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WELCOME TOTEAM DECISION MAKING

TRAINING FOR FACILITATORS

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INTRODUCTIONS

YOUR NAME

YOUR COUNTY

ARE YOU A FULL-TIME OR AUXILLIARY FACILITATOR?

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HOUSEKEEPING INFORMATION

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TDM FACILITATOR TRAINING IS DESIGNED TO:

Develop awareness of the Facilitator’s role in TDM

Show why relationships are important before, during and after TDM meetings

Build basic facilitation skills

Instill confidence

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TEAM DECISION MAKING FACILITATOR TRAINING

Technical Skills Interpersonal Skills

Values

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AGENDAAGENDA

TRAINING BUILDS FROM ONE DAY TO TRAINING BUILDS FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT…THE NEXT…

•FAMILY TO FAMILY•TDM OVERVIEWTDM OVERVIEW•PROCEDURAL BASICS•ROLE OF TDM FACILITATOR•FACILITATOR SKILLS•DEALING WITH EMOTIONS •STRUCTURE OF THE TDM•PRACTICE

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WALK AROUND ACTIVITY

REVIEW…CONSIDER…RESPOND TO EACH OF THE

FOLLOWING…

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS TRAINING AND WHAT I HOPE TO GAIN…THE BEST OUTCOME FROM THIS TRAINING WOULD BE…

THE WORST OUTCOME WOULD BE… THE GREATEST STRENGTH I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THIS TRAINING TO ASSURE ITS SUCCESS IS…

THE GREATEST CHALLENGE TO USING TDM IN MY AGENCY IS…

FOR ME TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THIS TRAINING, OTHER MEMBERS SHOULD…

ON A SCALE OF 1…10, MY CURRENT TDM FACILITATION SKILL LEVEL IS…

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Are used by each member

Are fully supported by each member

Are limited in number

Are important to the team

Ground “Rules”(Group Agreements/Guidelines)

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REMEMBRANCESPICTURE YOURSELF

AS A CHILD…Handout 1-1

Annie E. Casey Foundation

• Founded by Jim Casey, one of the founders of UPS, in 1948 in honor of their mother

• Mission of the foundation – to help build better futures for disadvantaged children who are at risk of poor educational, economic, social, and health outcomes.

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Child Welfare Historically

A Closed System where decisions are made by individuals

Most State Systems:

o Are remote from the children, families, communities they serve

o Focus narrowly on the individual problems when families have multiple needs

o Tend to intervene when the problems are so severe…serious and expensive options

o Hold themselves accountable for quantity rather than effectiveness

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•

Too many children are in foster care

Systems are overloaded - unable to safely reunite children with their families or find permanent homes for them

Less than 50% of children in need of temporary care are with foster families

Children of color are vastly over-represented in group of children placed in care

Challenges of Child Welfare Agencies

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FAMILY TO FAMILY Is a Child Welfare Reform Initiative

Inclusion

Community

Transparency

FAMILY TO FAMILY

• Started in 1992 in Ohio

• From Alaska to New York City – many states have implemented the

Initiative

• In California there are 25 Family to Family sites

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F2F ReviewHand Out 2-1

PRINICPLES and VALUES

• A child’s safety is paramount

• Children belong in families

• Families need strong communities• Public Child Welfare Systems need

partnerships with the community and with

other systems to achieve strong outcomes

for children

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F2F OUTCOMES

A reduction in the disparities associated with race /ethnicity, gender, or age in each of the following outcomes.

children being placed away from their birth families;

when children come into foster care, are placed with families in their own neighborhoods or communities;

children in institutional and group care and shift of resources from group and institutional care to kinship, family foster care, and family-centered services;

the lengths of stay of children in placement;

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F2F OUTCOMES

children being reunified with their birth families;

children re-entering placement;

number of placement moves experienced by children in care;

number and proportion of brothers and sisters placed together.

