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Family Engagement SkillsFrom the minute a referral comes in, family engagement never ends.Missy1Missy Berglund Training SpecialistButler Institute for Families303-871-3638 missy.berglund@du.edu

Amber Garrison-Ahmed MSW AASW LCSW & Banjo FAR Intake CaseworkerArapahoe County 303-636-1822 agarrison-ahmed@co.arapahoe.co.us

Laura SolomonFamily Assessment Response SupervisorJefferson County303-271-4122 lsolomon@jeffco.us

Martha StantonLead FAR WorkerGarfield County 970-625-5282 ext. 3137 mstanton@garfield-county.comSue StantzSocial Casework ManagerLarimer County970-489-6940stanzxsr@co.larimer.co.us

2Differential Response Child Protection System Assessment of safety & risk Intake function Safety focused Strength-based Family-focused Engagement Timeframes for first contact Linkage with services

Investigative Response (IR)

DispositionHigher riskUsually initiated through unannounced home visitInterview children aloneFamily Assessment Response (FAR)

No DispositionLow to moderate risk Interview family togetherUsually initiated through announced home visit

Jefferson County has a Differential Response Child Protection System: A Differential Response Child Protection System allows the agency to respond and provide intervention in multiple ways to abuse and neglect concerns while maintaining safety through family engagement either through an investigative response or a family assessment response FAR is part of Differential Response but Differential Response is not only FAR An investigative response is incident-driven, given the need to make a disposition about whether abuse or neglect occurred FAR is not incident driven, given a disposition is not made, and therefore the time spent with the family is focusing exclusively on assessing strengths, needs, concerns and possible solutions that will keep children safe in their homes A DR system offers flexibility to change track assignments based on an increase in threats of harm or risk level Participating in an IR or FAR is not voluntary, however on FAR cases, once the assessment is complete, families can accept or refuse the offered services without consequence, given families in FAR are non-court involved No substantiation of alleged maltreatment for families served by FAR and no identified person responsible for abuse or neglect entered in TRAILS. Why FAR? Shifting the focus from the incident to finding a solution in low and moderate risk referrals increases the possibility of parent engagement and ultimately child safety Research that suggests serving at-risk families early and collaboratively is less costly than waiting for serious harm to occur Need to more effectively address the large volume of low/moderate risk referrals with an appropriate response Need to use limited resources in the most effective mannerFamily Engagement is.Both a process and an outcome. It requires the effective and balanced use of helping skills and protective authority to produce an ongoing family/worker relationship that results in the pursuit and accomplishment of agreed upon goal

5 min Sue

What is engagement, 5 min for participants to discuss with neighbor. Small group questions: What is engagement? What do you think the benefits are to engaging families in a child welfare system? Are there family engagement tools that you agency uses? What do you do well about engaging families?

Focus listening RespectHonestyDependabilityCulturally sensitive practiceConnecting Agency bottom lines to Family/Client goals Identification and support of family member stregnths Clear and accurate response to family member questions

4The First ContactSets the tone for the rest of the assessment.Martha How does the first contact set the tone for the assessment? What are the benefit to not calling the family first? What are the benefits of calling the family to set up the initial contact? 5Initial Call to the FamilyFirst contact is crucialSets the tone for the rest of the assessmentTransparencyLanguage useRespectfulMeeting the family needsWhere and when

Show video 3 min 5 min.

Why is first contact crucial? It sets the tone. In a FAR, we call the family and schedule a contact. Opportunity to be transparent and create a honest dialouge Similar to first contact because languare and family concern acknowledgement is key to setting a positive engagement tone. First Opportunity to be transparent and create a honest respectful dialogue. How you explain your role is key to gaining trust. TRANSPARENCY. 6Family Engagement at the Front DoorTransparencyAppreciative inquiryMaking the famiy the expert

8-10 MarthaLet them know what your job is assessing for safety helping to indentify and provide support to strengthen families. Help the family identify their needs and offer the family support. What can I do to support your family to keep your children safe? Collect general information about the family; get the bigger picture.

