Engaging Families in Case Engaging Families in Case Planning: Guidelines & Planning: Guidelines & examples from the fieldexamples from the field

Linkages Fall ConveningSeptember 16, 2009

Danielle McClain-Parks & Jean Texera, San Bernardino County

Bergen Filgas & Jennifer Valencia, Stanislaus CountyLeslie Ann Hay, CFPIC Project Associate

Learning objectivesLearning objectivesConsider how collaboration enhances

family engagement.Learn a variety of methods being

used by Linkages counties to involve families in case planning.

Observe specific techniques (video) for actively engaging families in their futures.

See examples of case plan documentation & other tools to preserve authentic family voice & choice.

Family Engagement Family Engagement GuidelinesGuidelinesLinkages was identified as a model

initiative for Family Engagement in the California Program Improvement Plan (PIP).

A Linkages/Family Engagement workgroup was formed:o Debbie Benevente, Tulareo Meherat Selassie, Santa Clarao Janice Rector, Mercedo Michael Reiser, Fresno o Cheryl Barrett, Parent Partner, Contra Costao Danna Fabella, CFPICo Leslie Ann Hay, Hay Consulting

Family Engagement Family Engagement GuidelinesGuidelinesWorkgroup’s objective—To create broad,

accessible Linkages/FE Guidelines useful for:◦ CalWORKs and Child Welfare Services settings◦ Counties already implementing Linkages and

counties who will in the futureGuidelines organized around 6 domains:

◦ Foundational Guidelines◦ Identifying Mutual Clients◦ Assessment◦ Coordinated Case Planning◦ Support and Monitoring◦ Transition and After Care

Family Engagement Family Engagement GuidelinesGuidelinesGuidelines enhanced with “examples

from the field” to illustrate how key principles are being put into practice.

Panelists will elaborate on more practices that reflect specific guidelines.

Last 15 min reserved for Q & A period.

Let’s start with some themes from the Guidelines…

Key themes from FE Key themes from FE GuidelinesGuidelinesIntegrative power of collaboration: economic

self-sufficiency helps reduce maltreatment risk; more stability at home improves likelihood of work participation.

Recognize and meet basic needs of families first (think Maslow’s hierarchy of needs).

Focus on client skills and potential more than insights/judgments.

Streamline conflicting expectations to improve family’s achievement of case plan goals.

Maximize coordinated time & attention spent with family by Linkages team to promote success.

Engaging families in your Engaging families in your locationlocation

What challenges do you face in

engaging families?

Child Welfare

CalWORKs

Examples from the field: what Examples from the field: what do the FE Guidelines look like in do the FE Guidelines look like in action?action?A philosophy to work for and with families,

rather than responding when families failParent partners: meeting someone who’s

been through both programs promotes trust for new clients

Joint home visits and interactions increases family’s experience of broad support

Co-located staff maximizes family’s access to needed expertise in one place

Inviting fathers to the table…recognizing their role as earners and parents

How does Linkages help How does Linkages help engage families in case engage families in case planning?planning?Family-focus of Linkages supports meeting

parent’s needs to broaden traditional child-centered case planning process (WIIFM)

Active involvement in WtW implies commitment to a better future; team encourages parent to transfer this strength to build parenting capacity

Blending goals of self-sufficiency and family stability creates sense of hope for the future, rather than compliance only

Shared understanding of case information in advance helps define service responses better matched to actual needs

How does Linkages help How does Linkages help engage families in case engage families in case planning?planning?Increased ownership of plan by family

increases their accountability for results:◦Enlist natural supports of family to help

monitor & support parent’s follow-through on goals

◦Set up triggers for regular communication between caseworkers, parent partners & family as part of case plan expectations

◦Model consistent communication among team members

◦Share relevant aspects of follow-up & support to impacted team members

◦Recognize need for case plan adjustments along the way

San Bernardino County San Bernardino County Engaging families: from policy to Engaging families: from policy to practicepracticeRealized that how we worked together

would play out in how our families were treated (parallel process)

Faced the challenge of working across systems with differing objectives

Formed a strong collaborative teamRealized that we needed to simplify

the process as much as possible

VisionVision Children living in a safe environment with

families that are stable and self-sufficient

maps to …

1. Include the family in all matters pertaining to their future.

9. Explore family’s strengths, needs and goals in context of CalWORKs and child welfare.

3. Both service systems share a strength-based, family-centered approach to practice.

11. Help families prioritize child safety and economic self-sufficiency needs to focus service planning efforts.

16. Use the structure of CalWORKs to guide and direct family members toward more productive use of their time and talents.

