Child Safety, Placement & Permanency

Child Safety, Placement & Permanency: Competencies SW106-04 Ability to prepare children and families for child removal in a manner that reduces trauma, minimizes stress, and enhances partnership SW124-02 Ability to identify the legal rights of children, parents, and caregivers involved in the public child welfare system SW119-01 Ability to use a variety of strategies to engage fathers from first contact with the family and throughout the life of a child welfare case SW112-03 Ability to identify, explore, and pursue birth family relationships with relatives at the initial point of contact and from that point forward as a resource to help meet child and family needs and provide notice of agency involvement to relatives of children in care

Placement & Permanency: Competencies SW113-01 Ability to plan and implement placements that reduce stress, minimize trauma, promote placement stability and permanence for children SW113-02 Understands the importance of maintaining sibling connections in out-of-home placements SW119-04 Ability to maintain open communication with parents regarding the well-being of their children, placement options, the agency permanency plans, and status of case progress

Trauma and Placement - activity http://depts.washington.edu/acwewa/RCT/Videos/ReMoved-VIDEO.mp4

Removed: De-Brief and Activity What actions during this child’s initial and subsequent placement may have caused trauma for her? What actions could have been taken to prevent, or minimize, this trauma? Group brainstorm: Actions during and after placement that: increase coping decrease trauma

Information to Placements Child Information and Placement Referral DSHS 15-300 Pre-Learning Review

Child Information and Placement Referral Provide ChIPR to placement - Obtain Signature - Upload in FamLink

Child Information and Placement Referral Activity – Completing the ChIPR

Placement We must place a child out of the home when… Active safety threat AND In-home safety plan can not be put in place Pre-Learning Review: Role of the FTDM

What are the 4 ways children can be detained or removed? Placement What are the 4 ways children can be detained or removed? ?

Placement Police Protective Custody Hospital Hold “PC” What are the 4 ways children can be detained or removed? Police Protective Custody “PC” Hospital Hold Court Order Voluntary Placement “VPA”

Hospital Hold Who can order a hospital hold? When is a HH permitted under RCW 26.44.056? *Child in imminent danger if released

Parental Notice must be provided Law Enforcement When can law enforcement remove a child? *They determine the child is abused/neglected *They determine the child would be injured/ couldn’t be removed otherwise Parental Notice must be provided DSHS 10-157

Returning to parental custody after Hospital Hold or PC Why might this happen? Should the case stay open?

Court Order Dependency Petition Request for Pick-Up Order Initial Shelter Care Hearing

Parental Notice Applies to all legal parents Service of legal paperwork Custody Transfer (10-157) Applies to all legal parents Temporary Custody Notification (09-731) Notification to Parents (16-219)

When is a VPA appropriate? Voluntary Placement When is a VPA appropriate? When it is truly voluntary AND There is a safety threat identified, and an FTDM recommends a VPA After business hours when a safety threat exists but law enforcement does not place the child While a parent receives medical care/treatment and no one is available to care for the child When the other (safe) parent is not immediately available to care for the child Pre-Learning Review

Voluntary Placement Parental Agreement Placement Options ICWA stipulations Reasonable effort?

Placement Options “In Home” w/ parent Unlicensed Placements: Suitable Relatives Suitable Adults Licensed Placements: Foster Homes Facilities

Relative Placements Relative or suitable adult? Pre-Learning Review Must place w/a suitable relative unless: Child’s health, safety, and welfare will be jeopardized Efforts to reunify will be hindered Suitable adult placements = court approval Pre-Learning Review

Relative Notification Letter/ Relative Inquiry (15-330) Finding Relatives Relative Notification Letter/ Relative Inquiry (15-330) Ask Locate Written Notice Document Ongoing Search

Paternity Consequences Is paternity already established? Locating the father Confirming paternity

Determining Suitability The Homestudy Process

Determining Suitability: Background Check Criminal History Check Finger Prints (National) Background Authorization Form (WSP) Child Abuse and Neglect FamLink and MODIS Out of State Records

