Effectively using partnerships to implement california’s continuum of care reform Tulare County

Implementing partnerships Natalie Bolin, CWS Division Manager Welcome and Introductions History of Partnership Focus of each agency and overall Vision Tulareworks Mental Health probation Child Welfare Services Parenting Network FRC

Tulare County’s Continuum of Care Reform Committee Structure CCR Stakeholder Committee RFA Committee Ombudsman FP College and QPI QPI Stakeholders FP Mentor CFT Assessment Tool Workgroup FPRRS Lounge Special Events Parent Partner Executive Committee Two new workgroups have been created Permanency Assessment To address the assessment tool and incorporated the requirements for adoptions TulareWORKS To address the EW side of CCR with new forms, grievances, special rates, and so on Permanency Assessment TulareWorks Mental Health, Probation, CWS Mental Health, Probation, TulareWORKS, CWS TulareWORKS, CWS CWS

Parenting Network frc Mike Gibson, Parenting Network Executive Director Implementation on history of Parent Partner’s/Resource Family Mentor Programs

Parent partner’s Tammy Cunningham, Parent Partner Personal Story Working with families

Resource family mentor Emily Garcia, Resource Family Mentor Personal Story Working with families

Parenting network Christina Osorio, Program Manager Brochure Training Curriculum for Parent Partners “As Parent Partners, We know what it’s like to have our children removed from our care. We know how to successfully navigate the system. We can encourage you when you’re feeling discouraged. We can help you understand your rights as a parent. Parent Partners we are here for you.”

Child and family teaming (CFT’s) Natalie Bolin, CWS Division Manager History overview of Katie A. and Child Assessment Team (CAT)

Child and family teaming (CFT) The intent of CCR is to have children and youth, who must live apart from biological parents, live in a permanent home with a committed adult(s) who can meet their needs Services Support Reduce reliance on congregate care Increase placements of home-based settings

Framework of tulare county’s cft’s CFT plan was modeled after Mental Health’s plan Statistics from CFT Pilot Program Time it takes to complete a CFT from start to finish CFT recommendations Sample of CFT assessment

Child and family teaming (CFT) CFT drives placement decisions, case planning and care coordination Assess, plan, intervene, monitor and refine services over time Determines level of care (LOC) Identify supports Least restrictive family settings Promote normal childhood experiences State determined assessment tool

The team CFT is a group of people that the family identifies who are invested in the youth. These can include: • Youth and Family • Natural supportive relationships • School Personnel • Spiritual and faith-based supports • Neighbors • Mental Health Professionals • Probation • Tribal members • Public Health providers • CASA • Youth/Parent Mentor

CFT vs. cft meeting The CFT is a group of people and a CFT meeting is a functional structure and process of engaging the family and their service teams in a thoughtful and effective planning. Family is a partner in the decision making process. CWS is responsible for engaging members of the CFT. Only a CFT if family is present- if not, just a staffing.

confidentiality Confidentiality and sharing information are key elements to a CFT. Right to privacy vs. creating barriers to receiving services. W&I Code 832- promotes sharing information between CFT members relevant to case planning and providing necessary services and supports to the child, youth and family. Builds trust and helps with the collaborative engagement with families.

When to have a cft meeting Identify CFT as soon as minor enters into Child Welfare Services State requirements within 60 of placement Every six months (unless receiving ICC services) ICC- every 90 days (unless decided more frequent) Follows the SDQ/SCARD screening timeframe CFT meeting can be called anytime and held as often as needed (different for every family) Location of CFT meeting determine by team

Cft agenda Purpose Collaborative Agenda Setting Ask questions Share concerns Build on strengths Develop individualized case plan Culturally responsive Trauma-informed Revision to the case plan

Tools used for CFT’s

C F T H I L D A S E M N sample

C F T E A M P L N sample

Resource family approval (RFA) David Rodriguez, CWS Manager What is RFA? Tulare County Steering Committee January 1st implementation

Resource family approval (RFA) It is streamlined and eliminates the duplication of existing processes. It unifies approval standards for all caregivers regardless of the child’s case plan. Includes a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, home environment check and training for all families, including relatives. It prepares families to better meet the needs of vulnerable children in the foster care system. Allows seamless transition to permanency. Foster Family Adoptive Family Relative Caregiver Resource Family Vision: One approval process for all Resource Families (relative, NREFM, Guardianship, foster and/or adopt) looking to care for children in out of home care.

