LA County Department of Children & Family Services San Fernando Valley Strength Needs Practice & Child Safety Presented by Adrienne Olson, Regional Administrator olsona@dcfs.lacounty.gov or (818)717-4802

Strength Needs Practice Today’s Objectives Provide a brief overview of the DCFS San Fernando Valley office & service delivery system Increase our partnership & collaboration to improve outcomes related to child safety, permanency & well-being

Children thrive in safe families and supportive communities Strength Needs Practice DCFS Vision Children thrive in safe families and supportive communities

Strength Needs Practice DCFS Mission By 2015, DCFS will practice a uniform service delivery model that measurably improves: Child safety Permanency Access to caring & effective services

DCFS Values Cultural Sensitivity Leadership Accountability Integrity Strength Needs Practice Cultural Sensitivity Leadership Accountability Integrity Responsiveness

DCFS Goals Emphasize Child Centered Practices Pursue Workforce Excellence Strengthen Organizational Operations and Systems Strength Needs Practice

These 5 core practice strategies continuously interact with one another throughout the life of a case

The San Fernando Valley DCFS Regional Office One of Three Offices Serving the San Fernando & Santa Clarita Valleys East & West SFV Offices 20151 Nordhoff St., Chatsworth 91311 Santa Clarita Office 24890 Ave. Stanford, Santa Clarita 91321 Adrienne Olson, Regional Administrator San Fernando Valley (818)717-4802 olsona@dcfs.lacounty.gov Paul Freedlund, Regional Administrator Santa Clarita/West San Fernando Valley (661)702-6202 freedp@dcfs.lacounty.gov

(24 Hour) Child Protection Hotline (CPH) DCFS Service Delivery Strength Needs Practice (24 Hour) Child Protection Hotline (CPH) 1-800-540-4000 Call to consult and/or make a suspected child abuse report CPH Children’s Social Worker screens call & determines assignment /time to respond Referral assigned to Emergency Response Children’s Social Worker in Regional Office or the Emergency Response Command Post depending on urgency

DCFS Service Delivery Service Bureaus – North & South Strength Needs Practice DCFS Service Delivery Service Bureaus – North & South The SFV office is one of 18 DCFS Regional Offices in the County Each Regional Office primarily houses Emergency Response Dependency Investigation Continuing Services Permanency Resources & Adoptions Other Specialized Programs

DCFS Service Delivery Emergency Response (ER) Services Strength Needs Practice DCFS Service Delivery Emergency Response (ER) Services Regional office responds to “immediate” & “5-day” referrals during regular business hours Immediate/after-hours covered by the Emergency Response Command Post Investigates allegations of in-home abuse Determines need for community response or open case (in-home or removal) Partners with children & families to Identify strengths & needs Build/team with support system of informal & formal supports to meet needs

DCFS Service Delivery Dependency Investigation (DI) Strength Needs Practice DCFS Service Delivery Dependency Investigation (DI) Open cases assigned to a Dependency Investigator (DI) after detention DI investigates the allegations in the petition & prepares initial court reports for Dependency Court.

DCFS Service Delivery Continuing Services (CS) Strength Needs Practice DCFS Service Delivery Continuing Services (CS) Services provided to children & families under the following programs: Family Maintenance (FM)– child receiving in-home services (voluntarily & court) Family Reunification (FR) – child or parent receiving out-of-home services Permanency Planning (PP) – Adoption, Legal Guardianship, Long Term Foster Care/Planned Permanent Living Arrangement Supportive Transition (ST) – AB 12 Non-Dependent Minors

DCFS Service Delivery Permanency Resources & Adoptions Strength Needs Practice DCFS Service Delivery Permanency Resources & Adoptions Placement &Recruitment Finalization Post Adoption Services

DCFS Service Delivery Countywide Specialized Programs Strength Needs Practice DCFS Service Delivery Countywide Specialized Programs Deaf Services Units Medical Placement Asian Pacific Program American Indian Units

San Fernando Valley Staff Approximately 350 direct service, support, & co-located staff Strength Needs Practice Direct Service Staff CSW - Children’s Social Worker SCSW - Supervising Children’s Social Worker ARA - Assistant Regional Administrator RA - Regional Administrator Support Staff Human Service Aids Clerical Support & Eligibility Workers Adoption Assistants Co-located Staff Parents-in-Partnership (PIPs) Departments of Mental Health, Public Social Services, Health & Public Health First Five Substance Abuse Navigators Kinship Liaison, Youth Development Services, Permanency Partners Program, Educational Liaison, D-rate Evaluators, ASFA & Child Care

Coordinated Services Action Team (CSAT) Service Navigation, Coordination & Linkage Strength Needs Practice Multidisciplinary Assessment Team (MAT) Coordinator Coordinates full assessment & teaming for all newly detained children Jaime Cantor, SFV MAT Coordinator (818)717-4181 cantoja@dcfs.lacounty.gov Service Linkage Specialist (SLS) Coordinates full assessment & teaming for all other children in open cases Jessica Ambroz, SFV SLS (818) 717-4090 ambroj@dcfs.lacounty.gov Access Management Team in every offices established as part of the KA Strategic Plan: To coordinate DCFS and DMH non-line staff to rapidly receive screenings and/or referrals to ensure service linkage. To integrate ‘siloed’ services and programs into CSAT through clear policies and procedures for all operational responsibilities. To use a data tracking system to regularly monitor progress on indicators (i.e., timely delivery of screening, assessment, referral linkage, full utilization of resources, etc.).

Department Wide Profile In the 2nd Quarter of 2014 (April, May & June ), 2,068 Children’s Social Work Staff Department wide: Assessed a total of 38,901 children reported for suspected child abuse or neglect Open cases: 12.5% - 13% Removals: 4.2% – 5% Supervised a total of 36,619 children in open cases. 13,660 received in-home services 21,760 received out-of-home services, approximately 51% placed with relatives

SPA 2 Profile Strength Needs Practice In the 2nd Quarter of 2014 (April, May & June ), 286 Children’s Social Work Staff in SPA 2: Assessed a total of 5,855 children reported for suspected child abuse or neglect. Sylmar & Pacoima have the highest rates of children referred. Open cases: 10% - 11% Removals: 2% – 9% Supervised a total of 4,589 children in open cases. 2,128 received in-home services 2,294 received out-of-home services, approximately 55% placed with relatives

San Fernando Valley Office Profile In the 2nd Quarter of 2014 (April, May & June ), 128 Children’s Social Work Staff in the San Fernando Valley Office: Assessed a total of 2,416 children reported for suspected child abuse or neglect Pacoima has the highest rates of children referred Open cases: 10.8% - 13.2% Removals: 2% – 4% Supervised a total of 2,113 children in open cases 923 received in-home services 1,079 received out-of-home services, approximately 56% placed with relatives Strength Needs Practice

Opportunities for Partnership, Collaboration & Best Practice Strength Needs Practice Opportunities for Partnership, Collaboration & Best Practice Engage in trust based working relationship with child & family Contact the Child Protection Hotline at (800)540-4000 for any suspicion of abuse or neglect Contact assigned Children’s Social Worker, MAT Coordinator or Service Linkage Specialist for open referrals or cases Team to build & strengthen support system Assess for strengths & needs Plan & intervene, tailoring agreed upon services & supports to build on individual strengths & meet underlying needs Monitor, track, & adjust to achieve long term goal for safety, permanency & well-being

Thank you for all you do for our children, families & communities! Any Questions? Thank you for all you do for our children, families & communities!