Transcript Taking charge of change Presenters: Phyllis B. Fulton Charisse S. Johnson Workshop Objective At the conclusion of this workshop participants will understand the conceptual framework.

Taking charge of change
Presenters:
Phyllis B. Fulton
Charisse S. Johnson
Workshop Objective
At the conclusion of this workshop participants will
understand the conceptual framework of citizen
involvement in the child welfare system, recognize
how child well being affects all social systems, how to
be effective as a panel member and how to facilitate
change.
• Insuring the safety and wellbeing of children is
everyone’s responsibility
• Families must have services and resources to care for
children
• Social services agencies are charged by the
community to determine what children are
maltreated and the factors within the family that
impact maltreatment
• The community needs to know what works and
doesn’t work for families in relation to child safety
and wellbeing
• It is the community’s responsibility to insure that
gaps and deficiencies are addressed
• Families must feel at liberty to
ask for assistance as needed,
without stigmas or duress
• Citizens must have knowledge
about conditions or situations
that put children at risk of harm
• Each citizen must be on alert
for child protection needs at all
times
• Citizens must know how to
alert officials about children
that appear in need of protective
services
Communities must have services and
resources needed by families to care
for children.
Engaging families in child protective services when there are gaps or
deficiencies in services or resources has a negative affect on families as
well as child protective professionals. This practice opens the door for
cynicism on the part of the family and burnout for the child protection
professional.
More importantly, the actuality of change in the circumstance or condition
that causes a child to be at risk of harm is unlikely.
Panels may alleviate this concern by thoroughly assessing resources and
determining gaps in services. Panels must then develop a means of
addressing the deficiencies.
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•Panels must provide honest, unbiased assessment and
effective steps for advocacy
Laws must strengthen families as well as protect
children
Administrators must clearly understand the
interconnectedness of the child protection system with
other systems
It is crucial that the social work force is fully trained
and committed to thoroughly assessing families,
identifying conditions that must be changes so that
children can be protected and has skills to facilitate
change
Panels must generate diligent activity within the
community to develop resources that are needed to
protect children
The community must be kept abreast of issues and
conditions that impact the well being of children
Establish trust within the
panel
Collaborate on what compromises
a child’s well being within the
community
Develop strategies to address child protective conditions or
concerns, (change in laws, policies, practices, etc.).
Follow through with strategies and assess outcomes routinely
Panel members must have a clear understanding of child risk
factors
Panels must make the community aware of the the panel’s presence:
•Panel’s purpose
•How the community can access the panel
•Keep the community abreast of panel activity
Panels must develop supportive relationships within the
panel and within the community
(Families)
• Parents and families must be
flooded with the message of the
importance of child well being
 What does it mean
 How child well being can be
achieved within the family
 How to support your child’s
well being away from home
 How to demonstrate
behavior that promotes child
optimal well being
 How to get help when
needed
(Your Community)
• All citizens must be alert for
conditions that put children at risk
of harm
• Panels must partner with
community power brokers
• All citizens must accept
ownership for conditions that
must change and participate in
engineering change
• Advocacy steps must be taken as
needed to insure child well being
(Advocates)
Individuals that have child well
being as a profession and or
passion must pose child well
being related questions to
elected officials and candidates
for public offices. If the
questions are never asked:
 The public does not know the
individual’s position and
 The elected official is not
obligated to endorse initiatives
or programs that support
children and families.