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Enhancing North Carolina Child Welfare: Assessing Child and Family Team Meetings

By

Chanitta S. Deloatch

A paper submitted to the faculty of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Public

Administration

Spring 2010

Executive Summary North Carolina local Departments of Social Services seek to ensure safe and stable families for children by protecting them from abuse and neglect while attempting to maintain the family unit. This research focuses on the role that Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings play in preserving the family unit when children come into the child welfare system. CFT meetings are structured, facilitated meetings in which families, with the support of professionals and community leaders, develop a plan that ensures child safety and addresses the needs of the family. This exploratory study examines whether there are features of CFT meetings that help explain dissimilar foster care rates among comparable counties. An in-depth analysis of CFT meetings in two rural North Carolina counties captures interview data regarding CFT meeting implementation, fidelity, and personal worker evaluation. This paper presents qualitative findings, areas for future research, and county-level comparison data.

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Introduction and Background

The overarching goal of child welfare systems in the United States is to provide protection for victims of child maltreatment. Child maltreatment is a blanket term that encompasses all forms of abuse (physical, sexual, and emotional), dependency, and neglect. In North Carolina, 122,672 children were reported to be maltreated in state fiscal year 2008-2009 (PCANC, 2009).

In July 2001, the North Carolina General Assembly mandated that the North Carolina Division of Social Services (NCDSS) develop and pilot a child welfare response system that would enable local Departments of Social Services to select a response that corresponds to the nature of a report and the level of risk to a child. Accordingly, in 2002, the NCDSS piloted the Multiple Response System (MRS) in 10 counties. A Multiple Response System is a differential response system that uses an individual family assessment approach and an investigative approach to reports of child maltreatment. Prior to this mandate, the child welfare system in North Carolina, operated through local Departments of Social Services (DSS), sought to provide for the safety of maltreated children through a single response system (Fostering Perspectives, 2003).

This study examines one component of the change from a single response

system to the Multiple Response System: child and family team (CFT) meetings. CFT meetings are structured, facilitated meetings in which families, with the support of professionals and community leaders, develop a plan that ensures child safety and addresses the needs of the family (Cooke and McMahon, 2003). The primary goals of MRS and CFT meetings are to ensure child safety without removing a child from the home (when possible) and to reduce the duration of time that a child spends in foster care. Purpose of this Study

Despite the goals of MRS and CFT meetings, it is apparent that some North Carolina counties have made greater progress in decreasing the number of children in foster care while others have not. This study addresses the following question: “Given dissimilar foster care placement rates among comparable North Carolina counties, are there features of child and family team meetings that contribute to the number of children placed in the custody of local Departments of Social Services?”

Methodology

To examine this research question three data sources were utilized: literature review, county-level data, and structured interviews.

Literature Review Literature sources included journal articles, newsletters, books, websites,

and the NCDSS policy manual. A thorough review of the literature provided data on the purpose, history, and challenges surrounding CFT meetings. The structural

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overview of CFT meetings and tips for implementing successful CFT meetings in local Departments of Social Services were also explored. Additionally, a better understanding of the six family-centered principles of MRS and CFT meetings was acquired. The literature review provided direction for the development of a 19-item structured interview tool aimed at highlighting CFT meeting differences among comparable counties. For example, item 7 on the interview tool gauges CFT meeting fidelity, item 9 analyzes adherence to the family-centered principles, and item 18 identifies barriers and challenges with CFT meetings (See Appendix A).

County-Level Data Secondly, data available through the University of North Carolina at Chapel

Hill Jordan Institute for Families was utilized to analyze county trends (increases and reductions) in the number of children in foster care placement. From this analysis, two counties, Hertford County and Martin County, were selected as the research sample. These two counties were considered to be comparable based upon location, child population, etc., but there was significant difference in the number of children in foster care per 1,000 (See Table Below).

Table 1. Comparison of Sample Counties

Hertford County Martin County Location Eastern NC Eastern NC

County Type Rural Rural Geographic Size 360 square miles 461 square miles Households with

Children Under Age 18

30% 31.6%

% of Population Under 18 (2008)

21.6% 22.9%

% Of Population Living Below Poverty

18.3% 20.2%

Child Population (2007)

5, 631 5,858

Children in Foster Care per 1,000

(2007)

6.86 12.5

Structured Interview Data The last phase of this study involved structured interviews with individuals

experienced with CFT meetings in these two counties. These individuals included Child Welfare Supervisors, Foster Care Social Workers, Social Work Assessors/Investigators and professionals not employed by local Departments of Social Services (i.e. Guardian Ad-Litem Area Administrators). Interview data in relation to job title were equivalent across counties with the exception of CFT Facilitator. Only one CFT Facilitator was interviewed because there are variations of facilitation structure across counties. In Hertford County facilitation is shared by many employees and in Martin County facilitation is designated to one employee, a CFT Facilitator. Eight interviews were conducted in-person and one interview was

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conducted via telephone. Data collected included: type of CFT meeting model used, challenges to implementation, amount of pre-planning prior to meetings, degree of participation, frequency, perceived effectiveness, etc. (See Appendix B).

