illinois department of children and family services, pathways to strengthening and supporting...

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting Families Program

April 5, 2010Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

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PATHWAYS TO STRENGTHENING AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN ILLINOIS

Module 3B - Critical Thinking



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Critical Thinking

The process of evaluating propositions or hypothesis and making judgments about them on the basis of well supported information.



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6 Steps of Critical Thinking

1. What information is available? 2. What am I being asked to believe or accept?3. What evidence is available to support the

assertion, is it reliable and valid?4. Are there alternative ways of interpreting the

evidence?5. What additional evidence would help to

evaluate the alternatives?6. What conclusions are most reasonable based

on the evidence and the number of alternative explanations?



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STEP 1: What Information is available?

Practice Case –Practice Case – The Parker CaseThe Parker Case

Available information?



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STEP 2: What am I being asked to believe or accept?

What do we know? What do we know?

What don’t we know?What don’t we know?



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STEP 3: What evidence is available to support the assertion, is it reliable and valid?

How do we turn information How do we turn information into evidence for decision into evidence for decision

making?making?



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STEP 4: Are there alternative ways of interpreting the evidence?

Does the family promise to do Does the family promise to do something (sometimes we something (sometimes we interpret that as evidence)?interpret that as evidence)?

Do they do it?Do they do it?



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STEP 5: What additional evidence would help to evaluate the alternatives?

Corroboratory information Corroboratory information available?available?



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STEP 6: What conclusions are most reasonable based on the evidence and the number of alternative explanations?

What conclusions about the What conclusions about the children can be made at this children can be made at this

time?time?



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6 Steps of Critical Thinking – Parker CaseCase








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STEP 1: What Information is available?

Cadwell – Cadwell –

Initial Safety AssessmentInitial Safety Assessment

Available Information?



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STEP 2: What am I being asked to believe or accept?

What do we know? What do we know?

What don’t we know?What don’t we know?



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STEP 3: What evidence is available to support the assertion, is it reliable and valid?

How do we turn information How do we turn information into evidence?into evidence?



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STEP 4: Are there alternative ways of interpreting the evidence?

Family Strengths?Family Strengths?

Family Needs?Family Needs?



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STEP 5: What additional evidence would help to evaluate the alternatives?

Corroboratory information Corroboratory information available?available?



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STEP 6: What conclusions are most reasonable based on the evidence and the number of alternative explanations?

What conclusions about the What conclusions about the child’s well-being can be made child’s well-being can be made

at this time?at this time?



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6 Steps of Critical Thinking – DR Services?DR Services?








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Small Group Activity

Use the “6 Steps of Critical Thinking” to reach a decision at each of the following stages of a DR Services Case:

1. 3-months after case opening

2. 6 Month Review

3. Permanency Goal No Longer Appropriate



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Small Group Presentation Stage One –Stage One –

3-Months After Case Opening3-Months After Case Opening

1. What information is available? 2. What am I being asked to believe or accept?3. What evidence is available to support the assertion, is

it reliable and valid?4. Are there alternative ways of interpreting the

evidence?5. What additional evidence would help to evaluate the

alternatives?6. What conclusions are most reasonable based on the

evidence and the number of alternative explanations?



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Stage One (3 Months) Red Flags

1. Possible consideration of inpatient substance abuse?

2. Any support available (other than Ashari)?3. Possible collaterals (other than Ashari)?4. LEADS/CANTS checks?5. Full medical workup for mom needed,

especially after learning she was pregnant?6. Possible second hotline report because mother

is pregnant and admitting to drug use?7. Should mother have custody with an indicated

sexual assault charge?



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Small Group Presentation Stage Two -Stage Two -

6-Month Review 6-Month Review 1. What information is available? 2. What am I being asked to believe or accept?3. What evidence is available to support the assertion, is







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Stage Two (6 Months)Red Flags

1. Legal plan of action / possible empowerment of mom?

2. Drug screen was needed.

3. Was mother interviewed about the rash?

4. How long has the child’s breathing been an issue?

5. Supervisory consultation needed.

6. Child and Family Team needed.

7. Mother continues to need inpatient treatment.



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Small Group Presentation Permanency Goal No Longer

Appropriate1. What information is available? 2. What am I being asked to believe or accept?3. What evidence is available to support the assertion, is







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Stage Three (Case Disruption) Red Flags

1. Other aliases for Ashari Nolan?

2. Moving back in with Ashari.

3. Why such a long wait for confirmation of the child’s visit to the doctor?

4. Ashari should have been added to the CERAP.

5. Mother continued to use drugs daily.



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Critical Thinking - Summary

Six Step Process for Critical Thinking1. What information is available? 2. What am I being asked to believe or accept?3. What evidence is available to support the assertion,

is it reliable and valid?4. Are there alternative ways of interpreting the


alternatives?6. What conclusions are most reasonable based on

the evidence and the number of alternative explanations?

Questions / Concerns

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