BRINGING PREVENTION TO THE TABLE: STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING OUTCOMES Julie Collins, LCSW Oct. 23rd, 2008

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What we will cover

• Prevention – Definition – Continuum • CBCAP Program – What it is and what it can bring to the table for improved outcomes • Where Prevention fits in the CFSR/PIP process • What this might mean in your work? • Examples from States • Discussion and Q and A 2

Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect

• For the child welfare system, prevention usual means prevention of reoccurrence of abuse or neglect or prevention of removal once a child and family are involved with the child welfare system. It can also means prevention of a child returning to care/being removed from their caregiver. • For programs such as the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) funded programs, prevention services are targeted towards prevention of child abuse and neglect prior to it happening or prior to any involvement with the child welfare system. 3

Continuum of Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Services Primary or Universal Secondary or Selected Primary prevention consists of activities that are targeted toward the community at large. These activities are meant to impact families prior to any allegations of abuse and neglect. Secondary prevention includes activities targeted to vulnerable families that have one or more risk factors, including families with substance abuse, teen parents, parents of special needs children, single parents, and low income families. Tertiary or Indicated Tertiary prevention consists of activities targeted to families that have confirmed or unconfirmed child abuse and neglect reports. These families have already demonstrated the need for intervention, either with or without court supervision. These are families that qualify for services under child welfare programs. These are families where there is an open case.

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CBCAP Program

• To support neglect.

development and expansion of community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities

to support and strengthen families and prevent child abuse and • To support

meaningful involvement of all parents

, including parents with disabilities, in planning, implementing and evaluation of prevention programs.

• To enhance States’

evaluation capability

determine effectiveness of funded prevention programs and activities. to 5

CBCAP Program

continued • To promote

greater linkages

with other National and Statewide systems change efforts such as the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs).

• To support

training and technical assistance

for lead agencies on program requirements, as well as support ACF Priorities, e.g., healthy marriage, responsible fatherhood, outreach to faith- and community-based programs, positive youth development, and the rural initiative.

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CBCAP Target Populations

•

Vulnerable families

neglect.

at risk of abuse or • Special focus on s

pecific populations

:

– Parents (all, new, teens, etc.).

– Parents/children with disabilities.

– Racial and ethnic minorities.

– Members of underserved or underrepresented groups.

– Fathers.

• Includes activities for

General Population.

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Authorized Activities under CBCAP

• Provide

comprehensive supports for parents.

• • • Promote

development of parenting skills

, especially young parents or those with young children.

Improve family access

resources.

to formal and informal

Support needs of parents with disabilities

respite or other activities.

through •

Provide referrals

to early health and development services.

• Promote

meaningful parent leadership.

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Other Authorized Activities

• • • •

Financing development of continuum of prevention services

through public –private partnerships.

Financing start-up, maintenance expansion, or redesign

unmet needs.

of Child Abuse Prevention programs and activities that are identified as

Maximizing funding

for Child Abuse Prevention programs and activities.

through leveraging funds

Financing public education activities

Abuse Prevention. that focus on health and positive development of parents and children and promotion of Child 9

CBCAP Conceptual Framework

CBCAP CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK (revised 10-19-06) The purposes of the CBCAP program are: (1) to support community-based efforts to develop, operate, expand, and enhance, and where appropriate to network, initiatives aimed at the prevention of child abuse and neglect; (2) to support networks of coordinated resources and activities to better strengthen and support families to reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect; and (3) to foster understanding, appreciation, and knowledge of diverse populations in order to effectively prevent and treat child abuse and neglect. INPUTS Underlying conditions: All families have inherent strengths but they also experience circumstances that impact their ability to provide for children’s basic physical and socioemotional needs. These risk factors increase for families experiencing geographic or social isolation, economic challenges, limited education or employment, inexperience with positive parenting, or physical or mental health issues. Target Population: All families, especially those at risk for abuse or neglect. Resources: CAPTA, Title II Federal CBCAP funding, other Federal funds and State and local matching funds to support prevention efforts ACTIVITIES DIRECT Provide support for parents Promote the development of parenting skills Improve access to formal/in formal resources Support the needs of individuals with disabilities Commit to parent leadership and engagement Support networks of coordinated resources Maximize and leverage funding for prevention Conduct public awareness and education Advocate for systemic change Ongoing assessment and evaluation OUTPUTS DIRECT Numbers served through the continuum of preventive, family centered, culturally competent services (i.e. family resource and support, parent education, mutual support, home visiting, respite care, information and referral) Number of parents involved with program planning and evaluation INDIRECT A public-private network of prevention and family support programs Number of funding mechanisms that blend Federal, State, local and private funds Numbers reached through public awareness and education Number of advocacy activities Number of self assessment, peer review, evaluation and quality assurance efforts SHORT-TERM & INTERMEDIATE OUTCOMES Individual and Family/ Relationships Levels  Increase in the number of families’ needs assessed and connected to needed services within their own communities  Increase in protective factors to prevent abuse or neglect by parents and caregivers related to:  bonding and attachment     parental resilience knowledge of parenting and child development social connections concrete support in times of need  Community Level  Decrease in risk factors associated with reasons for service. Increase in the availability of appropriate evidence-based and evidence-informed programs   Increase in number of agencies developing and implementing action plans to address meaningful parent involvement Increase in coordination across prevention, child welfare and other child and family service systems (i.e. substance abuse, mental health, education, early childhood, disability)    Increase and expansion of Statewide networks of family support and prevention programs Increase in the use of a continuum of evaluation approaches implemented Societal level Increase in private, State and Federal funding for prevention and family support  Increase in public understanding and engagement for the prevention of child abuse and neglect LONG-TERM OUTCOMES SAFETY   Children are protected from abuse and neglect. Children are maintained in their own homes.   Decrease in rate of first time victims. Decrease in rate of first time perpetrators. PERMANENCY   Children have permanency and stability in their living situation. The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children. WELL-BEING     Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children’s needs. Children’s educational, physical and mental health needs are met. Children have opportunities for healthy social and emotional development. Youth make a successful, self-sufficient transition to adulthood.  Diversity of families is embraced and supported. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT Development of a culture of continuous improvement in the strengthening of families and the prevention of abuse and neglect. 10

