Family Needs and Services

Define structure vs. function of families Structure describes who the members are, e.g. nuclear family, extended family, etc. Other examples of family types? Function describes the purpose of the family. What are the roles filled and needs met by the family? Changes in structure and function require adaptation--

A model of cultural transformation Individual and family struggle Cultural and political struggle; public debate Restabilization

What do families need to thrive? Brainstorm Prevention of family problems? Fair and adequate wages Healthcare-$1 in vaccinations saves $16 in tx Family friendly workplace policies Nurse/family partnership-$1 saves $3 Family friendly school policies, such as after school programs, tutoring services, etc.-$1 in early childhood care/education saves $7

Barriers to thriving: Child abuse risk See Box 10.2 for risk factors. Knowledge of these can direct us toward prevention services. Support services for: Parents with mental health issues. Parents with substance abuse. Parents who were abused as children. Parents of children with mental health issues. Young parents. Parents with negative attitudes about kids’ behavior and inaccurate information about child development. Etc.

Prevention of Child Abuse You’ll be assigned a population at risk of child abuse. In your group, review the brief description on page 344. Discuss how you would make contact with members of this population. Pick the top three. How might people fall through the cracks? How could you seal these cracks? Under what circumstances, if any, would you require parents in this population to participate in parent training and support in order to prevent abuse? Why?

Children’s Administration The mission of the Children's Administration is first to protect abused and neglected children, to support the efforts of families to care for and parent their own children safely, and to provide quality care and permanent families for children in partnership with parents and kin, Tribes, foster parents and communities. Children and Family Services is the door to: Child Protective Services Child Welfare Services Family Reconciliation Services

An Intervention: Family Preservation Services The goals Allow children to remain safely in their home Strengthen family bonds Stabilize crisis Increase family coping skills/competencies Facilitate family’s use of formal and informal helping resources

Characteristics Short term-4-6 weeks Intensive-a session can last hours In-home Frequent-as much as daily Skill building Family system focus Family driven

Foster Care http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/ca/fosterparents/index.asp Removes the child from the home May be short term or long term Basic training is required of foster parents Relatives can be foster parents- “kinship providers.” Specialized foster care may be available http://kuow.org/program.php?id=14863

Concerns re: Foster Care De-emphasizes importance of families. Often results in multiple home placements. Insufficient numbers of appropriate homes. Insufficient support for foster families. Focus becomes maintaining the child rather than strengthening the family. Alumni of foster care are at greater risk of a range of problems.

Foster Youth 20-36% of homeless people have been in foster care. 20% of youth who go to shelters went directly from foster care. 13% were homeless at some point w/in 1 year of aging out. 50% graduated high school. 25% were taking some college classes. 43% employed; 47% at/below poverty line; 45% looking for work. 41% unwed pregnancy 38% had been arrested 22% had been jailed

Budget situation Children’s Admin (CA) has a $1.2 billion budget. To maintain services, the 09-11 budget needs a $50.3 increase. Instead, there is a proposed $6.7 million increase, .1%. Some of the cuts include: Reduction in cd counselors to provide tx to youth in involved families. Reduction in other support services to involved families. Reduction of 40 CA staff positions. Elimination of foster care services to youth 18-21. Elimination of Secure Crisis Residential Centers.

Older Adults: What are your associations to aging? How old is old? AARP says 50 “Vulnerable adults”=60 62 for partial social security benefits 65 for full benefits 67 for full benefits in 2027 “Frail” elderly=85

Older Adults-demographics # in population 34.5 million Est. 70 million in 2030 % of population 12.7-in U.S. 11.4 in WA female: male 141:100 (65+) 118:100 (65-69) 237:100 (85+) Ave. life expectancy 77.8 overall 66.1-Black men 80.8-White women Poverty rate (25% in 1969) 9.3%; 6.1 “near poor” (125% of fpl) 16.2% of kids are poor; 13.7 in WA Worker:Social Security recipient 5:1 in 1960 3.3:1 in 1990s Est. 2:1 in 2040

Service System for Older Adults Federal Administration on Aging State unit: Aging and Disability Services Administration County: Aging Program City: “Area Agency on Aging:” Aging and Disability Services

Older Adult Services, cont. Adult Protective Services- www.adsa.dshs.wa.gov/default.htm Gray Panthers-an advocacy organization http://www.graypanthers.org/ AARP-Membership based advocacy, research, policy development, service provider.

Social Security (OASDI) What is it? An insurance program for families of deceased workers and disabled workers. An Anti-poverty program. An entitlement. A contribution based program.

Characteristics of OASDI Funding: 7.65% tax for retirement, disability and medicare (1.45%). First $90,000 is taxed. Salary replacement is 56.8, 41.8 and 29% of salary for lowest to highest earners. Automatic COLA. Retirement benefit can be received at age 62, increasing to 67 in 2027.

Characteristics, cont. Who receives social security? 61.5%=retired workers (26.8 million) 12.5% (5.5 million)=widows/widowers & mothers/fathers 7.4% (3.2 mil)=wives/husbands 8.7% (3.8 mil)=children 9.9% (4.3 mil)=disabled workers. Disability benefit can be received when the person has a disability that prevents them from working.

Programs for people with disabilities SSI-Supplemental Security Income SSDI-Social Security Disability Income