CT’s DCF-Head Start Partnership Working Together to Serve Vulnerable Families & Support the Development of At-Risk Children Presenters: Rudy Brooks Former Bureau Chief, Prevention Services CT Department of Children & Families Grace Whitney Director, CT Head Start State Collaboration Office   Child Welfare, Collaboration and the Courts: A Collaboration to Strengthen Educational Successes of Children and Youth in Foster Care Renaissance Arlington Capitol View Hotel, Arlington, VA November 3-4, 2011

Why Should We Partner? Head Start/EHS and DCF often serve the same children Many Head Start/EHS children and families are at risk Great potential for identification and prevention Head Start/EHS is a natural environment for interventions to occur

What Would the Benefits Be? Programs understand one another Establish regular procedures for working together Achieve continuity of care through case management Develop creative solutions for unique and difficult cases

How Would Families Benefit? Families understand and access services Families feel supported Placements reduced and permanency increased for children Children access high quality ECE Children receive care from knowledgeable, nurturing adults working together

Protocol for Working Together Section I: Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Section II: Communication on Open DCF Investigations Section III: Treatment Planning and Case Management Section I: Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Head Start initiates calls to DCF Hotline DCF assists Head Start to establish reporting protocols DCF assists Head Start in training on child abuse/neglect Section II: Communication on Open DCF Investigations Head Start provides information to DCF DCF provides feedback to Head Start on their reports to DCF DCF provides feedback to Head Start on reports alleging abuse/neglect by a Head Start staff member Section III: Treatment Planning and Case Management Head Start and DCF work together to plan on-going services Head Start assists families in making self-referrals for voluntary services with DCF

Protocol for Working Together Section IV: Placement of Children Section V: DCF Referrals to Head Start/EHS Section VI: Agency Planning Section IV: Placement of Children Head Start assists DCF in identifying and locating relatives for Head Start children facing out-of-home placement Head Start and DCF will coordinate services to assist children placed outside of their communities Section V: DCF Referrals to Head Start DCF caseworkers and foster parents initiate referrals to Head Start DCF assists Head Start in determining appropriate service options for DCF-involved families Section VI: Agency Planning DCF assists Head Start in finding eligible families and assists Head Start in recruitment and enrollment DCF assists Head Start in planning efforts Head Start assists DCF in planning efforts Head Start assists DCF in identifying and recruiting relative/foster/adoptive homes

DCF-Head Start Partnership Phase 1 - Pilot 1999 1 DCF Areas & 3 Head Start/Early Head Start Created Protocol for Working Together Phase 2 – Ready Communities 2007 8 DCF Areas & 15 Head Start/Early Head Start Began quarterly facilitated meetings Phase 3 – Statewide Implementation 2009 6 DCF Areas & 11 Head Start/Early Head Start Added mental health, other early care, etc. Manchester Test Site 6 Head Start/Early Head Start programs Monthly meetings with Central Office/Collaboration Develop referral form and referral protocol Training DVD Establish DCF-Head Start points of contact Tested models of liaison/out-posted workers Resolve issues of confidentiality Bringing other providers into the partnership Mental Health/ECCP; Child Care/Therapeutic Child Care; Supportive Housing Joint Family Services Treatment planning piece Joint home visits

Evaluation Quarterly Data Collection Building Trust and Partnership Maintaining On-going Collaboration Improving Services to Families “Stories” of interest Building Trust and Partnership Visits & ‘getting-to-know-you’ activities Maintaining On-going Collaboration Cross training & cross-sector committee participation Improving Services to Families Referrals; joint family meetings; foster family support/ recruitment; targeted mental health services “Stories” of interest

DCF-Head Start Partnership & Collaboration Needs Assessment No working Relationship (little/ no contact) Cooperation (exchange info/referrals) Coordination (work together) Collaboration (share resources/ agreements) 2008 14% 11% 36% 39% 2009 8% 92% 2010 6% 94%

Results Simplify/standardize referral processes and intentional enrollment of DCF-involved children, including foster care, into Head Start Align Treatment Plan/Family Partnership Agreement Connect mental health supports, housing supports, other early care Modifying DCF LINK data system to help identify and serve children under five DCF and Head Start staff report working more closely together on a wide range of services and community activities Increased visits of DCF and Head Start staff to one another’s sites Increased DCF staff on HS Policy Council and Head Start staff on DCF Area Councils Increased number of designated DCF Liaisons to Head Start programs and DCF staff out-posted to Head Start sites

The Collaborative Process It must be meaningful to you! Balancing Process with Product Mental Models The Collaborative Path

Getting to Know One Another as Organizations

Common Ground

Improving Outcomes for Children Stage 5: Going to Scale Adapt and expand prototype Deepen collaborative culture Institutionalize processes Stage 4: Taking Action Implement new processes Collect data Evaluate progress-make course corrections Stage 3: Developing a Plan Formalize interagency relationships Define service delivery processes Develop technical tools Stage 2: Building Trust Get to know one another Build cooperative relationships Establish shared goals Stage 1: Getting Together Commit to Collaboration Involve the right people Decide to act

Team Self-Assessment Where are we now? Have there been changes for which we need to repeat earlier steps to get everyone up to speed? Are there others we need to invite to our table? What are some logical next steps to include on our Goal Sheet? Do we need any additional supports?

What’s Worked for Us..... Ongoing commitment from and access to all levels of both agencies Critical importance of support at the top! A process that promotes statewide goals yet respects local differences and needs Opportunities to share accomplishments with and learn from other communities

Federal/State Leaders What’s Worked for Us..... Community Leaders Local Meetings Membership Lists Quarterly Data Sheets Quarterly Goal Sheets “Community NEWS” Federal/State Leaders Strategic Facilitation Meeting Supports Data, Data, Data Policy/Practice Change New Resources