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Family to FamilyFamily to Family

GOALSGOALS Hand Out 2-1

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Family to FamilyFamily to FamilySTRATEGIESSTRATEGIES

Hand Out 2-1

• Recruiting, Developing, and Supporting Recruiting, Developing, and Supporting Resource Families (RDS)Resource Families (RDS)

• Building Community Partnerships (BCP)Building Community Partnerships (BCP)

• Making Decisions as a Team (TDM)Making Decisions as a Team (TDM)

• Evaluating Results/Self Evaluation (SE)Evaluating Results/Self Evaluation (SE)

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BELIEF PARADIGM SHIFTTRADITIONAL ……… FAMILY TO FAMILY PRACTICE GOALS

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TEAM DECISION MAKING

VALUES

THE GOAL OF TDM…

Make the best possible placement-related decision

with a high level of participant involvement

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TDM IS BASED ON THE BELIEF

THAT…Handout 3-1

A group can often be more effective in making good decisions than an individual

Families are the experts on themselves

When families are included in decisions they are able to identify their own needs and strengths

Members of the family’s community add value to the process

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BENEFITS OF TDM

Handout 3-2

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CHALLENGES TO TDM

Handout 3-3

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KEY ELEMENTSKEY ELEMENTSHandout 3-4Handout 3-4

CONVENED BY WORKER OF RECORD

FOCUS ON SAFETY AND PROTECTION in the LEAST RETRICTIVE/LEAST INTRUSIVE PLACEMENT

PRIOR TO or IN AN EMERGENCY IMMEDIATELYFOLLOWING EVERY AGENCY PLACEMENT

DECISION-MAKING RELATED TO PLACEMENT ISSUES

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INFORMATION ABOUT EACH MEETING IS COLLECTED AND ULTIMATELY LINKED TO DATA ON CHILD AND FAMILY OUTCOMES

KEY ELEMENTS Handout 3-4

KEY ELEMENTS Handout 3-4

TEAM INCLUDES…FAMILY, SUPPORTS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY

REPRESENTATIVES, OTHERS

INTERNAL AGENCY FACILITATION

CONSENSUS IS ALWAYS THE GOAL, BUT THE AGENCY OWNS THE DECISION.

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#1 For ALL placement decisions

TEAM DECISION MAKING… 4 CORE PROGRAM ELEMENTS

Handout 3-5

#2 Held BEFORE the child’s move occurs

#3 Facilitator is a dedicated position

#4 Community representatives attend

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KEY CHARACTERISTICSOF FAMILY MEETINGS

Handout 3-6 CORE VALUES

ARE SHARED BY ALL

TDM TEAM DECISION MAKING

FGDM FAMILY GROUP DECISION MAKING

WRAP WRAPAROUND

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FUNDAMENTALS OF A QUALITY FUNDAMENTALS OF A QUALITY PLACEMENT PROCESSPLACEMENT PROCESS

HANDOUT 3-7HANDOUT 3-7

• Removal of a child from their parents should only occur when there is imminent risk of serious harm AND in-home services / protective supports cannot provide safety.

• Evaluation of a child’s unique needs must be part of the placement decision.

• The trauma of separation must be weighed with other factors to determine the necessity of placement.

• The voices of youth must be heard.

• Assessing safety and risk is ongoing

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FUNDAMENTALS OF A QUALITY FUNDAMENTALS OF A QUALITY PLACEMENT PROCESSPLACEMENT PROCESS

HANDOUT 3-7HANDOUT 3-7

• Out-of-home care should be in the least restrictive placement that meets the child’s needs.

• Relatives must be the first consideration

• Parents’ involvement can be invaluable.

• Moves hurt kids.

• Reunification should occur as soon as it is safe.

• An alternative permanent plan must be made if reunification is not possible within a reasonable time.

• Youth facing emancipation need guidance & support.

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A QUALITY PLACEMENT PROCESS

• Think of Yourself Facilitating a TDM

• Review Handout

• How Will You Model/Encourage/Ensure that the Fundamental Placement Rules are a Part of Your TDMs?

