Using the Casey Foster Home Assessment Tools (CFFA): Sharing Information About the CFFA with Caregivers

An Interactive Learning Module for End Users

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– Go to the CFFA web site Back Forward

WEB

How to view the website during the training module

• During the training module we suggest links to important information on the www.fosterfamilyassessments.org web site. If you want to go to the web site to view information, click on the button. When you are finished, minimize the web site to return to the training module.

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Handouts for the training module

1. Sample Script - Telling Applicants about the CFFA Measures2. CHAP Measures and the Home Study

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To download these handouts - Click here

Table of Contents

Taking a Team Approach

Telling Applicants about the CFFA

Sharing Results

Using Results to Plan for Home Development

Documenting Results

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Introduction

This interactive learning module prepares you to use online versions of the Casey Foster Family Assessment (CFFA) tools for assessing foster and foster/ adoptive parent applicants.

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After completing this self-study module you will know about…..

• Sharing information about the CFFA with foster/adoptive parent applicants

• Discussing CFFA results with caregivers

• Documenting results in the case record

• Using CFFA results to evaluate caregivers’ training and support needs

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Take a Team Approach

• The CFFA gives the applicant’s perspective and the worker’s perspective

• These two views provide the best vantage points for predicting how applicants will do and what development and support they will need

• Applicants know the most about themselves• You know the most about foster care

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BeliefsAttitudes

CFFA Scores

Strengths Growth Areas

Sharing Results

The Assessment Process

Worker’s KnowledgeFoster Parent’s Previous Experiences

Observations of Applicant

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Foster Parent Development

New foster parent

Experienced foster parents

Applicants come to agencies with a variety of previous experiences that affect their attitudes and beliefs about being a foster parent.

As they care for children and youth and work with agencies, foster parents develop greater potential to provide stable home placements that promote child well-being.

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CFFA Scores

•93 High

•14 Low

•37 Medium

•74 High

•56 Medium

Assist workers in identifying areas for further exploration

Growth Areas

Training and Development

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Telling Applicants About the CFFA

• Use the same case work and relationship building skills you use during other parts of the home study process

• Develop rapport and trust before asking applicants to complete the measures

• Engage the applicant in mutual assessment by answering questions they might have about the measures

• Give the measures to applicants during face-to-face contacts

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How you tell applicants about the CFFA improves the quality of information you get

Asking Applicants to Fill Out the CFFA

• Be direct in stressing the importance of giving accurate information.

“It is important for us to get to know you. Please be as accurate as possible. If you give information that is not your true view, it might cause you problems later when you become foster parents and it might cause problems for any foster or adoptive children we place in your care. What I want you to do is to give me the most honest and accurate answers you can to every question. If you do that you’ll see that this questionnaire will help you and help the children we place in your care.”

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Asking Applicants to Fill Out the CFFA Cont.

• Emphasize confidentiality of information, who will see the information and how information will be used as part of the application process

• Be sensitive to applicant’s background and reading level• Tell couples to complete the measures individually on

their own so you get each person’s perspective and that you will discuss their responses with them together

• Encourage applicants to complete to all of the items on the CFFA questionnaires with their best responses

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More Points to Share

• The CFFA is not a test. It is a way to share views about themselves.

• The CFFA is one of many ways you are getting to know them during the licensing process.

• Information will help you know them better so that you can be more supportive.

• Completing the measures will help them see themselves as foster/adoptive parents.

• Information will help you plan together so that they are successful in caring for children.

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Present the CFFA with Confidence

• Share your belief that the CFFA is an important part of the licensing process

• Applicants will notice your uncertainty and might not complete it as carefully as they would otherwise or might not complete it at all

• CFFA materials and training exercises will help give you the experience and confidence use the CFAI appropriately and constructively

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Telling Applicants: A Demonstration

Sample Script for Telling Applicants about the CFFA Measures

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If you haven’t downloaded this handout yet - click here

TEAM with the CFFA

• Treat each applicant as an individual

• Explore perceptions of strengths and areas for growth

• Acknowledge and discuss similarities and differences in perceptions

• Make plans to develop potential through training and support

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Sharing Results

• Use the results to help applicants to see themselves in the role of foster/adoptive parents with your agency– Identify strengths– Identify areas for growth and support

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Sharing Results Cont.

• Explain what scores mean

– Scores indicate a level of potential in areas that predict success for foster parents

– Scores identify how the applicant can best work with the agency

– Scores identify areas for development

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Sharing Results Cont.

• Put results in behavioral terms

– “Let’s talk about what your response means in dealing with the children our agency serves. You expressed some concerns as evidenced by your score. What this means is that placing children with difficult behaviors into your home during your first months of being a foster parent may cause your frustration and discouragement about continuing. Let’s identify some areas of training and support that will be helpful to you as you begin.”

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Sharing Results Cont.

• Use results to build collaborative partnerships– You’re in the best position to integrate the

information you collect for each applicant

– Share your perspective about the applicant’s potential to foster/adopt with your agency

– Explore differences in perspective to promote communication and clarification

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Sharing Results Cont.

• Get the applicant’s perspective

• Support ongoing development by identifying strengths and areas for future growth

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Use CFFA results to plan foster home development activities

• Individualize support to caregivers (maybe the support checklist)

• Find and select relevant training opportunities (maybe the training checklist)

• Measure growth at time of re-licensing

• Plan agency training based on caregiver’s identified needs

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Documenting Results

• Use behavioral terms• Put information in the

appropriate section of the home study report

• Consider results along with other information gathered

• Report the applicant’s perceptions of his/her CFFA results

• Identify plan for action

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CFFA and the Home Study Report

• Handout: CHAP Measures and the Home Study. After downloading this handout, follow the directions. This will give you an understanding of just how the CHAP measures can be integrated into the homestudy document.

If you have not already downloaded this handout - Click here Back Forward

Documenting Results: Example 1

Mrs. Taylor sees her father as overprotective as indicated by her score in the low potential range on the Parental Bonding Instrument. She confirmed this perception during the home visit. She states that as a child her father tried to make all her decisions for her. She rebelled against his authority as a teen. After her children were born, she came to see her father as looking out for her best interest. She sees herself as more permissive with her children and wants them to develop their own opinions and beliefs.

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Documenting Results: Example 2

Mr. Davidson indicated problems with co-parenting (scores fell in the low potential range on the CFAI-A co-parenting subscale). He reports that he and his wife take different approaches to parenting their children. During the home study interview he described himself as easy going and wife as the “disciplinarian.” He reports being satisfied with his marital relationship (high potential range on the KMS) and with his relationships with his children (high potential range on the KPS).

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Getting Help with the CFFA

Check out the CFFA web site for more information about the CFFA tools

About Assessments

www.fosterfamilyassessments.org

Click Here

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CFFA Training Curriculum

• Would you like to bring hand’s on training to your agency?

Click here for more information about training benefits and opportunities

Training

This concludes Introduction to the Casey Foster Family Assessments

Thank you for your interest in learning about the CFFA!

Other interactive self-tutorials on the CFFA:• Introduction to the CFFA• The CFAI• The CHAP Measures

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Using the Casey Foster Home Assessment Tools: Sharing Information about the CFFA with Caregivers

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