Florida Department of Children and Families

Copyright 2013 Florida Department of Children & Families

Participants will obtain an understanding of practice and system implications for themselves and other stakeholders Participants recognize the ways in which leadership support will be critical to successful implementation

Hotline-Currently, a very high screen in rate◦ Process now is VERY intrusive

CPI-High recidivism Case Management-High case loads Community Partners-Mandatory reporting Are we setting families up to fail? Are we offering services to the RIGHT families for the RIGHT

reasons?

Copyright 2013 Florida Department of Children & Families

SAFE…children are considered safe when there are no present or impending danger threats, or the caregivers’ protective capacities control existing threats

UNSAFE… children are vulnerable to present or impending danger threats, and caregivers have insufficient protective capacity to control existing threats.

Immediate Significant Clearly Observable Severe harm Present tense---right now Requires immediate response

Impending Danger ….not happening at this moment……but a “state of danger”

Child is in a position of continual danger

SafSaf

e?e?

Yes

No

Information Domains give us the information we need on child vulnerability…..AgePhysical abilityCognitive abilityDevelopmental statusEmotional securityFamily loyalty

Protective Capacity….how a parent thinks, feels, acts…..

Cognitive protective capacity Intellectual knowledge, understanding and perceptions Contribute to protective vigilance

Examples• reality oriented• accurate perception of a child• recognition of a child’s needs• ability to accurately process and interpret

various stimuli• understanding of protective role• intellectually able• understanding and recognizing threats

Behavioral Protective Capacity Specific action, activity, performance that results in protective

vigilanceExamples: • physical capacity and energy• ability to set aside own needs • adaptive, assertive and responsive• takes action • impulse control• history of being protective

Emotional protective capacity: Feelings, attitudes and identification with the child that

results in protective vigilanceExamples:• emotional bond with the child• positive attachment with the child• love, sensitivity and empathy for the child• resiliency• stability• effectively meets own emotional • needs emotional control • realizes the child cannot produce

gratification and self-esteem for the parent

Child vulnerability

Caregiverprotective capacity

=Safe

or Unsafe

+/- +/-Danger threats

Safety plan: actions and services that will temporarily substitute for the lacking parental protective capacity to control the danger threats

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An unsafe child does not automatically require placement outside the home

Safety plans range from entirely in-home to exclusively out-of-home care

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Intrusiveness

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Safe Children: •provides a measure for identifying families for prevention services. Unsafe children: •case management services

Are danger threats being managed? How can existing protective capacities –STRENGTHS – be

built upon to make changes? What is the relationship between danger threats and the

diminished caregiver protective capacities—What Must Change?

What are the parents’ perspective or awareness of their caregiver protective capacities?

What are the child’s needs and how are the parents meeting or not meeting those needs?

What are the parents ready and willing to work on in the case plan?

What are the areas of disagreement in what needs to change? What change strategy (case plan) will be used to assist in

enhancing diminished care giver protective capacities?

Safety Decision Making Methodology impacts everything: policy, automated system, legal system, quality assurance, staff development.

Agency partners – focus on safety services and safety management; includes substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence

Legal stakeholders – new constructs, new decision making criteria, new expectations

4. Pace/timing of service referrals◦ Treatment referrals aren’t made until after initial assessment

is completed by the CPI

◦ Case Plan tasks no longer established at ESI/Case Transfer

◦ No more Case Plans at Arraignment

◦ Counter-intuitive for many staff

5. Potential skill gaps◦ Interviewing techniques

◦ Case plan goals with behavior-specific outcomes

7. Case Plan◦ Behaviorally specific outcomes based on diminished

caregiver protective capacities

8. Judiciary◦ Case plan not ready at arraignment because assessment is

more in-depth

Stages of Implementation

It’s a journey… to high fidelity!

Exploration Installation Initial Implementation Full Operation Innovation Sustainability

February 2011 Project Kick-off

We are here!

July 2013Begin to Practice!

Our destination!

• Statewide Implementation Team• SunCoast Region Training Plans

• Circuit 6 Training Plans for roll out• Capacity Building• Super Safety Practice Experts – 42

• Safety Practice Experts – 200

• Trainer Proficiency Evaluation Process

Do not use this layout

Questions and Discussion?Questions and Discussion?