Limitations of the Study

Due to methodological limitations, the results of this study should be interpreted with caution. The most important limitation of this study is that the findings and lessons cannot be generalized with confidence to other counties or the state due to small sample size. Secondly, the study is exploratory in nature. A final limitation is potential interviewer influence and interviewee understanding of the questions.

Findings Based upon interview data in Appendix B, findings do not indicate directly that there are features of CFT meetings that contribute to the number of children in foster care among comparable counties. In 2007, Martin County had twice the number of children in foster care per 1000 than that of Hertford County, yet findings do not reveal sufficient variation among CFT meetings to explain this disparity. Although there are no direct relationships between factors of CFT meetings and the number of children in foster care among comparable counties, there are other conclusions that can be drawn from this research.

Findings suggest that a county’s ability to keep children out of foster care is increased by the more experience a county has with the CFT meeting process. Martin County and Hertford County, both, officially implemented CFT meetings around 2006-2007. However, the Hertford County Child Welfare Supervisor reported that the process of CFT meetings was not new to their agency because they were already doing such and a Hertford County Social Work Investigator reported that CFT meetings were implemented immediately. On the other hand, Martin County staff report that it took approximately 3-6 months to implement CFT meetings and that CFT meetings are still not conducted the way they should.

Secondly, findings suggest that there is a great degree of ambiguity regarding the purpose of CFT meetings. Upon analyzing the data, it is apparent that the purpose of a CFT meeting varies among local Departments of Social Services as well as within local Departments of Social Services. This ambiguity is worthy of attention as it can impact how workers engage families. If workers are unclear on the purpose of CFT meetings and if the purpose of CFT meetings is not consistent within a local Department of Social Services, it is highly likely that families will be confused and disconnected, thus affecting the number of children in foster care. Local Departments of Social Services should ensure that all child welfare workers possess a clear understanding of the purpose of CFT meetings; failure to do so may place children at an increased risk for foster care involvement.

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Additionally, CFT meeting models used in North Carolina include “Team-Decision Making”, “Family Group Conferencing”, “System of Care”, and “Community Assessment Team” (Cooke and McMahon, 2003). Literature reveals that certain CFT meeting models are highly effective at reducing child maltreatment, decreasing dispoportionality, promoting child well-being, and decreasing the length of time children spend in foster care. Despite this acknowledgement, findings reveal that neither Martin County nor Hertford County utilize an established CFT meeting model.

Lastly, barriers with CFT meetings appear to pose concern for child safety

and foster care involvement. The most prevalent barrier with CFT meetings in Hertford County is limited access to services for children and families and the most prevalent barrier in Martin County is schedule conflicts among professionals. Findings propose that of the two, the most concerning barrier lies in Martin County as the rate of children in foster care in 2007 was 12.5, but 6.86 in Hertford County. These findings infer that children are more likely to experience time in foster care in a county with ample services for children and families when there are schedule conflicts among professionals in relation to scheduling CFT meetings. In other words, an inability to conduct CFT meetings within reasonable time constraints with all involved parties weighs more heavily than the amount of services for children and families that a county has to offer. In the case of Hertford County, limited services for children and families are a barrier with CFT meetings; however, staff report that they frequently seek services for families that lie outside of their county. Areas for Future Research CFT meetings in Hertford and Martin County are conducted under similar terms and seek to provide an opportunity for families and professionals to work collaboratively in the best interest of children. Although the data from this study does not produce conclusive findings, areas for future research are highlighted. These areas include identifying ways to assess CFT meeting outcomes, examining CFT meetings within other North Carolina counties, and finding ways to alleviate CFT meeting barriers in hopes of increasing child safety, child well-being and reducing the number of children in foster care.

According to the individuals interviewed, there is recognized value and benefit of CFT meetings, yet there is no standard method in which to assess CFT meeting outcomes. Without a standard method to assess the outcomes of CFT meetings it is hard and likely impossible for counties to make a case for CFT meeting effectiveness. This issue is problematic as counties seek to acquire additional local, state, and national funding for child welfare. It would be beneficial for the NCDSS to consider developing a standardized tool possessing the ability to assess the outcomes of CFT meetings in relation to family goal attainment, child safety, child well-being, and foster care reduction.

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The second identified area of future research is to examine CFT meetings within other North Carolina counties. As previously mentioned, findings from this study cannot be generalized to other counties or the state due to sample size. However, studying CFT meetings within other counties can provide additional comparisons, a broader understanding of how counties view the CFT meeting process, and an analysis of the CFT meeting process in theory vs. practice; all of which seek to enhance North Carolina child welfare.