7Using the Framework for Family Engagement

45 min including activity Laura and Missy Scale framework awareness.8What is Framework?The Framework is a tool used through out the life of our involvement with a family.

A Framework is a tool used to gather and sort information Through family participation and engagement.Family as the expert/ importantIn developing a plan to reduce risk and keep children safe. In your packet you have a copy of a frameworkFamily participates in the decisions made about their family regardless of what their involvement with the county is. (Intake, Ongoing, Adoptions, FAR, FIS) Familys are given a copy of the framework so they have the plan in writing that was created by them with the caseworker. 9When do you use the FrameworkFramework can be used from the initial meeting with the family and at key decision making points throughout our involvement with a family.

Comprehensive family assessment is achieved by learning from the familyworries, Strengths, and what they are capable of achieving. Once we receive a report of concern, information meets criteria for assignment we work with the family and see them as the experts. One of the ways we do this is by being transparent about what the information is that we received and why we are worried about it. Introduce Vignette:

10The Anderson Family VignettePerson Reporting (RP): Paternal GrandmotherOn Saturday May 5th, Molly Anderson (mother) took her 4 year old daughter Jesse to a family birthday party. Molly was later arrested and charged with DUI and child abuse. RP knows that Molly used to drink and had gone through a program about 1 year ago. RP said that her son, Shawn and Molly recently separated. RP said she is concerned that her grandson could have been injured because Molly crashed her car into a brick mail box. RP said she knows about the incident because Jesses father was called to pick her up when Molly was arrested. RP reports that Molly and Shawn are both good parents and would do whatever was needed to make sure she is safe. 11Framework: Worries, Strengths and Next StepsWith the Anderson family: 3 collums What are we worried about? What is the specific safety or risk concern?Are there strengths?What might be some good next steps?12Framework Family Name:Whats going well:Questions & Complicating Factors: Participants:

Purpose of todays Meeting:Family Goals:

Safety Concerns: Services: Agency Goals:

Risk StatementNext Steps:

Scaling Question

0-------------------------------------5-------------------------------------------10Using the vignette: Who might they want at the family meeting?

Family Name:be respectfulspelling and pronouncing. Participants: Who is a support to the family? How are they a support?

Purpose of todays Meeting: to address concerns to talk about progress to discuss next steps or to close

Safety Concerns: Be transparent, what are the safety concerns of the agency? initial referral, new allegation,lack of progress in current services. Does the family have the same safety concerns? Does the family have different safety concerns?

Risk Statement: Initial ReportDeveloped by the agencyChild abuse or neglectSafety or risk

Whats going well: What are the strengths in the family?

Services: Current services?Past Services?Needed services?

Questions & Complicating Factors: Any question is the family might have. Why we are involved? Process? Asking questions to help create a planCF: barriers to next steps for the family

Family Goals: same goals?

Agency Goals: different goals?How do we achieve safety and reduce risk for your child?

Scaling Question: How does the family feel? How serious do they think the incident was?

Next Steps: What is the plan? Roles? Timeframes?

13Risk StatementsThe Department is worried that (childs name) could be (specific and detailed concern) when/if Mom/Dad continues to (specific and detailed behavior).Example: The Department is worried that Jesse could be physically harmed or killed by being in the car with her mother, Molly who was drinking and driving and was recently arrested for DUI and child abuse.Be Specific:Example of initial risk statementChanges with progressStarting point:discussion resources and services Child Safety

Also the place to come up with the plan on how to keep the child safe and what are the supports that the family identifies.

14Scaling QuestionsThis can be used by the family and caseworker to help measure progress.

Scaling question: 0 is the lowest/worst 10 Highest/bestOpportunity for discussion:Example: Molly, on a scale of 0 to 10, 0 being you need inpatient treatment for your alcohol use and 10 being you need no help and have no issues with alcohol, where would you put yourself on the scale?Molly is a 6: Tell me about why you are at a 6?See or do to get to 7? 8? Everyone gets to say where they are on the scale/ what to move up?This develops the next steps. Examples: to move up MOC says she needs treatment; She needs daycare for Jesse; She needs FOC (Shawn) to drive her to appointments/court dates.