Determining Suitability: Initial Walkthrough Household Safety Inspection Fire Evacuation Plan Safety and Supervision Plan DSHS 10-453 DSHS 16-204 DSHS 10-419

Determining Suitability: Placement Realities Having a conversation about caring for a child placed by DCFS

Determining Suitability: Agreement with Caregivers Confirm family has fact sheet (publication 10-444) Home Study Pre-Screen for Relatives/Suitable Other Placement (10-449) Prior to Referral to DLR Unlicensed Caregiver Checklist (15-280) Placement Agreement (15-281)

Determining Suitability: Referral to DLR for Homestudy Homestudy Referral (10-447) Supporting information Court report Placement referral Dependency petition Background Check results After 60 days of placement!

Emergency Placement Timeline Activity

Background Checks: Criminal History NCIC 1-800-998-3898 Purpose Code X Finger Prints Electronic or Ink and Roll Within 10 days of NCIC Washington State Patrol Background Authorization Form (DSHS 09-653)

Background Checks: Child Abuse History FamLink Person Search MODIS Older case history http://ca.dshs.wa.gov/intranet/pdf/policy/MODISSEARCH.pdf Out of State Checks Use CA Intrantet for contacts and forms Ask about former county of residence

Background Check Results: What if there is history? All checks completed? All information reviewed? Discussed concerns with placement? Ask: Administrative Approval 15-367 Think: Is this a safe place? Is this a permanent option? Do we need an FTDM?

Background Checks: Common Mistakes Criminal history not adequately completed Criminal history not reviewed or Administrative approval not sought Everyone in home/property not screened Child Abuse not completed or history missed

Sibling Placement and Visitation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9uoqOWHosg

Sexually or Physically Aggressive Youth “Youth Supervision and Safety Plan” 15-352 Placement must complete special training

Choosing between placements Honor parental requests when possible Prioritize suitable relatives Preference homes where the child can: Visit regularly with parents Remain with or frequently see siblings Maintain existing relationships Remain in the community Achieve permanence

Medical and Dental Services upon Placement Initial Health Screen (DSHS 13-843) vs. Well Child Exam

Children Missing From Care Confirm with caregiver Call WSP and obtain a runaway report number Inform all parties to the case and the school Develop a search strategy

Monthly Health and Safety Visits: Child Caregiver Parent

Monthly Health and Safety Visits Pre-Learning Review First week of any new placement Every calendar month Children under 6 & at home receive 2 visits per month for 120 days Not to exceed 40 days between visits Take place where child lives Exception for kids in OOH care

Monthly Health and Safety Visits Develop a relationship with the child Prepare for the interview What information is needed? What observations? Use developmentally appropriate engagement and interviewing

Monthly Caregiver Visits Every calendar month Not to exceed 40 days between visits Scheduled and unannounced visits

Monthly Visits with All Parents Every calendar month Assess progress Changes, new or resolved safety threats? Achievements Barriers Concurrent planning Visitation Child wellbeing Efforts to locate missing parents

Health and Safety Visits: Case Notes What to say? Discussions Observations Plans and next steps How to say it? Provide information to support conclusions Summarize conclusions

Health and Safety Visits Pre-Learning Review Brainstorm: What information should be provided in a case note documenting a health and safety visit?

Placement and Permanency Pop Quiz: Can you…? Give 3 examples of actions that can be taken to reduce the trauma associated with placement and to increase the child’s ability to cope and thrive during and after placement moves? Describe the legal and policy requirements associated with removal? Summarize the process by which relatives are identified, assessed to be suitable and authorized to care for a child in their home? Name two reasons why it’s important to establish paternity and engage each child’s father early on?

Placement and Permanency Can you …? 5. Explain the importance of conducting and documenting background checks, including criminal and CPS history, and the implications of criminal history or negative actions/findings.? 6. Name four things that should be discussed or observed during monthly health and safety visits with children?