Lastly, this study highlights the importance of finding ways to alleviate CFT meeting barriers in hopes of increasing child safety and reducing the number of children in foster care. The interview data reveal that limited services for children and families, schedule conflicts among professionals, and access to transportation for families are common barriers. Having noted such, it is presumed that the remaining 98 counties in North Carolina also face barriers with CFT meetings. CFT meeting barriers hinder service delivery and impede a county’s ability to ensure child safety and child well-being. Future research would be helpful in identifying CFT meeting barriers across the state in hopes of reducing the number of children in foster care. Conclusions

While this study does not show a direct relationship between factors of CFT meetings and the number of children in the custody of local Departments of Social Services among comparable counties, it does verify that CFT meetings serve their role and function as outlined in literature. Findings infer that greater experience with the CFT meeting process may contribute to lower foster care rates. Study results also show a great degree of ambiguity regarding the purpose of CFT meetings among workers within local Departments of Social Services and lastly, findings presume that children are more likely to experience time in foster care in a county possessing adequate services when there are schedule conflicts among professionals in relation to scheduling CFT meetings.

Overall, this research confirms the following: CFT meetings assist families in realizing that local Departments of Social Services seek to help, CFT meetings foster an environment in which the feelings of families are validated, and local Departments of Social Services do not have adequate resources (staff, treatment services for children and families, time, etc.) to conduct CFT meetings as effectively as possible.

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NC Family and Children’s Resource Program. Retrieved July 13, 2009 from http://www.fosteringperspectives.org/fp_vol7no2/fp_vol7no2.pdf.

Lindsey, D. (1991). Factors affecting the foster care placement decision: An Analysis

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Matters, 8 (2). North Carolina Division of Social Services Family Support and Child Welfare Services Statewide Training Partnership. Retrieved July 13,

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Family-Centered Meetings. Retrieved September 22, 2009 from http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/mrs/docs/Practice%20Guidelines%20for%20Family%20Centered%20Meetings.pdf.

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http://www.preventchildabusenc.org/resources/recognizing

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Appendix A: Structured Interview Tool Interviewee Name:__________________________ Position/Job Title:___________________________ County:____________________________________ Date:______________________________________ MRS and CFT Meetings Implementation

1. In what year did your county implement MRS?

2. How were parents/families involved in a case prior to MRS?

3. In what year did your county implement CFT meetings?

- How long did it take?

- Model:

4. During what phase of a case are CFT meetings conducted?

5. Has the model of CFT meetings been changed since implementation?

6. Does the agency have a referral process for CFT meetings?

Details about CFT Meetings 7. What is the goal/purpose of a CFT meeting?

- How is the goal/purpose conveyed to families?

8. Where are CFT meetings conducted and by whom?

9. Describe what a CFT meeting looks like in your county.

- What are the 3 top things typically discussed at CFT meetings?

10. Are facilitators trained?

- How so?

11. On average, how much preparation goes into a CFT meeting, what steps are

involved?

12. How are decisions made during CFT meetings?

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13. Who decides who will attend?

- In your county, who is normally present at CFT meetings?

14. Do parents and family members have private time during CFT meetings?

- Do children participate in CFT meetings? If yes, how often?

Personal Evaluation of CFT Meetings 15. How do you assess the outcomes of CFT meetings in your county?

16. How would you define/describe a successful CFT meeting?

17. Based on your experience, how effective are CFT meetings at keeping

children out of foster care?

18. What barriers has your county experienced with CFT meetings?

19. Is there anything else you think I need to know about CFT meetings in your

county?

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Appendix B: Data Tables

Table 1. Child Welfare Supervisor Data Table

Table 2. Foster Care Social Worker Data Table

Table 3. Other Professional (GAL Administrator) Data Table

Table 4. Social Work Investigator Data Table

Table 5. CFT Facilitator Data Table Table 1. Child Welfare Supervisor Data Table Hertford County Martin County

MRS and CFT Meetings Implementation

1) In what year did your county implement MRS?

2003 or 2004 I’m thinking 2003-2004. Will say 2004. (We were a pilot county.)

2) How were parents and families involved in a case prior to MRS?

We assessed or investigated allegations. We spoke with families and let them know what their options are and services available. Some were receptive and some were not.

To my understanding, they weren’t given a courtesy call. Wasn’t as friendly. Investigator just showed up.

3) In what year did your county implement CFT meetings?

2006 or 2007

September 2007

3a. How long did it take?

Hertford County has been this all along, but we just didn’t have a format. It was already a process in our county, we just added on the necessary paperwork.

30-60 days (after training)

3b. Model: None particularly, just standard.

