Erwin McEwen Director Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening...

March 30, 2010 Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

Erwin McEwenDirector

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting Families Program

PATHWAYS TO STRENGTHENING AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN ILLINOIS

Module 3A Safety Assessment




Are safety assessments any different today than they were in 1992, when

CERAP was introduced?




Is the assessment of safety the same throughout the state?

- Rural?- Urban?- Etc?




Myth or Fact?

• If a child is not placed in a foster home, that child is considered safe?

• At case closing, safety is no longer an issue?

• Others?




How do we engageHow do we engage

in order to in order to gather information for the safety gather information for the safety

assessment?assessment?




How will the different engagement How will the different engagement

styles impact safety assessment?styles impact safety assessment?




Can you ask the “tough” Can you ask the “tough” safety questions?safety questions?

How do you explore conflicting How do you explore conflicting information?information?




Is the safety assessment of Is the safety assessment of children by child welfare children by child welfare

staff any different than that staff any different than that of investigators?of investigators?



Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting Families ProgramSafety Assessment (Cont’d)

Is it different regionally? – How do you get past the locked wrought

iron gate (Cook, etc.)? – How do you engage the parents who run a

Meth lab? (Southern, Central, Northern)



Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting Families ProgramSafety Assessments(Cont’d)

What are the challenges you have with engaging the following regarding safety assessments?– Non-English Speakers – Deaf & Hard of Hearing– Belligerent Clients– Intoxicated Clients (“high”, “buzzed”, etc.)– Others




Safety Interviewing

You were just assigned the Hayes case. You are meeting Mr. Hayes for the first time. His 6 year-old son Shawn came into PC when he was found “home alone”, with no food during a weekend Mr. Hayes spent gambling at the river boat casino. PC was allowed to lapse when the child identified his PGM as a resource until his dad returned. Mr. Hayes wife left the family three months ago due to his inability to stay sober and employed. Her current whereabouts are unknown.



Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting Families ProgramHow do you go about gathering safety information?

• Plan the interview

• Slow down and think about one case at a time

• Avoid self-disclosure

• Think quickly / Think on your feet



Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting Families ProgramInterviewing Parents & Other Adults

• Challenges & Concerns?– Receiving

information / providing information

– Sharing time frames



Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting Families ProgramInterviewing Parents & Other Adults (Cont’d)

• Challenges & Concerns?– Focusing on child well-being & safety – Eliciting parents concerns



Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting Families ProgramInterviewing Parents & Other Adults (Cont’d)

• Challenges & Concerns?– Informing parents of

resources– Discovering other

adults in the household & their roles




When are safety When are safety assessments assessments completed for completed for

DR cases?DR cases?




CFS 1441- Initial

• Initial safety assessment on the child’s home environment – within 24 hours of seeing the child, – but no later than five working days after

assignment of a child welfare referral.




CFS 1441 Milestones

• Used to assess the child’s home environment:– Every 3 months from the case opening date– Preceding supervisory quarterly and 6-month

review of the client service plan– Child’s permanency goal no longer

appropriate (including Intact case disruptions)– The needs of the child and family are no

longer being met by the current service plan




CFS 1441 Milestones (Cont’d)

• Used to assess the child’s home environment (Cont’d):– When there are substantial changes in the

family– When considering whether to close an Intact

service case





• Used to assess the child’s home environment (Cont’d):– Within 5 working days after there is a

determination that any child in the family is unsafe and a safety plan is implemented

• Reassess every 5 working days until all children are safe or removed





• Used to assess the child’s home environment (Cont’d):– When an Intact Family Services case is

opened during a pending Child Protection investigation

• Intact worker is responsible for completing subsequent 5-day safety assessments

• Investigator responsible for implementing safety actions until investigation is completed





• Used to assess the child’s home environment (Cont’d):– Within five calendar days prior to closing the

family’s case if an assessment was not completed immediately prior to supervisory approval of the critical decision.




What are your challenges What are your challenges regarding interviewing children regarding interviewing children

regarding safety?regarding safety?

How do you minimize the trauma to the child during your interview?




Sample Contact Note

Contact Type: In personSub Category: Visit – Child/Worker, Visit - CaregiverContact Date/Time: 08/17/2008 2:00PM (60 minutes.)Interviewee: Joseph FreemanContact About: Joseph FreemanLocation: ResidenceAddress of Interview: 2944 Chestnut Lane, Crete, IL. 60417

On 8/17/09 (DATE), Worker, Ben Thomas, visited Joseph in his mother’s home (PLACE). Worker met alone with Joseph (WHO WAS PRESENT) who reported that his mother has not hit him since she completed drug treatment and started attending parenting classes. He stated she talks to him much more now. (GOAL – REMAIN HOME) He is waiting to see what happens with the upcoming Christmas vacation, when he’s at home for two weeks (SAFETY MILESTONE). Joseph said his mother has “often made promises she did not keep”, so he doubts he’ll get the I-Pod he wants. Joseph said that he feels respected and protected at his mother’s house. Joseph reports that he doesn’t worry about being hit as much anymore. (PURPOSE OF VISIT – SAFETY). At the next visit, this worker will discuss with Joseph and his mother whether he would benefit from a referral to address current losses (father’s death) and other issues related to growing up in a substance abusing home and observing domestic violence (FOLLOW UP ACTIONS).