Components of rfa Comprehensive RFA Assessment Written Report Training Documents Home Environment Assessment Psycho-Social Assessment Background Check Assessments Written Report (Family Study)

Foster Parent Recruitment, Retention, and Support (FPRRS) funding opportunity ACL 15-76, released October 8, 2015 Tulare County FPRRS program plan Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) Resource Family Ombudsman Foster Parent College (FP College) Parent Partner and Resource Family Mentor Resource family lounge and special events Child’s Needs and Services Placement Child Family Team (CFT) CDSS knew that the implementation of CCR was an enormous task for counties, they began to assemble specific tasks for counties in order to start making changes towards the implementation of CCR. A specific recommendation from the CCR framework was made to strengthen foster parent ACL 15-76: funding to help support the legislation expected to be adopted to improve CA’s child welfare system through the continuum of care reform initiative.

Lounge and Opportunities for Training (LOFT) Ribbon Cutting on August 18th 2016

Tulare County’s rfa committee structure CCR Stakeholder Committee RFA Steering Committee Pre-approval training Caretaker Orientation QPI Staffing RFA forms FPRRS Lounge Special Events Parent Partner Ombudsman Two new workgroups have been created Permanency Assessment To address the assessment tool and incorporated the requirements for adoptions TulareWORKS To address the EW side of CCR with new forms, grievances, special rates, and so on Probation, CWS Mental Health, Probation, TulareWORKS, CWS TulareWORKS, CWS Parenting Network, CWS CWS

Collaboration Mental Health, Probation, tulareworks Working Together to Effectively Implement CCR

Collaboration tulare county Mental Health Betsy Ellis, Manager Tulare County Mental Health Department Role in CCR Implementation Active in all committee meeting since inception CWS and MH attend all training together CWS and MH met together with local Group Homes transitioning CFTs- MH is at the table for all CFTs for children open to our MHP. MH will remain the one responsible for certification of all STRTPs. CWS and MH are working on the collaborative list of which GH are going to need MH approval and certification.

Collaboration TulareWORKs Rosemary Juarez, Foster Care Program Specialist Tulare County Foster Care eligibility and Child Welfare Services are collaborating efforts to implement the new rates, RFA process and fund relatives and NREFM’s while working on getting licensed.

Collaboration TulareWORKs Our Relative placements are completing SAWS1, CW2218 and CW2219 CalWORKs Application NREFM financial assistance/EA funding SSI and undocumented children FC eligibility once RFA is approved

Collaboration tulare county probation Tammy Peckham, Probation Supervisor Different Focus Common Goal Child Welfare Services Probation

Collaboration tulare county probation How It was Accomplished Understanding Focus Communication Working as a Team Foster Parent and Relative Recruitment, Retention, and Support (FPRRS) funding CFT Process RFA Process

W O R K I N G T E H r Probation Mental Health Child Welfare Parenting Network TulareWORKs Collaboration Commitment Communication Engagement Common Goal Partnership AB 403 implements the following policy changes that align with Probation/Mental health/child welfare. CCR brings us all to the table! Together we will improve services to our children and families. Update assessment: Services initiated promptly With RFA and CFT’s it will improve how we identify the childs needs and match them with the appropriate resource family that can utilize their skills and expertise so that the first placement is the last placement Aligns mental health with the CFT’s, Probation with RFA

QUESTIONS

Tulare county Contact information Probation TulareWORKs (559) 735-1560 (559) 623-0300 Mental Health Parenting Network (559) 624-7445 (559) 625-0384 parentingnetwork.org Child Welfare Services (559) 623-0500