None, basic structure was put in placed based on all of material gathered at trainings.

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4) During what phase of a case are CFT meetings conducted?

The beginning, during changes, and at the end.

Anytime there is a “stuck” case, meaning there’s a hard problem with a case; discord in family; before a case decision is made; anytime a child is being removed from the home.

5) Has the model of CFT meetings been changed since implementation?

No

Not that I am aware of.

6) Does the agency have a referral process for CFT meetings?

No

Yes

Details about CFT Meetings

7) What is the goal/purpose of a CFT meeting?

To have all parties (families, professionals, etc.) together to come to a common goal of permanency. To let the family decide what works best for them.

Each CFT has a different goal and purpose. Depends on what the family’s strengths and weaknesses are. The goal/ purpose is stated at the beginning of the CFT.

7a. How is the goal/purpose conveyed to families?

They have a change to tell you what works for them. I’ve served in many roles and the system has always been a dictator, but now families can tell you what they are capable of. The system is now taking in account what resources families have.

Clearly stated at the beginning of the CFT meeting.

8) Where are CFT meetings conducted and by whom?

Here at the agency in our conference room. Social workers cannot conduct their own CFT, so we have a CFT Facilitator

Anywhere. We try to be family friendly. Normally they are here at the agency, but we cater to the family. We have conducted some in the home. CFT Facilitator

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that works in another part of the agency.

9) Describe what a CFT meeting looks like in your county?

Family-oriented, meaning that it is comfortable relaxed atmosphere where the family takes charge of telling the professionals what works best for them.

Consists of parents, sometimes both parents, custodian, support people, community agencies, supervisor, CFT facilitator, and supervisors.

9a. What are the top 3 things typically discussed at CFT meetings?

1. Permanency 2. Mental Health 3. Reunification

1. Children (first and foremost) 2. Identified Behaviors 3. Resolution

10) Are facilitators trained?

Yes

Yes

10a. How so?

State mandates training for facilitators. We also have a LME that facilitates as well.

State mandates training….series of different trainings that they must go through.

11) On average, how much preparation goes into a CFT meeting, what steps are involved?

3-4 hours or 24 hours. Letters are mailed, phone calls are made to all parties, paperwork, transportation…

60-90 minutes. Receiving referral, CFT facilitator and social worker get together so that the facilitator can gather info. about the case.

12) How are decisions made during CFT meetings?

All parties or team members come to a common goal with family having first say-so. WE ask families what work best for them

Supervisor is there. We basically already know what we want to decide, so it’s kinda informative, but it’s also said through discussion.

13) Who decides who will attend?

The family. They are in charge. I’ve had a family tell me that they didn’t want me in their meeting.

Parents choice

13a. In your county who is normally present at CFT meetings?

CFT Facilitator, supervisor, social worker, therapist or counselor, mentor, whom ever the family wants or whom ever may be providing services.

CFT Facilitator, supervisor (self), caretaker and whomever they invite, social worker, and any other parties involved with the family.

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14) Do parents and family members have private time during CFT meetings?

No, not that I’m aware of.

We have done that before. It lets the family talk and allows the professionals time to process and brainstorm separate from the family.

14a. Do children participate in CFT meetings? If yes, how often?

Depending on age of child. I can only think of one case. We normally have CFT meetings that involve younger children.

Personal Evaluation of CFT Meetings

15) How do you assess the outcomes of CFT meetings in your county?

By seeing whether families complete certain goals. Have they did what they said they were gonna do.

The outcomes are really good. I see we make a lot of progress from CFT meetings.

16) How would you define/describe a successful CFT meeting?

Doesn’t mean that everything was going right. A successful CFT is one where issues or things come out that have not been accomplished that will help the family.

One in which the goals and purpose of the meeting was accomplished.

17) Based on your experience, how effective are CFT meetings at keeping children out of foster care?

In Hertford County, all the meetings we’ve had have been in foster care. It’s been good. CFT meetings have not affected our foster care rates because we were already doing this.

Uhmmm….honestly, I think that CFT’s are only effective as the parent who is willing to work on identified behaviors.

18) What barriers has your county experienced with CFT meetings?

Families don’t show. Parents don’t show. Limited resources, but we don’t mind going outside the county.

Not scheduling them accordingly, as needed. I think we could have more.

19) Is there anything else you think I need to know about CFT meetings in your county?

No. They are good and needed. It works for us.

Overall they are good because even if the problem is not resolved, the caretakers have an opportunity to have their voice heard. It validates what they are feeling.

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They are good overall. Table 2. Foster Care Social Worker Data Table Hertford County Martin County



I think we started in 2008. I don’t exactly know what year that was. I’ve been here too long


They were still involved in some capacity. We now have to notify them that we are coming to see them.