EffectivenessEffectiveness75% of what we learn by

sensory is lost within 24 hours




Recording and Documentation

• Efficiency– The longer you put it off, the longer it takes to

do it (Procrastination is never a good thing).– We lose 75% of information if we don’t

record it within 1 hour.• Healthcare professionals• Police

– We spend an equal amount of time recreating the information, if we wait 24 hours.




Activity – Activity – On a blank sheet of paper On a blank sheet of paper record the following:record the following:

1. Record the relevant and material information you recall from yesterday at this time of day.

2. Record everything you saw and heard from the last hour.




What is the 50 minute hour?

Present Practice Future Practice

1. Visit client; interview client; conclude visit; possibly take notes to document later.

1. Visit client; interview client; conclude visit; document /complete case recording immediately.

2. Try to recall earlier interview; check notes

3. Complete paperwork (separate event)




Recording and Documentation (Cont’d)

• The note is a legal document– Statewide Uniform Case Recording– Accurate– Timely– Complete– Outcome-focused

• Memorializes the casework




If facts, information and evidence are not recorded, it did not happen; this discredits, disrespects and devalues the memory and importance of the casework time and effort, and the information or evidence given and collected.

Whenever possible, write it once.

(Prevents doing same work two or more times)

Recording and Documentation (Cont’d)




Why is the Hand-off Why is the Hand-off Conference important?Conference important?

Note: It’s especially important if there are

children still in the home while others are in placement!



Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting Families ProgramHand-off ConferenceRequired Documentation

• SACWIS Intake Report;• CFS 1000-1, Hispanic Client Language Determination

Form (if applicable);• SACWIS case notes and service referral information;• Child Endangerment Risk Assessment, approved by the

child protection supervisor;• SACWIS Risk Assessment Summary;• CFS 440-5, Adult Substance Abuse Screen;• SACWIS/CANTS 17A-DV, Domestic Violence Screen;• Law Enforcement Agency Data System (LEADS)

information • SACWIS/CANTS18 - Paramour Assessment Checklist




Topics to be Discussed at Transitional Visits

• Identified safety and risk concernsIdentified safety and risk concerns• Service needs• Department’s involvement with the family

– Schools– Doctors– Family Meetings

• Worker contact information• Consents for release of information:




What are those practices that What are those practices that enhance time enhance time

management/organizational management/organizational skills?skills?

How do you currently…… prioritize tasks?

… avoid “time wasters” in your work day?… work smarter not harder?

… use the Travel/Activity form in your specific job position?




Safety Assessment Module Summary

Questions & Concerns?– Safety Assessment– Interviewing– Recording & Documentation– Time Management/Organizational Skills– Case Opening Protocol




What strategies do you What strategies do you use to start your day?use to start your day?

…what are your working habits that enhance safety assessment?




What Are Your What Are Your Resources?Resources?

Who and what do you have to

help you get the job done?




Who are you Who are you accountable accountable toto??




Who are you Who are you accountable accountable forfor??




What are you What are you accountable for?accountable for?




What is the role of the What is the role of the Supervisor?Supervisor?

… Supervisor’s manager?

…Manager’s administrator?

…Administrator’s Deputy Director?



Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting Families Program The role of a supervisor The role of a supervisor is to . . .is to . . .

• Carry out the goals & objectives of the Dept.

• Create & maintain a good working environment.

• Train the worker.• Model appropriate skills.• Help the worker develop

professionally.• Assign work.• Reward and recommend

discipline.

• Set clear expectations & standards.

• Remove barriers.• Review work.• Provide feedback.• Manage time.• Make decisions.• Follow established

expectations




How are you impacted by How are you impacted by Collective Bargaining?Collective Bargaining?

…whether unionized or not, supervisors have the responsibility to manage, provide leadership and direction to the planning and conducting of the work.



Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting Families ProgramAssigning WorkAssigning Work(Small Group Discussion)(Small Group Discussion)

1. When assigning cases, what factors do you consider?

2. How do you actually assign the case?

3. What factors do you consider when assigning non-placement related work?

4. How do you utilize your Advanced Specialists?




If you have staff who perform at If you have staff who perform at a lower level than you would a lower level than you would like, how do you raise the bar like, how do you raise the bar

on their performance?on their performance?

What do you want?

When do you want it?

What level of quality do you want?




What are some of the What are some of the challenges your staff face?challenges your staff face?

What can you do about it?




What might happen if What might happen if you don’t check the work you don’t check the work

you assign?you assign?

Why is it important to continue to check the work of even your best, most

consistent worker?




How do you solve the How do you solve the following?following?

Team is accumulating OT, liquidating all their sick and vacation time, but your

team is lagging behind in case closures.




Making Decisions.Making Decisions.

• What are the important decisions you have to make?

• What other decisions do you have to make on a regular basis?

• What information do you gather?

• What factors do you weigh in making those decisions?




Do you reward your team?Do you reward your team?

How did you reward your

team in the past month?



Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting Families ProgramWhat stage of team What stage of team building is your team at?building is your team at?

• Team Building - The act of involvement and participation for the transfer of ownership, accountability, responsibility, and positive support.

• Forming• Storming• Norming• Performing




Decide or Drift or Drown Decide or Drift or Drown

When you have a challenging team…




When something goes wrong…When something goes wrong…




What does “corrective action” What does “corrective action” mean?mean?




Team Building ActivityTeam Building Activity

Develop concrete realistic change management strategies for the upcoming implementation of the Enhanced Safety

Assessment




Management & Supervision Management & Supervision SummarySummary

• Team Building

• Coaching

• Mentoring

• Accountability

• Questions & Concerns

Erwin McEwen Director Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening...

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