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CRITERIA FOR CONVENINGA TDM MEETING Handout 4-1

WORKER IS FACING DECISION RELATED TO CUSTODY AND OR PLACEMENT.

WORKER CONSULTS WITH SUPERVISOR--THEY EXPLORE OPTIONS.

IF AGREEMENT, WORKER SCHEDULES; INFORMS PARENTS OF TDM & PURPOSE; INVITES PARENTS and THEIR SUPPORTS; INVITES OTHERS…

AT TDM, WORKER INVITES ASSISTANCE IN EXPLORING ALTERNATIVES & DEVELOPING A PLAN THAT ENSURES SAFETY FOR THE CHILD IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE / INSTRUSIVE MANNER POSSIBLE.

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SCHEDULING A TDM MEETING

Handout 4-2

When? Why? Who Might Be Present?

DEPENDS ON THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING

REMOVAL - Emergency or Considered

PLACEMENT PRESERVATION

PERMANENT PLANNING

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POTENTIALLY THREE TYPES OF “COMMUNITY” PEOPLE AT TDM

Support Persons Invited by the Family

Service Providers

Specific “Community Representatives” Invited by the Agency Key Is: “Will the Family Likely Relate to This Person as a Member of Their [the Family’s] Own ‘Community’ However They Define That?”

Handout 4-3

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Serves as a Natural Ally and Potential Advocate for Birth Parents at a TDM;

Represents the Birth Family’s “Community;”

The Supportive Connection Can Continue Throughout the Family’s Involvement with the System and Beyond;

May Know of Resources which Could Support the Family Especially Those Available within the Family’s Community;

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Makes the Birth Family Feel More Comfortable in Whatever Way They Can;

Helps the Agency’s Staff and Its Partners Better Understand the Family’s Community of Origin Especially Its Strengths;

Assists Family in Understanding the Agency’s Concerns in Relation to Safety and Risk;

Participates in the Meeting Especially Sharing Ideas for Ensuring the Child’s Safety While Supporting the Family.

DEFINITION OF CONSENSUS

Consensus is a decision that has been reached when most members of a team agree on a clear option and the few who don’t agree feel that they have had a reasonable opportunity to influence that choice.

Consensus is a mindset as well as a process.

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CONSENSUS IS ABOUT…Handout 4-4

• HAVING A CHANCE TO STATE YOUR VIEWS AND PREFERENCES REGARDING A RESOLUTION OF THE MATTER UNDER DISCUSSION

• FEELING HEARD YET UNDERSTANDING THAT OTHER MEMBERS MAY PREFER A CONCLUSION DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE YOU WOULD LIKE

• A BELIEF THAT EITHER RESOLUTION WILL PROTECT THE CHILD (REN) AND SUPPORT AGENCY VALUES AND POLICIES

• GIVEN THE LIMITATIONS OF TIME AND NEED FOR A DECISION, FULLY SUPPORTING THE CONCLUSION PREFERRED BY OTHERS IN THE GROUP

• DEMONSTRATING FULL SUPPORT OF THE GROUP’S DECISION ONCE THE MEETING IS OVER

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Levels of Decision MakingHandout 4-4

Consensus with Participants Is the Goal, However, It Is Not Always Achieved

If Consensus Is Not Reached with All, Facilitator Determines if Participating

Child Welfare Staff Agree

If All Agency Staff Do Not Agree, the Facilitator Invites Social Worker to Make

the Decision

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How manyOf whoMakes a perfect

TDM stew

“Let’s Keep Our Balance” TDM Poetry

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CRITICAL ISSUES at Removal

Handout 4-5

Why must removal be considered? What are the risk factors?

What must change to keep the child(ren) safe?

What does the family believe are their needs? What are their ideas to ensure safety and protection?

Family strengths? What does “going well” look like for the family?

What information can other participants provide? What

have been the reasonable efforts?

