Intake
San Bernardino case San Bernardino case processprocessOnce eligibility established, family
meets with assigned SW, Linkages SW, and Linkages ESS
Coordinated case plan meeting includes explanation of confidentiality, review of current CWS case plan and progress, current WTW status, and discussion of family’s next goals (Guidelines 10, 12, 15, 16)
Coordinated Case Planning
San Bernardino case San Bernardino case processprocessESS and Linkages SW meet weekly at
the CWS office for client meetings (Guidelines 2, 14)
ESS and Linkages SW also communicate regularly via telephone, email, etc. about case issues (Guideline 14)
Family meets with team quarterly or as needed if issues arise in the case (Guidelines 2, 14)
Coordinated Case Management
San Bernardino case San Bernardino case processprocessLinkages SW, assigned SW, and ESS
conduct a final coordinated team meeting prior to case closure (Guideline 11, 18)
Families are given an Exit Survey to provide feedback on their experience with Linkages (Guideline 1, 2)
This process provides a bridge from CWS services to ongoing CalWORKs services for families (Guideline 18)
Transition and After Care
Stanislaus County:Family Engagement Guidelines in Play
Our Vision is to end poverty and family violence in
Stanislaus County
Family EngagementGuideline #8
Conduct ongoing screening for family’s participation in or potential eligibility for CalWORKs throughout their involvement with Child Welfare Services
INTEGRATED SERVICES SCREENING TOOL CSA – Child and Family Services Use Only Fax completed form to: 558-2585 / Attention: X02 Date: Customer Name:
SSN: Date of Birth: Does the Customer receive SSI? Yes No Unknown Are the children living with the customer? Yes No Unknown Referred by: CWS Social Worker Name: District #: CalWORKs Case Name: Case #: CalWORKs Case Manager Name: District #:
Check applicable program: FIP FM Date of entry to the program: Partners: Comments:
CSA – StanWORKs Use Only Received by: Date: Eligible for Supportive Services? Yes No Eligible for Behavioral Health Services (BHS)? Yes No Case Assigned to: Specialized FSS III District #
Date Case Transfer Requested: Date Case Received: sert the screening tool
FE Guideline #8 in action
Screening tool
For all new voluntary cases
At the time of trial visit for Family Reunification
To identify linked customers
Family EngagementGuideline #9
Explore family’s strengths, needs and goals in context of CalWORKs and Child Welfare
Guideline #9 in action
Assessment of the families safety and self sufficiency needs
Identify roles and responsibilities
Plan what resources and services will be utilized
Family Engagement Guideline #10
Review CalWORKs status factors that may impact the parent’s ability to engage in service activities
FE Guideline #10 in action
Ongoing communication occurs in order to promote:
• Awareness of dual system resources
• Monitor change for both the system and the family
• Adjust the plan based on any change
Family EngagementGuideline #7
Adhere to standard confidentiality requirements
FE Guideline # 7 in actionBreaking down the barriers with
internal and external partners
Sharing of information to move a family forward
Keep process on track
Allows us to see the whole family
Case Staffing Referral Form
Case Manager: Date: 9/16/09 Second Parent: Case Name: Absent Parent (s): Payee: Children: Case Number: 01234567 SS#: WTW Worker/District #/Ext.: Funding Streams Social Worker/District #/Ext.:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Concerns: Parenting Support Domestic Violence Child Behavior Substance Abuse Welfare To Work Sanction Mental Health Disability Health Issues Opportunities:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Challenges to be met: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
To be completed during staffing Staffing Participants:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Recommendations: (Transportation and Child Care plans etc.) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
*Strongly recommend to invite families into Coordinated Case Planning.
Family EngagementGuideline #12
Coordinate child welfare case plans and welfare-to-work plans to improve family’s chances for success
FE Guideline # 12 in action
Family involvement to choice in the plan expresses needs
Listening to customer concerns
Receiving buy-in
VIDEO clip #2
Leaving with a completed planReduced duplication of services
Maximized funding streams
Holistic approach to family needs
Family is now engaged in their case plan for all programs
VIDEO
clip #3
Coordinated Case Planning: Strategy for Solutions and Goal Setting Family’s Concerns
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Agency’s Concerns Parenting Support Child Behavior
Substance Abuse WTW Sanction
Mental Health Disability
Domestic Violence Other
Social Worker Customer FSSTo make referral to: To comply with all recommendations: To make referral to:
*Parenting Support *Attend Parenting *GED services
*Child behavior *Attend Substance Abuse evaluation *Behavioral Health
BHRS Counselor Other Partners
To set up evaluation for: To make referral to:
*Domestic Violence *WIA
*Substance Abuse *Public Health
Homeless: Time Limits:
*Received temp only *36 months remaining
Clear
Expectations
Responsibilities
Questions?Questions?