Meaningful Family Engagement State of Louisiana, Department of Children and Family Services Staff Development & Appreciation Day

Presenters Sherry Tomlinson, NRCPFC/LCWCWP Consultant Randy Jenkins, NRCPFC/LCWCWP Consultant

Rules of Engagement Cell phones on vibrate or off Confidentiality Honest/open dialogue Respect other opinions Use of acronyms

Introduction to Parent Engagement Parents At The Table

Guiding Principles Mutual Respect Appreciation Inclusion Dignity Partnership Opportunity

What We Are Learning About Parent Engagement Families are better able to use services Improvement in service delivery More responsive and culturally sensitive Improved customer satisfaction Improved positive child welfare outcomes Parents build skills and capacity for future

Parent Engagement and Child and Family Services Review Add Louisiana CFSA/PIP

Key Elements of Engagement

Provide all parents with children in imminent risk of entering foster care the information they need to successfully advocate for themselves and for their children. Walking In The Door

Substance Abuse To provide all parents with substance abuse histories the skills they need to advocate for the services and resources they need to overcome their addiction and maintain their recovery.

Child and Family Team Meeting Provide parents with children in imminent risk of entering foster care the means to participate in all decisions made about their childrens care, custody, and placement.

Policy and Resource Allocation Provide parents who have experienced the child welfare system with opportunities to influence and improve child welfare policy, practice, and resource allocation

New Tools for Workers Provide all child welfare staff the skills and tools necessary to work effectively with families and children.

Public Information Inform the public, legislators, and the community at large about the struggles and successes of families who have been involved with child welfare

Self-Assessment

Break

Grief, Loss & Healing

Birth Fathers and Mothers Feelings and Behaviors How do birth parents feel when their children are removed and placed into foster care? How might they behave or act?

Child Feelings and Behavior What might a child feel during the first week or two after being separated from their fathers and mothers? How might they behave or act?

Social Worker Feeling and Behaviors How might a social worker feel after being involved in the removal of a child? How might they behave or act?

Foster Parent Feeling and Behaviors What might a foster parent feel when a child is removed from their home and returned to their parent? How might they behave or act?

Relative/Kinship Caregiver Feelings and Behaviors How might a relative or kinship caregiver feel when children are placed back with the birth parent? How might they behave or act?

LUNCH

How R You Feeling?

Engaging and Working with Fathers

Father Presence/Father Involvement Better School Performance Attachment to School Staying Out of Trouble Delayed Sexual Activity Fewer Teen Pregnancies

Discussion Guide

AFTERNOON BREAK

Benefits and Consequences of Change

Ambivalence Mixed Feelings Or Emotions Having Opposing Feelings Or Attitudes (Such As Love And Hate Towards A Person) Feeling Unsure Or Undecided About What To Do (Sitting On The Fence)

An Exchange, Give And Take; Involves Speaking And Listening; Involves Non-Verbal And Verbal Communication;

32 Words = Voice Tone = Body Language = 7% 38% 55% Percentage of Communication Conveyed Through…

Active Listening

Questions and Discussion

TRAINING IS DONE FOR DAY GO OUT THERE AND DO YOUR GOOD WORK!

The National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections Louisiana Child Welfare Comprehensive Workforce Project Hunter College School of Social Work LSU School of Social Work A Service of the Childrens Bureau/ACF/DHHS

Additional Resources National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connection (nrcpfc.org) Family Engagement: a Web Based Practice Toolkit Digital Stories From the Field Child Welfare Organizing Project (cwop.org) Rise Magazine (risemagazine.org) Iowa Dept. of Human Services (