15Next StepsThe next steps that the family and DHS need to take to get closer to their goals.

This is the whos going to do what: Caseworker will ..Mom will .Dad will Grandmother will.Child will

Whose going to do What? Examples: from VignetteFamily identified supports:family, school, babysitters, neighbors, and Service providers Once you have a plan in place, your next visit: how is the plan is working? Need for changes to plan? Talk about progress

16Trails Framework

WorriesStrengthsNext StepsDanger/HarmPast Danger/HarmSafety ConcernsComplicating/Risk FactorsAgency HistoryChild VulnerabilityStrengthsSafetyProtective FactorsCultural ConsiderationsGray AreasResponse TimesTrack AssignmentSee Handout 2

The Framework /Trails several functions. Family Meeting info from the hard copy framework. 3 collums; what information do we have/need on report.

17What have we learned from using the framework in practice?Frameworks can be used from the front door to the back door

Family engagementSupervision/Group SupervisionKey decision making points

Frameworks can be used:To identify supports/services needed to keep children safe. When changes need to occur: Example: Molly relapses: Does the plan needs to change?To build a plan to keep children safe.To allow the family to be the expert.To set steps that are achievable.And to be able to close once the plan is working and the family can move forward without the agencys involvement.

. Family Engagement: As long as child safety has been addressed, families can be seen as the experts and should participate in the decision making process.

18BreakFamily Meetings

Bringing everyone together10 min video Amber and Missy

With-in your agency there may be family meetings, what do they look? Are there times when it works to talk to families as a whole?

Talk about how family meetings may look different in different counties, what are some examples of family meetings in different counties? Formal vs informal. 20Planning a Family MeetingFamily decides who attendsAllow the family to pick the location and timeSet time limit

Family MeetingBenefits of a Family Meeting-Allows family to be the expert on their needs and wants-Puts them in the drivers seat of the family plan-Gives all family members a voice

Considerations for a Family MeetingClear ObjectiveCultural DifferencesDomestic Violence Family AlliancesAge of Children

Appreciative InquiryInclusion of children/youth in all family meetings physically present, by letter, drawing, etc.Search /inclusion of fathers and fathers familiesUse of genogramsDevelopment of risk statementFamily driven plansSupport PlansNon-verbal cues set the tone for family engagementAsking for ClarificationOpen-ended questionsTolerating/Using SilenceComplementing and Affirming client perceptionsFamily Strengths

22Three housesGiving kids a voice10 Amber and Missy

Are there tools that you use to engage children? If so what? (other than forensic interviews) When you interview a child what information are you trying to get? How do you present that information to the parents? 23Three HousesSigns of Safety ModelFor use during family meeting or in a traditional investigationInvolve the child in what happens nextChild engagement tools Creates good family conversations around feelings and needsGives children a voice to identify their needs and strengths Children become a part of family planningTool for creating risk statements

Three Houses

Presenting information to parents and others when used individuallyOften helps parents and supports see the situation differentlyAsking child how they want the information shared, together, caseworker only or something different. Giving child permission to correct worker

Safety CirclesBuilding safety through family identified supports.1027Safety CirclesIdentifies Natural SupportsFamily decides who is involved and to what extent.Missy and Amber28Starting with the FamilyInner CircleThe FamilySecond Circle Anyone else who knows it allSubsequent CirclePeople who know a little bitLast CirclePeople with little to no knowledgeSafety Circles

Safety Circles

Support PlansSafety practiced over timeSue 1032Support Plan Separate from a safety planDesigned with the family and their supports for sustainabilityIdentifies family supports and resources to reduce risk and maintain child safetyServices dont equal safetyGives worker a starting point if the family is re-referred

Not a safety plan, In an IR if you are closing but there are some ongoing risks, a support plan is perfect to help family mitigate their risks. Great starting point. Great closure tool.

33Development of a Support PlanAt any point during the caseWith the familyPrior to closure