17. Help the family to connect with a community network of services and support prior to ending system involvement.

18. Manage the possibility of one of the plans continuing for a time after the other has concluded.

Strengthen families by offering clients the services needed to enhance their quality of life.

Increase the client’s care for their children and transition to self-sufficiency.

Treat all families with respect and honesty while meeting their basic needs.

Provide competent, consistent and fair services while meeting program requirements and clients’ needs.

2. Value and reinforce a collaborative service philosophy.

4. Establish basic knowledge about the other program across caseworkers, supervisors and managers.

6. Collaborate w/ CalWORKs to inform safety planning meetings for mutual clients.

7. Coordinate child welfare plans and welfare-to-work plans to improve a family’s chance for success.

Mission

maps to …

Family Engagement Guidelines

Team approach for coordinated case management. Family-driven coordination of care with extensive family leadership. Simplified process of service delivery to reduce duplication of effort. Services meet individual needs of family. Build community capacity to serve families & emphasize prevention. Timely service in a respectful manner. Protect rights of families and honor client choices. Evaluate outcomes.

5. Determine whether family is involved in other program at time of intake.

8. Conduct ongoing screening for a family’s participation in or potential eligibility for CalWORKs thru their involvement with CWS.

10. Review CalWORKs status factors (sanctions, timed out, exempt) that may impact the parent’s ability to engage in service activities.

Guiding Principles

maps to …

FE Guidelines

Who will we serve?Who will we serve?Our legislation and research staff analyst

was able to identify mutual clients by cross referencing C-IV and CWS/CMS

Groups to serve◦ Original proposal (in order of priority)

CalWORKS Sanctioned Non-compliance Active participating (substance abuse or other

counseling activity) Active participating (work or work related)

◦ In practice, did not have enough families to need to prioritize

◦ In CW Family Maintenance (FR not an option at this point in our process)

OutcomesOutcomesSpecific outcome measures to address

safety, permanency and child well-being (examples)◦ Percentage of Linkages children with no

subsequent substantiated referral (safety)◦ Percentage of Linkages children with siblings

who remained home with all siblings during and after Linkages services (permanency and stability)

◦ Physical and mental health needs of children being met during Linkages (well-being)

◦ Wages before and after Linkages (parents have resources)

Getting started…Getting started…Pilot in San Bernardino’s Central Region –

May 2008Training done for both agencies (Guideline

4 – expand knowledge of other systems)FM families after reunification and any other

Court FMDifficult but not impossible Many families not interested at this point –

“done” with servicesFamily to Family has reduced numbers of

Court FM cases in our countyBy end of 2009, needed to expand to FR

Our team grows…expand to Our team grows…expand to FRFR

AB429 put in place & additional state level clarifications made in late 2008

Early in 2009 the upper management of all departments agreed and gave us the go ahead to start the planning process

At this point we added to our team: ◦Transitional Assistance foster care

eligibility worker, supervisor and manager

◦PDD TAD program specialist

The work continues…The work continues…ESP manager and Child Welfare manager

meet with immediate deputy managers Clarify need and approval for further

planningResearch done in other counties who have

AB429 cases by PDD program specialistsThree PS’s collaborated—one unified

handbook chapter ◦ Incorporated into all Handbooks – child welfare,

transitional assistance, foster care and employment services.

◦ All aspects of the pilot covered in one place

Putting AB429 into Putting AB429 into practicepracticeLinkages FR pilot implemented in August

2009Nearly a year and a half of persistent

planning and coordinationRoll out to other regions in 2010-2011Linkages tied to our Child Welfare System

Improvement Plan (Reunification in 12 months)

Parallel process in effect with FE Guidelines◦ fostered cooperation, collaboration and

engagement of all parties involved ◦ created a more robust plan for implementation with

everyone involvedRelatively easy to move into action, everyone

is communicating and accountable to each other

San Bernardino case San Bernardino case processprocessCases are referred through TDM

notifications, referral from ESS or SW, and identification through the mutual client list◦ Both office’s staff members received training in

the other program to help identify clients and educate about Linkages (Guideline 4)

◦ Linkages SW is notified of all TDM’s in the region and screens for Linkages eligibility prior to the TDM; Linkages SW participates in initial TDM if case is identified as eligible (Guidelines 1, 5, 10)

◦ Monthly report is provided that identifies mutual clients from both programs’ computer systems (Guidelines 4, 8)

Intake

San Bernardino case San Bernardino case processprocessOnce eligibility established, family

meets with assigned SW, Linkages SW, and Linkages ESS

Coordinated case plan meeting includes explanation of confidentiality, review of current CWS case plan and progress, current WTW status, and discussion of family’s next goals (Guidelines 10, 12, 15, 16)

