Foster Care Integrated Funding Model Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies Conference 2012 Children’s Rights: What’s Right for Children? What’s Right for Children, Young people and Families, August, 2012 Anita Pell Berry Street Marilyn McHugh Social Policy Research Centre

Background New integrated funding model proposed. Features: clinical assessment therapeutic support based on levels of complexity covers carer costs – direct and indirect covers agency costs. Presentation Is an overview of the Model that is still in it developmental stage

Why the need for a ‘New’ Foster Care Model: Professionalised Foster Care (PFC) Specialist fostering programs (SFP) with therapeutic & treatment focus growing part of foster care services SFP carers provide more professional care & receive higher fostering rates Reports by KPMG (2009) & Cummins (2012) emphasise need for all children in OOHC to receive appropriate therapeutic care.

Training for Professionalised Foster Care Model Various countries have accredited carer training programs. UK has National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Australia has a nationally accredited scheme The Community Services Training Package CHC08: Foster Care Skill Set’ introduced in Berry Street currently developing a model and will use the CHC08 package

New Integrated Funding Model of Foster Care Integrated Funding Model of Foster Care 1.Resources Remuneration Carer Allowance Carer Fee CSO Payment 4.Carer Training Face to Face and Web Based On-Line Training Pre Service Training Core Modules Elective Modules Supervision, Access to Professional Literature & Workshops Education components of supervision Attendance at workshops and conferences Research & Best Practice Reports 3. Carer Family Extended Support Localised Peer Support Web Based Peer Support Carer Advocacy Sons & Daughters Peer Support & Training Early Learning for Children Groups 2.Placement Support Assessment on Entry to Care by clinician Therapeutic intervention, support & consultation Education Support Connection to community/culture/key attachments

New Integrated Funding Model of Foster Care Integrated Funding Model of Foster Care 1.Resources Remuneration Carer Allowance Carer Fee CSO Payment

Carer payments for SFP Higher carer payments: what are they meant to cover? Ambiguous as to the costs higher carer payments cover. Higher levels of allowance in ‘excess’ of other levels. What ‘excess’ entails not quantified/examined to give $ amount. How ‘loadings’ on basic levels determined not clear. Do higher payments contain reward or compensation (?) Issue of higher payments needs clarification. Model ‘breaks down’ higher levels of payment.

Carer Allowances Model proposes 3 age groups 0-6 (pre-school age), 7-12 (primary school age) and 13+ (high school age) Allowances to be based on FCEs Allowance called Maintenance Allowance (MA) No loadings on MA for children with higher needs Carers receive carer fee based on level of need and level of training achieved

Carer Fee (CF) System- 4 levels of CF 1.Level 1 Respite & Voluntary Care 2.Level 11 3.Level 111 Carer fee levels have been proposed for Victoria Model suggests realistic income free tax threshold Australian Tax Office? Agency workforce ?

Agency Costs and Funding Requirements Cost Implications Current DHS Funding Model Practice Experience Proposed Change Features of the Funding Model

New Integrated Funding Model of Foster Care Integrated Funding Model of Foster Care 2.Placement Support Assessment on Entry to Care by clinician Therapeutic intervention, support & consultation Education Support Connection to community/culture/key attachments

Placement Support: Background Early Supports for ALL Placements Stuck, Small and Ainsworth, 2000 Smith et al., 2001 Multi Dimensional Needs Nathanson and Tzioumi, 2007; McHugh and valentine, 2011 KPMG, 2010: 14, 17 Availability of Resources Carer Needs vs Carer Expectations

Placement Support: New Model Placement Support in the proposed Integrated Funding Model includes the following four components: 1.Assessment on entry into care by a clinician; 2.Therapeutic intervention, support and consultation; 3.Education and support; and 4.Connection to community/culture/key attachments.

Therapeutic Intervention, Support & Consultation Assessments will take approximately 25 hours over a period of 4-6 weeks. Each full-time employee (FTE ) will have a target of 12 client assessments per year including reviews. Assessment on each child on entry to foster care Each FTE will have a target of 5 clients at any one time Intervention and Support to Carer and Care Team, including Secondary Consult to staff Using a 'progressive' approach to clinical intervention, it is anticipated that a small number of clients will require this level of intervention. Each FTE will carry a case load of 2 clients at any one time Intervention: one to one clinical intervention with client

Education & Support Research Model Inclusions: Access parity ESP and Reviews Maintain Relationships Educational Consultant

Connection to Community, Culture & Key Attachments Role of the Carer Ordinary People.... Aboriginal Cultural Competence Plan

Component 3 – Placement & Support Integrated Funding Model of Foster Care 3. Carer Family Extended Support Localised Peer Support Web Based Peer Support Carer Advocacy Sons & Daughters Peer Support & Training Early Learning for Children Groups

Linking Carers Through the WWW – e-Quality Website entry Membership portal Learning LIVE ACCESS webinars confencing ANYTIME ACCESS learning modules podcasts resources Support online Coffee Shop Moderated discussion board Mentor FAQs Carers' Journal e-portfolio my story relective journey

New Integrated Funding Model of Foster Care Integrated Funding Model of Foster Care 4.Carer Training Face to Face and Web Based On-Line Training Pre Service Training Core Modules Elective Modules Supervision, Access to Professional Literature & Workshops Education components of supervision Attendance at workshops and conferences Research & Best Practice Reports

Carer Training Foster Carer Skill Development

Carer Training Community Services Training Package – Foster Carer Skill Set

Conclusion Questions: Dr Marilyn McHugh Research Fellow Social Policy Research Centre University of New South Wales Anita Pell Senior Manager, Statewide Home Based Care Berry Street