How accurate is information shared? What is missing?

What services can meet family’s needs? Have we explored informal, natural, non traditional, neighborhood supports?

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CRITICAL ISSUES: Handout 4-6 Placement Preservation

Can additional services/supports maintain placement? Caregivers needs addressed?

Plan for crisis support? Is a change in level of care needed.

Will a less restrictive level of care keep the child safe and support the case plan goal?

How can stability be maintained for this child? Are all of child’s needs being met?

Is there a transition plan? Are the FFA contract expectations being met?

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CRITICAL ISSUES: Reunification

Handout 4-7 All risks and safety concerns reduced

or eliminated? Have all services been completed? Services for parent/child continuing?

Current living situation, financial, child care, etc? Additional community supports needed?

How long will agency remain involved with family? Acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishment

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CRITICAL ISSUES: Other Permanency

Handout 4-8

Have we assessed the children’s attachment to the parents? Have reasonable efforts been made? What are the plans for continuing contact?

How does this situation meet PPLA guidelines? Is the legal guardian financially capable of meeting the child’s needs?

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STRENGTH-BASED ASSESSMENT

ITS ROLE IN TDMHandout 5-1

• WE HISTORICALLY DEFINED PROBLEMS AND GAVE ADVICE – EMPOWERING THE

PROBLEM AND DISEMPOWERING THE PERSON

• TDM PROMOTES WAYS TO ENSURE SAFETY BY ENCOURAGING USE OF RESOURCES, STRENGTHS OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, RELATIVES, COMMUNITIES

• LOOKING FOR STRENGTHS GENERATES COOPERATION, POSITIVE ENERGY, CREATIVITY

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TDMUNDERLYING VALUES AND BELIEFS

Handout 5-1

• FAMILIES HAVE STRENGTHS AND CAN CHANGE

• STRENGTHS ARE WHAT ULTIMATELY RESOLVE ISSUES OF CONCERN

• LANGUAGE REFLECTS THINKING

• RESPECT IS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN STRENGTHENING FAMILIES • EXPLORING THE RESERVOIR OF STRENGTHS IN

THE FAMILY AND COMMUNTY HELPS TO RESOLVE ISSUES OF CONCERN

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TDMUNDERLYING VALUES AND BELIEFS

Handout 5-1

• TREAT FAMILIES LIKE THE EXPERTS THAT THEY ARE;– Ask…what is your best thinking, how can

things get better?– Listen to ideas; support them when you can– Look for good intent in every idea and build on

it

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TDM IS A TOOLFIND AND BUILD ON

FAMILY’S RESOURCESHandout 5-1

TDM…• GIVES THE FAMILY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE

THEIR BEST THINKING ABOUT WORKING OUT SOLUTIONS

• GIVES THE FAMILY AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEMS

PLUS• THE PROCESS CAN STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL

WORKER AND FAMILY• THE JOB BECOMES MORE PLEASANT• FAMILIES LIKE STRENGTHS ACKNOWLEDGED --

THEY RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THEIR EFFORTS

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CHARTING … HANDOUT 5-2

• KEEPS US FOCUSED

• HELPS US HEAR

• PROMOTES OUR PARTICIPATION

• ENLARGES OUR THINKING

• STRUCTURES THE MEETING

• IS CORE TO THE PROCESS

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CHARTING TIPS HANDOUT 5-3

• PRE-LABEL CHARTS

• WRITE LARGE

• AVOID NUMBERING

• USE LARGE TIPPED MARKERS

• AVOID RED, YELLOW & ORANGE

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TOOLS FOR IMPLEMENTATION & REINFORCEMENT

Handouts 6-1 through 6-9

10 TIPS

CAREGIVERS

ATTORNEYS

DIRECTORS

CASA

SUPERVISORS

SOCIAL WORKERS

COMMUNITYREPRESENTATIVES

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DAY IS DONE

GOOD JOB TODAY!Enjoy The Evening!!

See You at 9 AM