I think that really for our agency we tried to respect families with respect. The main difference is in the investigative mode. Everything was investigative, we did some family things but MRS formalized how we do things in turn of family. Foster Care: MRS provides for more times that you meet with family; allowing more of their family support to be there and allowing them to say who can be present. Lets more extended family be involved.


Not sure, but they were doing them when I got here about a year and a half ago.

The years run together.


N/A I don’t know.

3b. Model: N/A The thing is, the model they teach is principles that come out of the family centered model.


Case management and investigations. We (foster care) just recently started calling our Team Decision

Investigators have CFT meetings, treatment (215) services, foster care stuff when there are changes

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Making (TDM) Meetings Child and Family (CFT) Meetings.

that are happening (making moves, placements), anytime there is a difference of opinions so that everyone can be on the same map, it’s kinda like having CFT’s and TDM’s going on at the same time, not really with adoptions but there are situations where CFT’s may occur.


I don’t think so.

In my experience with that, not so much. We didn’t have a CFT facilitator at first, but now we have one. So they follow guidelines on how to do this. We used to have someone else to facilitate that worked in Medicaid.


No. We constantly staff our cases. We consult with supervisors about cases and the need for a CFT meeting.

I can’t tell you. I’m not sure.



To get all the issues on the table so that the family can start working together so that kids don’t have to be removed.

It’s diff. with diff. groups

but the goals look at child

safety, child well-being,

family well being, and

resources for family. The

main question is how can

you keep family together

without them being in

contact with CPS?

In foster care it’s about

reunification. Keeping

people informed. It’s also

a way of working together

to see how we can help

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individuals meet their

goals and to provide

encouragement. During

CFT’s, families have their

family support and they

too can know what’s going

on.


I let them know what I expect from them. I give it honest upfront, I don’t sugarcoat.

I think they try to be very

upfront. They have

agendas and they state

why we are here. At

beginning of meeting, the

purpose and why we are

here is stated. The

purpose is set out at the

beginning of the CFT

meeting. It’s also stated

when invitations are

mailed so families get it

dually.


We usually have them in the conference room; we use A.M. as our Facilitator.

At the conference room (agency). Have had some at Mental Health or schools. They travel a little bit, but I don’t know of any at a family’s house. More formal setting. Goal is to be conducted by the CFT Facilitator, but this is not always possible so there are so times when someone not involved in case has to facilitate.


Facilitator, case management social worker, foster care social worker, therapist, parent,

Gather in conference

room, we have a board

that has principles, things

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teachers, probation officers, anyone that is involved with the family as well as their support system and family.

about how to be respectful

(visual reminder). Little

packets (agenda,

confidentiality, and other

necessary paperwork),

welcome, purpose,

introductions, follow

agenda.

Everyone saying what

they would like to say;

some refereeing goes on.

We sometimes get some

going back and forth on

and our CFT Facilitators

have to get things back on

track.

Saying what you feel like

needs to be said.


1. How we got to this point. 2. What we’ve seen. 3. Ways to better the situation.

1. Goals 2. Issues around Goals 3. Foster Home vs. At-Home 4. Having Family Supports (helps with possible placement)


Yes

Yes

10a. How so? CFT Training

They have been to state trainings on facilitation as well as other trainings.


Contact the family, contact who they want to participate, pick a good date, send out letters, call, give many reminders, and gather all info. for that case.

Don’t know every little step, but you have to get packets in place, staffing, and or reading case. Have to have prep time, not sure how much.

12) How are decisions made during CFT

We do it as a group.

Sometimes the hard and rocky road. For the most

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meetings? part, this is something where you try to let everyone have their input. You check-in with people to see if they are okay once a decision is made, sometimes you don’t have much leeway in allowing a lot of input. Sometimes you have to make decisions that everyone may not be happy with. Early on, everyone is involved. Families are not told what to do!


The family.

Person working the case (they may have people that they know need to attend). The person/family (within reason; who can be accommodated).

13a. In your county, who is normally present at CFT meetings?

Facilitator, social worker involved, any other social worker who knows about the family, therapist, family, probation officer, teachers…

(Depends on phase of case/workers and who they deem necessary) MH case worker, family and their supports, school system. (Depends on what is happening with the case and who is needed.) Foster parents, foster care placements, school nurse, GAL, GAL coordinator, Health Dept., other community partners.


No usually. Unless they ask.

Not sure, may have occurred, but I’m not aware.

14a. Do children participate in CFT meetings? If yes, how

Sometimes. We ask the parents or either we ask the child depending on

At times, if they are old enough. Depends on what you are talking about. 12

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often? age.

and up occasionally when talking about placements of older kids.



If everyone comes away with an understanding that we are all in it for the family and that no one is out to get anyone.

