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Collaboration at the Front End:How Linkages Supports Prevention

and Early Intervention

Linkages Shared Learning Webinar #7October 2, 2012

with Leslie Ann Hay of Hay Consulting

Agenda• Linkages as a Prevention and Early Intervention Tool

An overview of how a strong Linkages partnership can help workers understand, engage and support families from the start

• Example From the FieldInnovations by Shasta County

• Open Forum Dialogue about preparing for CalWORKs policy changes effective 2013

Linkages as a Prevention and Early Intervention Tool

• Aligning CalWORKs and Child Welfare Services resources as early as possible helps prevent further family instability

• A strong Linkages partnership can help workers understand, engage and support families from the start

Principles for Effective Collaboration at the Front End

1. Value and reinforce a collaborative service philosophy

– Imperial: Leadership consistency across multiple locations to establish the staffing, infrastructure & philosophical support for collaboration to happen

– Los Angeles: Conduct team-building events with line staff to solidify collaborative relationships between CalWORKs and CWS practitioners

2. Share a strength-based, family-centered approach to practice across both service systems

– Integrate relevant practice reforms with Linkages, e.g. CAPP, Signs of Safety, Family Engagement

– Adopt a common philosophy that sees Linkages as a vehicle to promote family resiliency

• Kern: Makes family-to-family mentoring referrals that reinforces family strengths as assets

3. Adhere to standard confidentiality requirements– Recent California legislation further diminishes

barriers to service coordination for linked clients

– Santa Barbara’s Confidentiality policies are on the Linkages Toolkit.

4. Identify mutual clients early, at multiple entry points and using a variety of methods

– Santa Clara: at Court, CalWORKs orientation, Dependency Intake, case status changes

– Siskiyou: Linkages SW (specialized CalWORKs SW) and ER Screener are responsible for client ID

– El Dorado: at CPS/ER referral, CalWORKs Intake, Welfare-to-Work approval

– Several counties produce Match Lists to maximize identification of linked cases

5. During initial assessments, explore family strengths, needs and goals in context of both safety and self-sufficiency.– Stanislaus: A joint team (CWS Social Worker and co-

located CalWORKs Family Specialist) conducts assessment and planning activities.

– Tulare: Co-located CalWORKs Self-Sufficiency Resource Specialist (SSRS) collaborates with CWS VFM Social Worker to assess families and develop coordinated case plans.

6. Incorporate CalWORKs expertise into safety planning for mutual clients

– Los Angeles: Co-located Linkages GAIN Services Worker (LGSW) attends TDMs for mutual clients.

– Shasta: Integrating Signs of Safety practice into their Linkages program

Shasta County

Practicing Signs of Safety Strategies with Linkages FamiliesDenise Richmond, CalWORKs Employment & TrainingRod Delfer, Foster Care Eligibility SupervisorJacqueline Dunn, Intake Supervisor

Shasta County Linkages• Shasta County is located in northern California.

Adjacent to Tehama, Trinity & Siskiyou counties.• The population is approx. 175,700 with about

65,000 households. It is an estimated 3,850 square miles in size.

• Median family income in 2002 was $35,394. • We have 3,400 CalWORKs cases and just over

500 dependency placements.

• Shasta County has 2 Child Welfare offices: Yuba Street office (In-take office) and LINCS (On-going office). The CalWORKs building is located next door to the LINCS office.

• The Linkages Coordinator is a CalWORKs ETW and is co-located 50% time at Yuba Street CW office.

• Shasta has been utilizing the Linkages coordinated service practice for 3 years.

• Our goal was to begin Linkages implementation with the In-take Units, thereby working with families at the “front end” of services.

Shasta County Linkages (cont.)

Linkages Processes• Intake Supervisor contacts

Linkages Coordinator via e-mail or phone

• Eligibility for Linkages is confirmed and Coordinator attends Intake Staffing

• Signs of Safety Mapping is used during the staffing so current harm and danger can be identified. Complicating factors are discussed. Acts of Safety and Strengths are highlighted.

HarmPast Actions

Risk

SafetyActs of Protection

Complicating FactorsRed Flags/Issues

Strengths Skills

3 Houses Interview Questions

This brings the child’s perspective & voice to the staffing.

House of Good

House of Worries

House of Dreams

Front End Service Coordination• Our goal is to complete the Linkages Coordinated Service Plan

prior to the In-take SW passing the case to the On-Going SW.

• Once the plan has been completed, we use additional tools such as Family Team Meetings (FTM) and follow up Linkages meetings to identify any family needs or services that the parent/s could benefit from regarding their case plan.

• A FTM can be held at any time during the case (FR, FM, Voluntary) and are used by the SW as a Safety Plan measure.

• FTM meetings focus on three questions:

What’s Working Well?

What are you worried about?

What needs to happen?

MDT: Multi-Disciplinary Team Meetings

• This team meets weekly to discuss cases. The group consists of representatives from: Mental Health, Public Health, Domestic Violence, D & A program, CalWORKs, Parenting Center, SW supervisor and Program Manager.

• This is another point at which Safety Mapping is done for all cases including those identified as Linkages cases. This meeting is used to assist the Social Worker with case planning.

Over the past few years• We elected to change two

internal processes:• “Good Cause” for Child

Support• Expedited Cash Aid once

Social Worker has an anticipated return date

Looking toward the future• Expanding Linkages to serve

FM cases• Expand our Linkages

philosophy to other divisions of HHSA

• How will we expand our practice once the temporary exemptions are no longer granted?

• Expedited Cash Aid for all eligible CFS cases—not just Linkages cases

Changes to Our Process

Questions & Comments

• What questions do you have for our Shasta County representatives?

• How is your county utilizing Linkages at the front-end for prevention or early intervention purposes?

Open Forum Discussion

How can your county prepare for serving additional Linkages families as CalWORKs restrictions are lifted at the end of the year?

Questions?

– Copy of this PowerPoint– Updated Linkages Coordinators Directory– Webinar Schedule 2012

Follow Up: we’ll email with…

danna.fabella@cfpic.org

– November 6 – Data Management – Cathy Murnighan will send registration link

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