Coordinated Case Planning

San Bernardino case San Bernardino case processprocessESS and Linkages SW meet weekly at

the CWS office for client meetings (Guidelines 2, 14)

ESS and Linkages SW also communicate regularly via telephone, email, etc. about case issues (Guideline 14)

Family meets with team quarterly or as needed if issues arise in the case (Guidelines 2, 14)

Coordinated Case Management

San Bernardino case San Bernardino case processprocessLinkages SW, assigned SW, and ESS

conduct a final coordinated team meeting prior to case closure (Guideline 11, 18)

Families are given an Exit Survey to provide feedback on their experience with Linkages (Guideline 1, 2)

This process provides a bridge from CWS services to ongoing CalWORKs services for families (Guideline 18)

Transition and After Care

Stanislaus County:Family Engagement Guidelines in Play

Our Vision is to end poverty and family violence in

Stanislaus County

Family EngagementGuideline #8

Conduct ongoing screening for family’s participation in or potential eligibility for CalWORKs throughout their involvement with Child Welfare Services

INTEGRATED SERVICES SCREENING TOOL CSA – Child and Family Services Use Only Fax completed form to: 558-2585 / Attention: X02 Date: Customer Name:

SSN: Date of Birth: Does the Customer receive SSI? Yes No Unknown Are the children living with the customer? Yes No Unknown Referred by: CWS Social Worker Name: District #: CalWORKs Case Name: Case #: CalWORKs Case Manager Name: District #:

Check applicable program: FIP FM Date of entry to the program: Partners: Comments:

CSA – StanWORKs Use Only Received by: Date: Eligible for Supportive Services? Yes No Eligible for Behavioral Health Services (BHS)? Yes No Case Assigned to: Specialized FSS III District #

Date Case Transfer Requested: Date Case Received: sert the screening tool

FE Guideline #8 in action

Screening tool

For all new voluntary cases

At the time of trial visit for Family Reunification

To identify linked customers

Family EngagementGuideline #9

Explore family’s strengths, needs and goals in context of CalWORKs and Child Welfare

Guideline #9 in action

Assessment of the families safety and self sufficiency needs

Identify roles and responsibilities

Plan what resources and services will be utilized

Family Engagement Guideline #10

Review CalWORKs status factors that may impact the parent’s ability to engage in service activities

FE Guideline #10 in action

Ongoing communication occurs in order to promote:

• Awareness of dual system resources

• Monitor change for both the system and the family

• Adjust the plan based on any change

Family EngagementGuideline #7

Adhere to standard confidentiality requirements

FE Guideline # 7 in actionBreaking down the barriers with

internal and external partners

Sharing of information to move a family forward

Keep process on track

Allows us to see the whole family

Case Staffing Referral Form

Case Manager: Date: 9/16/09 Second Parent: Case Name: Absent Parent (s): Payee: Children: Case Number: 01234567 SS#: WTW Worker/District #/Ext.: Funding Streams Social Worker/District #/Ext.:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Concerns: Parenting Support Domestic Violence Child Behavior Substance Abuse Welfare To Work Sanction Mental Health Disability Health Issues Opportunities:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Challenges to be met: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To be completed during staffing Staffing Participants:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Recommendations: (Transportation and Child Care plans etc.) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

*Strongly recommend to invite families into Coordinated Case Planning.

Family EngagementGuideline #12

Coordinate child welfare case plans and welfare-to-work plans to improve family’s chances for success

FE Guideline # 12 in action

Family involvement to choice in the plan expresses needs

Listening to customer concerns

Receiving buy-in

VIDEO clip #2

Leaving with a completed planReduced duplication of services

Maximized funding streams

Holistic approach to family needs

Family is now engaged in their case plan for all programs

VIDEO

clip #3

Coordinated Case Planning: Strategy for Solutions and Goal Setting Family’s Concerns

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Agency’s Concerns Parenting Support Child Behavior

Substance Abuse WTW Sanction

Mental Health Disability

Domestic Violence Other

Social Worker Customer FSSTo make referral to: To comply with all recommendations: To make referral to:

*Parenting Support *Attend Parenting *GED services

*Child behavior *Attend Substance Abuse evaluation *Behavioral Health

BHRS Counselor Other Partners

To set up evaluation for: To make referral to:

*Domestic Violence *WIA

*Substance Abuse *Public Health

Homeless: Time Limits:

*Received temp only *36 months remaining

Clear

Expectations

Responsibilities

Questions?Questions?