LOL, I don’t know if they have an official tool. I think a lot of it has to do with seeing if people are on track. May be subjective. No formal thing that I know of.


Same as above. No fighting.

I think when you have a meeting where everyone can say what they need to say even if others don’t like it. When people have said what they felt they needed to say. Ideally, it’s about being able to come to agreement. Family member realizing that they have more supports that what they may have thought. Better understanding all the way around. People realize that DSS is not the devil and we are not here to judge. Ways of working together.


It’s good, if we can get them involved in the appropriate services early on.

I’m not as in tune with that because I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum.


Outside agencies and not having the resources we need for parents.

I really don’t know how to answer. I know they try to accommodate people. They’ve had them in the evenings. Not real sure…They try and get people together. Maybe schedules in terms of who

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needs to be present. 19) Is there anything else you think I need to know about CFT meetings in your county?

I don’t think so. They are beneficial if everyone is open-minded. Parents think we are not here to help, but once they realize that we are then things go well.

I think they really try to do them in a way that promotes respect with families from one end of spectrum to the other. Conveying respectful disagreements. We try not to run over people. Working on principles. Validating feelings.

Table 3. Other Professional (GAL Administrator) Data Table Hertford County Martin County



I don’t know.

Several years ago. I don’t know.


There were more petitions filed and more cases coming to court. MRS brought more structure.

I don’t get involved unless there is a petition. Filed fewer petitions with MRS. MRS is a family centered approach.


I have no idea.

Past two years that I can remember/ only work with kids that are in foster care, so it may have been longer for other cases or kids not actually in custody.


N/A I do not know.

3b. Model: N/A I do not know.


According to my role, after the petition is filed. They have CFT meetings prior, but we don’t get involved until afterwards.

I think they are conducted from the very beginning but I am only involved in those that relate to out of home placement.

5) Has the model of CFT

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meetings been changed since implementation?

No, I don’t think so. I don’t know.


Yes

I’m sure they have some kind of process.



To find out from families what’s needed in order to re-unify them with their children.

I think to address issues, family centered approach. Helps family come up with solutions to problems. Big change in case and everyone needs to know what’s going.


By the social worker during the meeting. It is both verbal and written.

At the beginning of meeting, to keep children safe, rules of CFT meeting are discussed before meeting begins.


They are normally conducted by the social worker and they are held at convenient locations for the family. Not always at the agency. Most of the time, the meetings are conducted where the children are residing.

At agency. CFT Facilitator


Goals are discussed, all parties are introduced, make sure families understand why their case is involved in the court system.

Parents are invited and anyone they want. Talk about problems. Discuss issues of concern. Barriers to get children back in home. Come to consensus, but that doesn’t always happen. Everyone is encouraged to speak and share concerns.


1. Activities that parents have to complete to be in compliance with the court. 2. Goals that the children need to accomplish to aid

1. New information/concerns 2. Barriers to returning children back home/ what needs to be accomplished.

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in re-unification process. 3. Treatment that parties need to have. (ex. medical, mental health, substance abuse, etc.)

3. New developments with child or parents/ new need, etc.


Yes

I believe that she is.

10a. How so? Through the Department of Human Services.

Training to facilitate CFT’s. She’s also a social worker.


I don’t know. I do know they contact all parties and let them know what time the meeting is. They want all key parties present and when meetings are on a regular basis they typically let all parties know prior to next meeting.

I don’t know for DSS. For GAL, I want to get all the updated info. before I come to the meeting. Gather updated info., speak with volunteer on case before I come in.


By the team, team expresses concern and decides what next steps are.

Try to come to some kind of consensus through discussion. Sometimes decisions are not made.


Hertford Co. DSS and the family

The facilitator invites different people. Parents/families also invite people, they have some control over who is there. There have been incidents where one parent wants someone there but the other parent says no so that individual has to sit in the hallway.


The children, family members, MH providers, school personnel, GAL, and whomever else the family invites.

Social worker, sometimes supervisor, self (GAL), parents, extended family who has placement of children, service providers that parents want to be there.

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Yes. Before or after or anytime that they need to. Depends on whether or not family visits are supervised or unsupervised.

There have been times where that is the case. I don’t this happens often.


Yes, most of the time. They actually try and have meetings where the children are located so that they can participate.

The meetings I’ve attended have been for young children so no. If it’s an older child they may attend. It just depends on what is being decided. If its all older children sometimes they may need to be there.



The children are given better range of services and they have the opportunity to know what they need to do to be reunited. Meetings are critical when reunification is the goal. These meetings are like the brain in achieving reunification and in getting kids proper services. Meetings discuss what’s best for the child; everyone has input.

I don’t know.


