This is what it is all about…. http://www.youtube.com/v/GbSp88PBe9E?autoplay =1&rel==0 Introductions Split into groups One person introduces each member of the group, their role.
Download ReportTranscript This is what it is all about…. http://www.youtube.com/v/GbSp88PBe9E?autoplay =1&rel==0 Introductions Split into groups One person introduces each member of the group, their role.
This is what it is all about…. http://www.youtube.com/v/GbSp88PBe9E?autoplay =1&rel==0 Introductions Split into groups One person introduces each member of the group, their role at OCS, and all the different ways that members are involved with the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Strengthening Families Alaska A New Evidence-Based Child Maltreatment Prevention Strategy The Child Welfare Academy The Strengthening Families Initiative Developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy www.cssp.org National Expansion with the assistance of the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds www.ctfalliance.org Funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Just the facts… Research Questions • With families, what already works? • What family characteristics promote children’s healthy development and link directly to reducing the risk of child abuse and neglect? The Protective Factors Framework • Parental Resilience • Social Connections • Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development • Concrete Support in Times of Need • Social and Emotional Development Early Care & Education Domestic Violence Physical Health •Primary healthcare •Health promotion activities Targeted special needs programs •Screening and assessment •Early intervention services •Safety planning •Education •Screening •Shelter • Counseling Families & •Mental Health Consultation Protective •Counseling Factors Children’s •Parent/ child •Home activities •Assessment visits •Support •Safety Plng •Group Grps activities •Substance •Parent Ed. Abuse trtmt Family Resource Centers Child Welfare Home visiting programs Mental Health Real Results: Systems at state and national level are incorporating child abuse prevention goals and strategies across multiple disciplines to allow better collaboration. Local programs and parent leaders are using the same framework to strengthen local programs and local community approaches to supporting families with young children. Center for the Study of Social Policy Protective Factors are based on building resiliency rather than reducing risk Protective Capacities Intellectual skills Emotional skills Physical care skills Motivations to protect Social connections Resources such as income, employment or housing Protective Factors Parental resilience Social connections Knowledge of parenting and child development Concrete support in times of need Social and emotional competence of children Protective Capacities are concrete and identifiable behaviors, emotions, social connections and resources necessary for insuring child safety. Source: Child Welfare Institute Well-being Permanence Safety Initial Assessment Case Example 1. 2. 3. Read Case Example to enhance discussion for the following slides that outline the 5 protective factors. As we go through the slides, we will use this Initial Assessment Case Example to think about how Protective Factors might help guide our work with the family. We will also use the example to help us think about how we or other agencies might have assisted the family sooner. Parental Resilience Parental Resilience Psychological health; parents feel supported and able to solve problems; can develop trusting relationships with others and reach out for help Parents who did not have positive childhood experiences or who are in troubling circumstances need extra support and trusting relationships Social Connections Social Connections Relationships with extended family, friends, co-workers, other parents with children similar ages Community norms are developed through social connections Mutual assistance networks: child care, emotional support, concrete help Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development Basic information about how children develop Basic techniques of developmentally appropriate discipline Alternatives to parenting behaviors experienced as a child Help with challenging behaviors Concrete Supports in Times of Need Concrete Supports Response to a crisis: food, clothing, shelter Assistance with daily needs: health care, job opportunities, transportation, education Services for parents in crisis: mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse Specialized services for children Strengthening Families: Creating a New Normal The Strengthening Families Approach: • • • • Benefits ALL families Builds on family strengths, buffers risk, and promotes better outcomes Can be implemented through small but significant changes in everyday actions Builds on and can become a part of existing programs, strategies, systems and community opportunities Levers Community and multisystem leaders act to build sustainable infrastructure through key levers for change: • Parent Partnerships • Policy/Systems • Professional Development Strategies Community programs and worker practice consistently: Families and communities build protective factors that also promote healthy outcomes: • Facilitate friendships and mutual support • Strengthen parenting • Respond to family crises • Parental resilience • Link families to services and opportunities • Social connections • Knowledge of parenting and child development • Concrete support in times of need • Social and emotional competence of children • Value and support parents • Further children’s social and emotional development • Observe and respond to early warning signs of abuse and neglect Results Protective Factors • Strengthened families • Optimal child development • Reduced child abuse & neglect A New Normal Families and communities, service systems and organizations: • Focus on building protective and promotive factors to reduce risk and create optimal outcomes for children, youth and families • Recognize and support parents as decision makers and leaders • Value the culture and unique assets of each family • Are mutually responsible for better outcomes for children, youth and families Social and Emotional Competence Social and Emotional Competence Normal development (like using language to express needs and feelings) creates more positive parentchild interactions Challenging behaviors, traumatic experiences or development that is not on track require extra adult attention A Surprise: What children learn in school or other programs goes home to their families Case Plan Brainstorm Use Protective Factors to help you brainstorm about how to case plan with the Johnson Family. What kind of goals, objectives, and activities would link to building protective factors in the family? For PCA: How do protective factors support enhancing protective capacities? Small but significant changes in everyday practices can produce huge results in preventing child abuse and neglect for young children – and helping families stay strong even under stress Strengthening Families Program and Early Childhood Interventions Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers Vulnerability/ Interventions Laws and policy ALASKA In October of 2010, 49% of children with a substantiated allegation of maltreatment were between birth and five years of age EARLY YEARS MATTER! 