What works in child welfare

What works in child welfareSocial worker contactThe heart of the job

TodaySocial Worker ContactBuild on what you already doReinforce what you do that worksAdd a new idea or methodGive you some tools

AgendaFocused Purposeful ContactParentEngage and motivate parents towards changeTechniques for motivate parentsNegotiation skills

ChildrenNew lawEngaging children by developmental ageAssessing for safety, permanency and well-being3Intros, what is good and what you wantName and what you doMost rewarding thing about your jobOne thing I want most from this workshop is..

Lets start the day a little differently. A moment to be here. We move so fast have so much to do,I want to spend a few minutes getting our minds ready. Some interesting research. I went to training and they talked about how to help us remember and attend the best. I want to start today with a moment to just be here, to be present. We are going to talk today about being present do this is a good start, moment of precontemplation, way to focus us on the now.5With your groupWhat do you already know about social work contacts?What do you already use that works to motivate your families?What have you seen others do that doesnt work?What results would you like to see in your work?

20 minutes6 What works?The relationship between the caseworker and the family

Parent child visits

Involvement of foster parents

You have given a list of thing you did that worked. Theme? Lets try something. Partner, listen without thinking of the answer your experience, what you need to do today, Just hear. 7Hubble Duncan & Miller (1999) APA4 Common Factors in Treatment

8Ask class if they remember the research of the factors that are important to wither or not someone makes a behavior change and what were the criteria for each factor:

40% - Client factors, internal and external External is what is really happening in their life right now. If they are experiencing domestic violence and are concerned for their safety and the safety of the children it is going to be hard to focus on behavior change. Internal is what motivates me. What matters to me. What do I care about. If it doesnt matter and I dont care about it or care about in a way that resonates with me then I am not going be very interested in making a change.

30% Relationship Doesnt have to do with do you like me or not. It has to do with whether or not the client sees you as being a credible person., someone that they can trust. People that you trust tell you good things as wells as challenging thing. It is about does this person understand me and have my best interest at heart. Can I link arms with them and go down this path with them safely.

15% Hope and Expectancy Hope and Expectancy was defined as whether or not the client perceives that something can change. That they can do it. Are you a person that has done this successfully with someone before. Is there the expectancy for success and a better way of being.

15% Model There was no one best model. Many models work as long as you have the other factors.

Compare to fed studyWhat specific actions work?-Establishing open, honest communication with parents-Requesting family participation and feedback in the planning process-Providing instruction and reinforcement in the performance and completing of mutually agreed upon activities.Family Reunification: What the Evidence Shows at www.childwelfare.gov

9So lets start with the concept of motivationWe have changes our thinking about itUsed to think that they are motivated or not and there is not much you can do about itA person is motivated if they agree with the social workerConfrontation, Advice, or threats of consequences are the best way to bring about changeLets see if persuasion worksPersuasion ExerciseExplain why a participant should make a change.List at least 3 specific benefits to make this changeTell the participant how to changeEmphasize how important it is for them to make the changeTell the person to do it!11Persuasion Exercise Part 2Using an engagement motivational approachAsk Why do you want to make this change?How might you go about it in order to succeed?What are the 3 best reasons to do it?Summarize what you heard?Ask What will you do next?

12Engagement is aboutSeeing the Motivators andTalking Motivators

WII-FMSo what are the motivator for your parents beyond get you out of there life. What is in it to get sober, learn a alternative parenting technique, get a new partner?13What are peoples motivators?They are deep, what really mattersDifferent strokes for different folks

They can be what you are, want to be, dreamsThey are how you engage peopleHow you facilitate hopeReasons to make the change?

What questions do you ask to find them?

We call them strength based chat in some material. It really is a critical conversation. Need to know what motivates someone before you can know how to help them go where they want to go14WII-FMStep one of Motivating people15Where to startChange is about the ERR

Elicit RecognizeReinforceElicitHow do you get people to talk!Open ended questions

Questions the encourage discussion and leave a broad latitude for how to respondRemember close questions, short answer, specific info, might be multiple choice. Designed to limit clients answer options. Try it, in pairs one person think of animal ask only closed questions. Now open questions17Got it right when:

They are the ones talkingLet them do the heavy lifting

18Requires us to beIn the moment

Thinking only about what they are saying19ThenExplore and RecognizeReflect what you hear.Wonder with them, explore, look for ambivalence and reflect both sidesTrust the process, this is actually fasterLook for what has worked, build confidence, look for solutions20What if we are stuck on I will not...Focus on both your interest21Interest vs. PositionPosition is What I wantI want an orangeI dont want to go to parents edI want my drugs

Interest is Why I want itWhy the orangeWhat dont you like about parent ed? What does the drug do for you?

22Lets look at an idea!

One person is the boss one is the employee.Boss - your employee is often late. Please have a discussion about their tardiness and why is it is a problem for everyone. Also focus on how this seems to be a life pattern.Lets try another way!

The same players and same rolesThis time only take about the possible solutions to their tardiness.Ask how questions24Which was more successful?