When all parties are respected and working towards a collaborative approach for reunification. If reunification is not possible then you help the child get the best services they need. Looking at all aspects of the child’s life. Hertford DSS is doing an excellent job of ensuring that all parties are

If there’s honest communication and you can come to some kind of decision or consensus. Without people getting angry and slamming doors, and using inappropriate language. Just being able to discuss issues openly and honestly.

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involved and the best interest of children are kept in mind.


There are two sets of meetings. I have been involved in getting permanency for kids, it is a facilitation tool. When reunification is not possible we focus on adoption.

I don’t know, not involved in those cases. I will say that there have been fewer petitions filed by this agency in the past 2 years.


Traveling: because some kids are placed outside the district. Also, available placement and mental health care in the area.

Getting everyone together. Not having a facilitator, don’t think we had one for a while. Difficult in rural counties, transportation for parents is always an issue.


No, they make a concertive effort to involve as many parties as possible. They make extra effort.

I think they do a really good job; it’s been very helpful to have these meetings to address issues as they arise.

Table 4. Social Work Investigator Data Table Hertford County Martin County



I think it was around 2007.

I wanna say, maybe 2005 or 2004, I’m gonna say 2005.


Before all cases were investigative. Depending upon case we responded immediately, 24, or 72. We did not have to call and set up appt.

It depends on the agency. We have always been family centered. I started in 2000 and we’ve always worked like the MRS; being holistically and working with the family. That’s how we were trained. I think a lot of counties struggled. We didn’t have a problem.

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Same as MRS, 2007-2008. Let me guess again, I would say 2007.


Didn’t take long. Had to attend to training and then we started immediately.

We hired a worker, but it took 6 months to a year and we still struggle. We’re still not doing them like we should.

3b. Model: No, everyone has their own way of doing it. We speak with family and allow them to be in control. They invite who they want. We encourage them to invite professionals. It is family centered. The family sets the ground rules.

I don’t know.


When cases are severely intense. You can conduct one anytime; any professional. When cases need intense services.

Anytime, during family assessments if we’re having a problem. If a case is going into treatment, when a child goes into foster care. During all phases.


If a case belongs to me then I will not facilitate that case. I have done this in the past.

I would say no, has pretty much stayed the same since we had them.


No, we do it ourselves. We have one hall, so basically, the facilitator is part of our team. So she knows what is going on. At staffings we’ll just say we need a CFT meetings and the facilitator gets things together.



To come lay issues on table, discuss, let clients come/set goals, no judgments, no criticisms, we build on strengths. We

Uhmmm….to get everyone together to provide support for the family. To make sure everyone together to provide

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break issues down and set goals for issues. We complete referrals.

support for the family. To make sure everyone is on the same page, (I don’t know) to discuss progress, problems, concerns, I’ve had good CFT and CFT’s gone bad. LOL!


Before and when they come to meeting we inform them about what’s going on. Honestly, we talk to them like it’s an invitation. Brainstorming.

Just discussed openly. Go over case plan or court order. Very open. Lay it all out on the table, we encourage them to do the same.


Conducted wherever family wants, home, facility, we have to make them feel comfortable. We offer suggestions if necessary.

Conference room downstairs (agency), at schools, I’ve also been in the home and conducted CFT’s. Conducted by Facilitator or School Social Worker or Social Worker in the agency who facilitates. We’ve also had a mental health caseworker to facilitate for us.


It looks like a family, professionals coming together in any setting (roundtable discussion). Make it comfortable for family; family oriented.

We have a little board with housekeeping rules, table where everyone sits. Different members of community, sometimes we have refreshments, come together, sit together and discuss what needs to be discussed.


1. Allegations of Report 2. Goals to prevent re-occurring actions 3. Confidentiality

1. Strengths 2. Concerns 3. Discuss where we are in the case, of course we talk about the children, but we see where we are and where we need to go.


Yes they are.

Yes, the problem is we’ve had turnover…we’ve had

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3 people in this position since it started and then they’ve had to be trained. I’ve had some training, but this was before the fulltime position.

10a. How so? All of us are trained, but we can’t conduct our own meetings.

State Training


2 weeks: talking to family, setting up time and place. You have to give family notice.

Case has to be staffed with supervisor, supervisor has to review case, get info., contact family and get a time that is convenient for everyone. Complete letters and forms, finding a room. Lots of planning in a CFT.


We allow families to come up with and make decisions. We assist. We don’t tell families what to do. We do referrals.

Everyone has input and everyone comes to a group decision. Everyone tries to compromise.


The family.

Parent


Social worker, children, mental health professionals, school professionals, and family members.

Depends on case, people in our unit, supervisor, parents, MH, who parents want (their support network, juvenile probation, school social worker, GAL, sometimes health dept. who does parenting classes.


If they request it.

They have that option if they need to discuss something privately.


Sometimes, it just depends. Even sometimes older kids do not want to participate.