90% of brain development takes places before the age of 3 Early brain development determines continued development Jack P. Shonkoff, M.S., Center on the Developing Child. Presentation 1/18/07 28 Relationships with Caregiver Brain development requires healthy caregiving Stress associated with abuse and neglect impairs brain development 29 A majority of children entering foster care are under the age of 6 As many as 90% experience serious or chronic health problems These children experience developmental delays at 4 -5 times the rate of other children These children may have fundamental and severe difficulties with friendships, school, independence, and self esteem. Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) linked to emotional, behavioral, and health problems in adults. Best Practices for Children under 6 If… The key to healthy and social and emotional development is positive and consistent early experiences with loving caregivers And early brain development is supported by caregiving by trusted adults who can play with, talk to, and comfort a child. Then… How do we assure that the children we work with have these supports, connections, and attachments. What are best practices for the children we work with? Best Practices for Children under 6 If… Young children are more likely to have physical health problems than other children and many enter foster care with complex physical health needs Then… How do we assure the children we work with have their medical needs met? What are best practices for the children we work with? Best Practices for Children under 6 If… If a young child is not adequately supported at the time separation, then a separation can be traumatic for a child. To reduce the impact of separation on a young child, the child needs to maintain healthy contact with caregivers. Then… How do we assure the young children who have been separated from caregivers maintain healthy family contact with those caregivers? What are best practices for the children we work with? Best Practices for Children under 6 If… If a young child is not adequately supported at the time separation, then a separation can be traumatic for a child. To reduce the impact of separation on a young child, the child needs to maintain healthy contact with caregivers. Then… How do we assure the young children who have been separated from caregivers maintain healthy family contact with caregivers? What are best practices for the children we work with? CAPTA/IDEA Part C CAPTA (Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act) requires infants and toddlers be evaluated for eligibility for early intervention services Alaska Early Intervention/ Infant Learning Program (ILP) What is the Alaska Early Intervention/ Infant Learning Program (ILP)? They help you understand a child's development They help you find services you need for a child Referring to Infant Learning Programs/ Federal and State Guidelines We are obligated by law to refer to ILP whenever a child under three has been abused or neglected Within 30 days of substantiated allegation of maltreatment but should happen as soon as possible Other? In the above referral situations, parental consent is encouraged but not required. Infant Learning Program Screening and Evaluation Any infant or toddler with a diagnosed or suspected development delay needs a screening and or evaluation to determine eligibility to be enrolled in a program. Screening - is a quick look at how a child s learning and growing. Evaluation - included developmental tests and evaluation by qualified professionals to determine a child's initial and continuing eligibility. Who is eligible for early intervention ILP services” Any child under the age of three years when: They show at least a 15% delay in one or more of these developmental areas: Moving (gross motor) Using Hands (fine motor) Thinking/Learning (cognitive) Understanding/Talking (communication/language) Getting along with others (social/emotional) Doing things for him/her self (adaptive) OR… Have a diagnosed condition that may lead to a significant delay or Are at risk for a developmental delay. Referring Children in Foster Care Children should be referred to ILP screening as soon as possible after deemed necessary If the child is not in custody, the parents should stay involved in the screening Both parents and foster parents should be involved in an evaluation or recommended services. Making a referral http://www.hss.state.a k.us/ocs/InfantLearnin g/program/program_di r.htm Handout Referral Form Handout Brochure Services for children might include: Developmental screening and evaluation An Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) to outline goals and services families want for their children Information for families to better understand their child's developmental strengths and needs Home visits to help the family or caregivers guide their children in learning new skills Physical, occupation or speech therapy to help families support their child with daily activities Specialized equipment and resources to promote development Assistance in getting other specialized services and care families need ILP/ Protective Factors • Parental Resilience • Social Connections • Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development • Concrete Support in Times of Need • Social and Emotional Development • Nurturing and Attachment Case Study 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. How was it determined that child under three eligible for referral? When was referral accomplished? How were the parents included in the referral? How were the parents (foster parents) included in the screening? If needed, how were the parents (foster parents) included in the evaluation and services? How were the services included in the case plan? How were the protective factors in the family supported? What happens after age three in ILP? ILP hosts a meeting where transition plan is developed Services for children who continue to experience developmental delays beyond the age of three are identified and established. Referring children after age three? Continue to refer children Engage parents Head Start and other agencies that can continue to work with children in the home and outside the school setting. Strengthening Families Strategies (child care). Head Start What is Head Start? Services for 3-5 year olds Early Head Start Benefits for Children Benefits for Parents Head Start/ Protective Factors • Parental Resilience • Social Connections • Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development • Concrete Support in Times of Need • Social and Emotional Development • Nurturing and Attachment STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM LINKAGES: POLICY AND PROGRAM STRATEGIES ing Families Out of he CW System Intake and Investigations Case Planning In-Home Child Protective Services Out-of-Home Care/ Permanency Older Youth Exiting Foster Care Strengthening Families in Your Community! Resources Strengthening Families www.strengtheningfamilies.net Center for the Study of Social Policy www.cssp.org Strengthening Families Alaska www.strengtheningfamilies.alaska.gov Facebook too! Alaska Child Welfare Academy http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/childwelfareacademy/ Facebook too! 52 THANK YOU! When families do better- kids do better. “Families don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care.” Marian Wright Edelman 53