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2010 Conference on Differential Response

American Humane Association

The nation’s voice for the protection of children & animals

It Takes a Community: Visioning a Future for the Child Welfare System

Caren Kaplan Patricia Schene Patricia Ploehn Carol Redding Ben Tanzer

American Humane Association The nation’s voice for the protection of children and animals

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Welcome and Session Overview

More than a Decade of Differential Response, there are:

 13 states implementing DR statewide  11 implementing DR or similar system in selected counties  Tribal groups in 4 states implementing DR  4 states and the District of Columbia are planning or considering implementation

Evaluation Results from Field Experiments

 

Child Safety not Diminished

 Safety of children did not decline while families received new approach.  Children were made safer sooner

Family Engagement under AR

 Cooperation of families improved  Families were more satisfied and felt more involved in decision making 

CPS Staff Reacted Positively

 Workers overall reacted positively and believed approach to be more effective.



Services to Families and Children Increased and Changed

   Needed services were delivered more quickly.

Services delivering basic necessities (food, clothing, shelter, and medical care) increased.

Greater utilization of community resources 

New CA/N Reports and Later Placements of Children Reduced

 Recurrence of CA/N reports decreased for families where new approach was provided.



Short-Term Costs Greater, Long-Term Costs Reduced

 While initial cost of AR in services provided and worker time was greater than in traditional CPS interventions, it was less costly and more cost effective in longer term.

American Humane Association The nation’s voice for the protection of children & animals

Like a Lifting Fog…

 DR Evaluation results make it difficult to deny that system change is essential – practice, strategies, structure, stakeholders, roles and responsibilities…  This reality creates our need to respond differently.

So why is the default response to CA/N allegations…

an INVESTIGATION?

Mismatch between System’s Offerings and Families’ Needs

   Imminent danger and/or serious harm was absent in > 70% accepted reports (USDHHS, 2010) 19.7 % of victims were subject of court proceedings &20.9% were placed in foster care in response to investigation (USDHHS, 2010) CPS investigation response is ill suited to provide improvements in social support, family functioning, poverty, maternal education, and child behavior problems associated with CA/N.

Source: Campbell, K.A., et al. Household, family, and child Risk Factors after an investigation for suspected child maltreatment. Archives of Pediatric

and Adolescent Medicine. [Vol. 164, No.10] October 2010.

The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

This is

not

the face of child protective services .

Time for a Reality Check

American Humane Association The nation’s voice for the protection of children & animals     # of neglect allegations has remained level; = ¾ cases reported to CPS Poverty is source of conditions that make CA/N, & most particularly, neglect of children’s basic needs more likely. - Tony Loman (April 2010) > ½ of families in OH AR pilot were subjects of previous accepted CA/N reports CPS, in its historical framework, has outlived its usefulness - Abraham B. Bergman, MD (2010, amended)

Where are we

NOW

?

What does this mean for children and their families who come to the attention of the CPS system?

The Essence & Requisite of Our Work

 Services/supports responsive to specific family needs if benefits are to be realized  Engagement of and Leadership by Families  Engagement of and Involvement of ALL Stakeholders  System and practitioner agility  Parallel Processes permeate all that we do.

American Humane Association The nation’s voice for the protection of children & animals

Growing the Differential Response System

Visioning a Future for the Child Welfare System

REPORT OF ALLEGED MALTREATMENT SCREENED OUT REPORTS DUAL SCREENING

Meet state statutory criteria of abuse and/or neglect?

Yes

or

No

If

Yes

, using response specific criteria, assign to one of three response pathways.

American Humane Association The nation’s voice for the protection of children & animals

PREVENTION/EARLY INTERVENTION RESPONSE

Formal referral of family to appropriate community services Participation exclusively on voluntary basis

ASSESSMENT RESPONSE

No Abuse or neglect has or is likely to occur Lack of identified present danger threat Court intervention not apparently necessary Lack of necessary care due to poverty Lack of supervision

INVESTIGATION RESPONSE

Present Danger threats Sexual abuse cases Egregious incidents Substantial bodily harm

RECURRENCE/CHRONIC RESPONSE

Frequently Encountered Families Pervasive, long-term challenges Multiple, profound impairments Entrenched poverty/destitute Social isolation/sans social supports

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Commonalities Across Responses

   All focus on ensuring

child safety

and promoting permanency within family.

All recognize

child welfare agency’s authority

to make decisions about placement and court involvement. All contribute to

creating system flexibility

so CPS can respond to a family’s changing circumstances, needs and desires. Source: Kaplan, C., & Merkel-Holguin, L. (2008). Another look at the national study on differential response in child welfare. Protecting Children, 23(1 & 2), 5-21.

American Humane Association The nation’s voice for the protection of children & animals