Some do, the older teenagers if they feel comfortable. Its rare, but we’ve had some.


15) How do you assess After everything has been We just staff how it went.

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the outcomes of CFT meetings in your county?

put on the table and referrals made. We make recommendations to family and give them like a homework sheet. We continue to monitor the family afterwards to make sure that things are going well. We continue to monitor the family afterwards to make sure that things are going well. We continue to work them.

Debriefing.


When you see family become emotional and you know that you have touched that family and they want change. They are taking initiative to do things without you constantly reminding them.

When everyone leaves meeting feeling like they have made accomplishments; confidence that their will be change; where we’ve seen that they are going to be changes; open communication.


I think they are effective. Only way they get to foster care is if they just deny the services.

They are useful because family’s realize that they have more of a support network than what they though they had. They realize that we’re not here to attack them or want their kids, but during CFT meetings they may come to realize that we are really here to help.


Participation of kids, both parents can’t always be present. Getting everyone together.

Scheduling the CFT, finding time to do a CFT and making it convenient for family is hard. People bring hostility into meeting and not wanting to let go of the past. CFT’s are about the present but sometimes they become an arguing match about old things.

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No, I think you covered everything. I enjoy doing them. I get excited. We don’t come in to judge families. Child abuse is generational, so I’m all about building strengths.

Nooo, it’s just been hard for our county to have CFT’s we’re having a hard time with. Small unit with hard/large caseloads. Everyone is overloaded with cases and it’s hard to work CFT meetings. We need more workers on our hall and turnover is high. When we have them they are good, but we need to have more. We know this, but we’re just having a hard time with it.

Table 5. CFT Facilitator Data Table Hertford County Martin County



I don’t know.


I don’t know.


About 3 years ago, 2007.


I don’t know.

3b. Model: Don’t know


Before changing placements, if there are concerns with the family (brainstorming), before switching to in-home services.


I don’t know.

6) Does the agency have You can come to me and

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a referral process for CFT meetings?

just ask me to do it. No formal process. We have a referral, but it’s just easier to do it informally.



Depends on what kind it is. For placement changes its to get everyone involved to let them know a change is going to occur and what will happen after the change occurs/ For concerns the purpose is to talk about concerns, see what’s really going on and see if there are any services that can be put in place/For in-home it’s an opportunity to meet worker and let them know concerns that occurred or been going on.


In the very beginning everyone gets a copy of the agenda. This is when the purpose is told. Also, most of the time families are already told by their social workers as to what the meeting will be about.


In conference room, downstairs (agency) clients homes, local community support agencies. Usually conducted by me unless it’s my case, supervisor helps out if it’s my case.

9) Describe what a CFT meeting looks like in

(Chuckle.) In attendance is me, social worker,

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your county? parents, who parents want to invite, GAL, any other professional working with the family. Start meeting by going over agenda, confidentiality, then we jump in, everyone gives their opinion and then we figure out what we’re going to do.


1. Concerns/Behaviors that need to be worked on by parents. 2. What they’ve done and what they’ve done well. 3. Children in family


Yes

10a. How so? We have different trainings that we have to go through in the first year. Supervisor has been really helpful because she used to be CFT Facilitator. Doing them and getting feedback.


1-2 hours depending on extensiveness. If an emergency hasn’t come up I get together with the social worker/ call the family and see who they want to invite, suggest others/ fill out paperwork/ call and send out invites/ reserve the room.


After everyone has given their opinion it’s usually evident what needs to happen. I state the obvious and give the

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agency’s stance. We then see what the family has to add and see if it can be collaborated with what the agency wants.


Joint process between self, social worker, and parents. Most of the time parents are fine with it as long as the know ahead of time.


Me, supervisor, social worker, other social worker if needed (foster care, treatment), GAL or GAL supervisor, foster parents, biological parents, other agencies working with the family, other people kids may be close with.


Depending on the situation. So far I have not had to do that, but I know it has been done.


If they are old enough depending on circumstances. If not, that’s why we ask GAL to come.



Finishing the paperwork, there’s a section to be completed after the CFT. So I talk with the social worker afterwards and I also talk with everyone as we wrap up the meeting to get thoughts and feedback.


When everyone walks out the room feeling better than when they walked in.

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When there are goals/objectives established and next steps are outlined for what needs to happen. When we’ve done what we need to do or put services in place to resolve the issue at hand.


The majority of the ones that I’ve conducted have not been prior to being placed in care. A lot of kids come in custody under emergency circumstances based on the cases that I’ve seen. I have recently experienced one case where the CFT allowed us to keep a child from not coming into care because we were able to explain some things to mom and get her to see where we’re coming from.


Time. Schedules and actually getting people to attend.


No, I think your questions covered a lot, we probably don’t do as many as we should.