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Understanding and Developing Child Welfare Practice Models

Steven Preister, Associate DirectorNational Child Welfare Resource Center

for Organizational ImprovementA Service of the Children’s Bureau, U.S.D.H.H.S.

Midwest Child Welfare Implementation CenterTribal Convening

August 27-28, 2009

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Introduction

Every child welfare agency has a practice model, even if it is not articulated.

At a minimum, the agency’s practice model is embedded in its policy.

If the agency’s unarticulated practice model is embedded in its policy, the model is not easily accessible.

If the agency’s practice model is not articulated, it may not be the practice model the agency really wants.

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The Need for Integrating/Aligning Child Welfare Agencies’

Mission Vision Core Principles

into developing:

Policy Procedures Training Supervising Measuring Evaluating

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Definition of a Practice Model

A child welfare practice model is a conceptual map and organizational ideology of how agency employees, families, and stakeholders should partner in creating a physical and emotional environment that focuses on the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and their families.

The practice model contains definitions and explanations regarding how the agency as a whole will work internally and partner with families, service providers, and other stakeholders in child welfare services.

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Definition (cont’d)

A practice model is the clear, written explanation of how the agency successfully functions.

The practice model is prescriptive in how services should be provided as articulated in agency regulations, policies, and procedures. It includes the practice activities and rationale that form the case process.

It is the agency’s guide to working with children and families.

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Definition (cont’d)

The practice model should make an explicit link connecting the agency’s policy and practice with its mission, vision, and core values.

It is a practice structure conceptualized and driven by fundamental values which incorporate integrated best-practice behavior to achieve overarching goals.

It is a framework to guide the daily interactions of employees, families, stakeholders, and community members connected to their work with the child welfare agency in conjunction with the standards of practice to achieve desired outcomes.

It can be used to drive critical systemic and operational issues to achieve greater system-wide advancement.

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Elements of a Child Welfare Practice Model Could Include: Core principles, agency values, and standards of

professional practice. Strategies and functions to achieve the core

principles, agency values, and standards of professional practice.

Plan for assessing service needs and engaging families.

Strategies to measure family outcomes. Strategies to measure agency and worker outcomes. Plan for measuring and sustaining organizational

success. Plan for supporting organizational and practice

change.

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A Model of Practice:

Applies to everyone.

Defines relationships.

Guides thinking.

Structures beliefs about families.

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Three Components of a Practice Model Values

Practice

Outcomes

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First Component: Values.Values are expressed by… A set of principles to work from

Choices of tools for training and working

Organization-wide commitment to chosen values

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Values Support…

The central position of the child and the family

The primary considerations for the caseworkers in their interactions with children and families.

Shared commitments across agency and partner roles.

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Second Component: Practice.Defining Practice What processes will be used.

What skills are needed.

How the agency will mirror the caseworker’s relation to the family.

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The Approach to Practice is Continuously Defined The model provides a guide.

Training provides a knowledge and skill base for practice.

Supervision reinforces and refines practice.

Practice is continuously re-implemented in the field with greater levels of consistency and sophistication.

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The Third Component: Outcomes.Outcomes for a Model of Practice Outcomes are specific and positive for

children and families.

Measured in terms of the model’s expectations.

Explicit measurement for the model.

Measurement motivates a standard of practice.

Phases in Developing and Implementinga Child Welfare Practice Model:Core Requirements Anticipate 2-4 years for full implementation which results in

significantly improved outcomes. Involve all your internal and external stakeholders, including

birth parents, resource families and youth. Include your contracted providers so there is one model, not

multiple models. A powerful Work Group to do the work (phases) that is fully

supported by the Leadership. Needs to include Agency leadership, supervisors and frontline workers, key community service providers, policy writers, quality assurance, training staff and partners, procurement and contracting, information technology, etc.

Use technical assistance if available.

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Phase 1: Readiness Assessment

Are the agency’s Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles ;and Values already clearly articulated?

Are they consistent with the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) and Systems of Care (SOC) practice principles?

How widespread have they permeated the organization?

Is there system-wide consensus that these adequately define where the agency wants to go?

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Phase 1: Readiness Assessment (cont’d) Is there evidence that the agency is ready developmentally to

focus seriously on quality child welfare practice as the key to achieving good outcomes for children and families?

Is there agency-wide interest in focusing on practice? Is there a concern within the agency and among stakeholders

about consistency in child welfare practice across the jurisdiction?

Does the agency currently use child welfare supervisors as practice change agents?

At this point in time, is the agency able to invest the person power and fiscal resources that will be required to undertake such an intensive systemic change strategy?

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Phase 2: Basic Articulationof the Practice Model (brochure phase) Revisit the agency’s Mission, Vision, and

Guiding Principles and Values. Update and revise if needed. Secure commitment of work group members to this articulation.

Drawing on the Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles and Values, begin a basic articulation of the practice model so that it flows from these.

This articulation is basic and brief (“brochure”).

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Phase 2: Basic Articulationof the Practice Model (cont’d) Fundamentally, this articulation uses the Mission, etc.

to describe what the stages of the child welfare casework process should look like if it reflects the mission, vision, values.

For example, the casework stages can include engagement, assessment, planning, intervening, monitoring, closing.

Can be accomplished in a few months. For each phase, circulate and feedback. This basic articulation does NOT mean the agency

has a practice model that has permeated its system.

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Phase Three: Preliminary Implementation Plan—What and Where Full implementation of a p child welfare

practice model is complex and time intensive. To roll out a comprehensive full practice

model in an entire jurisdiction would be overwhelming and could lead to failure.

Therefore, after the basic articulation of the model, the agency decides what part of the model to implement first and where to do it.

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Phase 3 (cont’d): What and Where

For example, Agency X decided it wants to first implement the Assessment and Investigation stage of the child welfare casework process.

Break it down even further: Agency X will implement differential response (DR) first and then decide how to approach investigations differently.

Break it down even further: It will implement DR in one catchment area.

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Phase 3 (cont’d): What and Where

First, develop specific practice guidance for assessment, investigation, and differential response.

Develop a plan to implement in the catchment area. Include what else will need to change in order to

implement this: changes in policy, procedures, tools, training, supervision, quality assurance, procurement and contracting, and information technology.

Learn from the experience and roll out sequentially in the other catchment areas until it is a universal practice for the agency.

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Phase 4: Sequencing and Implementing the Other Stages and Tracks—Again, What and Where Sequence the other stages of the casework process

(e.g., planning, intervening, monitoring, closing): what and where.

Sequence the different child welfare tracks (e.g., in home, foster care, adoption, other permanency, youth development): what and where.

For each: development of specific practice guidance for each stage each track.

For each: changes in policy, procedures, tools, training, supervision, quality assurance, procurement and contracting, information technology.

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Phase 5: Ensuring Effectiveness through Continuous Structured Feedback Planning and rolling out a child welfare

practice model is a very complex endeavor. It will require the agency to develop plans for

continuous monitoring through its QA and other systems.

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Resource: www.nrcoi.org

Practice Model Framework: A Working Document (July 22, 2008).

Developing and Articulating a Practice Model (forthcoming in 2009).

Implementation Strategies (forthcoming in 2010).

Ensuring Effectiveness through Continuous Structured Feedback (forthcoming in 2010).

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Contact Information

Steven Preister, Associate Director, National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement.

spreister@usm.maine.edu 202.723.0320.

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