Prevention and the CFSR/PIP

• Key CFSR Outcomes where Prevention can “fit”:

Indicators

–

Safety

– Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect.

– Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever possible and appropriate.

–

Family and Child Well-Being

– Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children's needs.

– Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs.

– Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and 11 mental health needs

Prevention and the CFSR/PIP

• Key CFSR Outcomes where Prevention can “fit”: continued

Systemic Factors

– – –

Service Array and resource development

• Needs assessment for the full continuum • Resource identification • Filling gaps in the continuum of services through such means as joint RFPs to combine resources/reduce duplication, targeted legislation changes (new money for services for early childhood or infant mental health)

Responsiveness to community

• Participating in IVB planning • Integration of plans to reduce duplication of efforts • Community collaborations • System reform efforts

Quality Improvement

• Participation in activities to review data especially around practice changes to refer at risk families before reaching the level of an investigation 12

Prevention and the CFSR/PIP

• • • • • CFSR/PIP Process where Prevention can “fit”: Planning calls – Important to hear what is going on and how it will take place – Timeframes Statewide Assessment – Helping with the service array – identifying resources and gaps – Linking with the data to understand how programs/services might need to shift to address the gaps – Assist with case reviews Onsite review Exit meeting – Important to understand what the whole system needs to be working on to know where can impact – Often see/hear the info differently than others so might have good insights as to how to address PIP kickoff meeting and subsequent PIP planning meetings – Input to how the prevention (key program components) could help state 13

Prevention and the CFSR/PIP

Prevention State Mention of primary prevention or involvement of the Children's Trust Fund or Community Based Family Resource and Support/CBCAP program as part of the array of services to prevent abuse and maintain safety Use of the words primary and secondary prevention Finished or in the process of developing a state plan for prevention FL, IL, MI, MO, NC, NH, OK, PA, RI, UT Note: all are states where the CBCAP grant dollars are administered by the child welfare agency FL, NC, MI, NJ, OK, RI NM, RI, TX, Taken from An Analysis of Primary and Secondary Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention in the 2001-2004 Child and Family Service Reviews and Program Improvement Plans 14

Prevention and the CFSR/PIP

IN 2007 CBCAP Application: • Forty-four States report some coordination between the CBCAP programs and their CFSR/ PIP/ CFSP process. This coordination usually entails having prevention representation on PIP workgroups and/or participation on Statewide advisory committees for the CFSR/PIP/CFSP process. Some States have specifically identified CBCAP funding priorities or other activities based on the findings of the CFSR/PIP.

• Thirty-one States report strong fiscal and programmatic coordination between their Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) program and CBCAP. Several States are using blended funding pools, which include PSSF, TANF, and the Early Intervention Program, Part C Adapted from 2007 CBCAP Applications Summary report by Melissa Brodowski continued……..

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Prevention and the CFSR/PIP

•

States with CFSR/ PIP Linkages

– Strong coordination (PIP) (14): AL, AK, CA, IA, KY, MN, NV, NJ, NY, ND, PR, PA, SD, WY – Participating in stakeholder groups/ CFSR/PIP committees (30): AZ, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, MT, NE, NH, NC, OK, OR, RI, SC, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI – Early collaboration (4): AR, HI, MT, WV – No CFSR linkage discussion in application (4): MS, OH •

States blending CBCAP & PSSF funds for RFPs (7):

MN, ND, OK, WY AK, CA, KY, •

States with CBCAP/ PSSF linkages (31):

AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MI, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NY, NC, ND, PR, OR, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WV, WY 16 Adapted from 2007 CBCAP Applications Summary report by Melissa Brodowski

Examples of Key Program Areas

• Prevention Plan • Needs Assessment • Collaboration - Partnerships • Connections to networks in the community • Parent Leadership/engagement • System reform • Leveraging Funding

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Discussion and Q and A

Please share your questions and comments!

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Resources

• FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community Based Child Abuse Prevention www.friendsnrc.org

• National Resource Center for Organizational Improvement www.nrcoi.org

• Child Welfare Information Gateway – www.childwelfare.gov

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Contact Information

• Julie Collins

– CWLA’s Project Director for FRIENDS NRC for CBCAP – 703-412-2411 – [email protected]

• www.friendsnrc.org

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