Transcript Linkages Shared-Learning Plan

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Collaboration at the Front End
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Collaboration at the Front End:
How Linkages Supports Prevention
and Early Intervention
Linkages Shared Learning Webinar #7
October 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 Field
Innovations 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 colocated 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 Families
Denise Richmond, CalWORKs Employment & Training
Rod Delfer, Foster Care Eligibility Supervisor
Jacqueline 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 Linkages (cont.)
• 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.
Linkages Processes
Harm
• Intake Supervisor contacts
Past Actions
Linkages Coordinator via email or phone
Risk
• Eligibility for Linkages is
Safety
confirmed and Coordinator
Acts of Protection
attends Intake Staffing
• Signs of Safety Mapping is
used during the staffing so
Complicating Factors
current harm and danger can
Red Flags/Issues
be identified. Complicating
factors are discussed. Acts of
Strengths
Safety and Strengths are
Skills
highlighted.
3 Houses Interview Questions
House of
Good
House of
Worries
House of
Dreams
This brings the child’s perspective & voice
to the staffing.
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.
Changes to Our Process
Over the past few years
Looking toward the future
• We elected to change two
internal processes:
• “Good Cause” for Child
Support
• Expedited Cash Aid once
Social Worker has an
anticipated return date
• 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
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?
Follow Up: we’ll email with…
– Copy of this PowerPoint
– Updated Linkages Coordinators Directory
– Webinar Schedule 2012
Next Webinar
– November 6 – Data Management
– Cathy Murnighan will send registration link
Questions?
[email protected]