No Place Like HOME Texas Kick Off Meeting

What is “ No Place Like Home” all about? Examining the effectiveness of FGDM in safely preventing children from entering or re-entering foster care when they are receiving in-home services. 3 child welfare agencies with mature family group decision making (FGDM) programs Training and technical assistance plan Rigorous process and outcome evaluation components December 2011

What will be measured? To improve the safety, permanency and well-being of children through implementation, program enhancement, and rigorous evaluation of FGDM, and to impact local and national child welfare practice/policy and disproportionality rates of African American, Latino and American Indian children. Rigorously test the effectiveness of FGDM models in preventing children from entering or re-entering foster care Determine the costs for FGDM implementation Analyze implementation of multiple FGDM models to provide knowledge on fit, flow and sustainability Disseminate implementation, cost and outcome findings and products December 2011

Why is this important? Comprehensive assessment of model Potential to be strongest FGC evaluation Supports work we are currently doing to engage families Provides additional training Outcomes will be felt on a state, national and international level December 2011

How will families be selected? Random Control Study in Texas Evaluation based on 400 families Selection based on when referral received by FGDM staff Evaluation Process for 400 families 200 families provided FGC Next 200 families in control group December 2011

How will this work? Staff Focus groups Strategies for FGDM Meeting preparation and engagement Interviews Purpose and function of FGDM meetings Barriers Staff and family characteristics that help/hinder use of model Self-report surveys Demographics Job satisfaction Quality of work Organizational culture and climate Caregivers Mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse Parenting stress Protective factors Satisfaction with services Meeting Characteristics Timing Number and type Model fidelity Cost Outcomes Administrative data Out-of-home placements Relative placements Re-reports December 2011

What should I expect? Requests for information Surveys Focus groups Trainings & technical assistance December 2011

What do I need to do? Refer families for FGC based on Policy Participate in FGC Respond to surveys / evaluation needs Participate in focus groups & trainings Continue to work with families as you have been December 2011

When must I refer to FGC? CPS Handbook §3141.1 Applying Family Group Conferences to an FBSS Case Caseworkers must offer families a Family Group Conference under one or more of the following circumstances: When the FBSS case has been open for nine months or longer When the parents are not participating in services and legal intervention is not yet necessary or is not possible When the parents are not making the necessary changes to keep their child safe and legal intervention is not yet necessary or is not possible December 2011

When may I refer to FGC? Caseworkers have the option of offering families a Family Group Conference under one or more of the following circumstances: The parents are teenagers Chronic substance abuse exists in the family The parents are receiving, have received, or need local services for issues related to mental health or intellectual disabilities The family has history of CPS involvement The child is in a parental child safety placement (see 2234.4 Criteria for Parental Child Safety Placements and 3172 Parental Child Safety Placement) The parents plan to allow the child to remain in the parental child safety placement long term (see 2234.47 Closing a Case Involving a Parental Child Safety Placement) Domestic violence exists in the family (approval by a program director is required in such cases) The caseworker plans to close the case The caseworker or family members believe that a Family Group Conference would be beneficial December 2011

Next Steps Focus groups Follow-up training & technical assistance FGCs for evaluation start by April, run through September December 2011

Who can I contact if I have questions? Barbara Johnson – Service Program Administrator R03 Email: barbara.johnson@dfps.state.tx.us Phone: 817-792-5266 Ellen Letts – FGDM Program Specialist SO Email: ellen.letts@dfps.state.tx.us Phone: 512-438-4611 Kathryn Sibley – FBSS Program Specialist SO Email: kathryn.sibley@dfps.state.tx.us Phone: 512-438-5646 December 2011