Changing behavior changes people

Focus on what needs to happen

Ask questions that look for solutions from their world25Solution Focused interviewingWhen rather than IfCoping QuestionsException Seeking QuestionsScaling questionsMiracle Question

26What questions can I ask that assess for safety, permanency and well-being and remember the childs development

27TOOL: Developmental Approach to Assessing Safety, Permanency and Well-being with familiesFor each of the major child developmental groupsQuick reminder child development ? assess well-being and permanency? To review Safety concernAge appropriate questions for worker to ask children in the home? Ask well-being? Ask Safety

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TimeOne _ _ _ _ _ _ of time savesONE HOUR

TimeOneMinuteof time savesONE HOUR31Let try it onGoing to meet a mom

Each table has a different age but the same story

Develop the agenda for your meeting What are her motivatorsWhat questions would you ask, read list chose favorite32Tracy Smith34 year old mom with one child living in the home. Was a victim of neglect due to parents addiction.2nd time in child welfare, both times for drug related neglect. Long history of drug use. Unrealistic expectations of children.Last time also a victim of DV. Just got new boyfriend.Mom has been clean for 60 days. One relapse in first month.Case plan is to be sober, demonstrate expectations related to development of her childf33Contact with children

34Please grab a marker and walk around the room and answer the questions on the wall.Relationship of Caseworker Visits with Children and Outcomes in the CFSRA strength rating for caseworker visits with child was significantly associated with substantially achieved ratings for 5 of the 7 outcomes.Children are safely maintained in their homes when possible and appropriate.Children have permanency and stability in their living situations.The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children.Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs.Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs.36Among the cases reviewed in 2002, there was a statistical relationship between strength ratings on the indicator Caseworker Visits with Children (Item 19 on the onsite review instrument) and five of the outcomes, as follows:In 84% of the cases where Caseworker Visits with Children was rated as a strength, Safety Outcome 2 was rated as substantially achieved in the case. In 59% of the cases rated as Areas Needing Improvement for Caseworker Visits with Children, Safety Outcome 2 was rated as substantially achieved.In 53% of the cases where Caseworker Visits with Children was rated as a strength, Permanency Outcome 1 was rated as substantially achieved in the case.In 78% of the cases where Caseworker Visits with Children was rated as a strength, Permanency Outcome 2 was rated as substantially achieved in the case.In 88% of the cases where Caseworker Visits with Children was rated as a strength, Well Being Outcome 2 was rated as substantially achieved in the case.In 76% of the cases where Caseworker Visits with Children was rated as a strength, Well Being Outcome 3 was rated as substantially achieved in the case. Relationship between Caseworker Visits with Children and Other Indicator Ratings in First Round of CFSRSignificant relationships were also found between caseworker visits with children and . . . Achieving the permanency goal of other planned living arrangement Achieving placement with siblings Preserving childrens connections while in foster care Maintaining the childs relationship with parents Assessing needs and providing services to children and families 37(continuation of previous slide)Relationship between Caseworker Visits with Children and Other Indicator Ratings in First Round of CFSRSignificant relationships were found between caseworker visits with children and . . . Providing services to protect children in the home and prevent removal Managing the risk of harm to children Establishing permanency goals Achieving reunification, guardianship and permanent placement with relatives38Among the cases reviewed in 2002, there was a statistical relationship between strength ratings on the indicator, Caseworker Visits with Children (Item 19 on the onsite review instrument), and 14 of the 23 indicators used to evaluate the outcomes, as noted on the slide above, and the two following slides.Relationship between Caseworker Visits with Children and Other Indicator Ratings in First Round of CFSRFinally, significant relationships were also found between caseworker visits with children and . . . Involving children and parents in case planning Caseworker visits with parents Meeting the educational needs of children Meeting the physical health needs of children Meeting the mental health needs of children39(continuation of previous slide)Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006Requires at a minimum

That children in care are seen at least once a month by theircase carrying workerThat the visits be purposeful and focus on issues pertinent to case planning, child safety, permanency and well-beingThe majority of those visits occur in the childs residence.

Federal TargetAt Least90% Of Children in Care Are Visited Every Month 50% Or More Of The Visits Occur In The Home

Goal by Oct 1, 2011The Cycle of Conducting Purposeful and Meaningful Caseworker/Child Visits

PreparationEngagement/The VisitAssessmentCommitmentsNext Steps42Step One: PreparationSchedule visit. (Some unannounced visits?)Review case information.Identify issues related to safety, permanency and well-being.Review case plan goalPrepare an agenda your goal and prepare questions.Inform the child and caregiver about the agenda.Prepare yourself.Worker/Child ContactStep Two: Engagement/The VisitWarm-up Establishing the purpose of the visitMaking the connection with the childAlone timeGathering the information Worker/Child ContactActivity: Interpersonal Skills with Children

Think about a child who is of the age assigned your group.How can you demonstrate genuineness, empathy and respect in your work with him/her? Write one question engage the childTOOL: Safety, Well-being and Permanency checklistsFor each of the major child developmental groupsQuestions for worker contact with caregiversAssessing the caregivers ability to help the child through the transitions, parent child visits, etc.Age appropriate questions for worker contacts with childrenAssessing the childs transition, quality of out of home careEnsuring Safety, Permanency and Well-Being: Suggestions for conducting contacts with children and caregiversTool based on a childs developmental ageSuggestions on how to talk to the child about safety, permanency or well-being issuesLook at your age groups tool.What's different Whats the sameStep Three:Assessment and CommitmentsAssessing information gathered during visit.Making commitments and plans with the child.Sharing information with the caregiver.Worker/Child Contact

Step Four: Next StepsConsulting with supervisors and other experts. Documenting visit. Implementing case plan decision/services.Beginning the preparation step for the next visit.Worker/Child ContactBasic Elements

5 questionsWho participated in the visit?What was the purpose of the visit?What type of contactWhere did the visit occur?When did the visit occur?page 5

The wsWho

WHY

WhatWhoWhereWhen

Let try it onGoing to meet a child

Each table has a different age but the same story

Develop the agenda for your meeting What is the purpose ? To ask52What do you want to take back?

What do you want to try?On what case? What would be the benefits?What would be the first steps, who could help you?As a TOL have them write this down, share with the table.53You are doing such important work!!!!

Thank-you for what you do!54