Residential Review and Redesign Overview Presentation Residential Redesign Working Session March 15, 2011

Topics Background Origins Partnership Intent Beliefs Other complementary initiatives - Aboriginal, Kinship, Tertiary Phase One Status Methodology Statistics – describing residential care in BC Key Findings Process and Timelines Phase Two Plan Themed Working Sessions Online Survey Key Informant Interviews Process and Timelines

Project Background - Origins Early Alignment of interests and concerns between Federation and MCFD Strong, Safe and Supported and Operational Plan commitments Engagement Agreement between MCFD and Federation specified collaborative work on residential review Partnership agreement and contract for RR established Spring 2010

Project Background - Intent Aim: Improve the experience and outcomes of children and youth who must spend a period of time in a residential care setting managed by MCFD End product: Five-year strategic plan for residential redesign that is aligned with SSS & practice change Scope: Crosses all service streams and full range of residential services including kinship, foster care, staffed/contracted care, tertiary care Focus of joint review: Foster care and staffed/contracted care

Project Background - Beliefs All children and youth need permanency - safe, stable & nurturing homes, lifelong relationships Out-of-home residential placements are critical bridges…between care and return home, or care and an alternative permanent family Every child and youth in residential care should experience high quality care, as few placement disruptions as possible, achieve permanence as soon as possible, and be prepared for transition to adulthood as needed

Project Background - Connections Complementary initiatives: Aboriginal consultations: Caring for First Nations Children’s Society (delegated agencies), BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (urban and off reserve), Metis Commission working together Kinship care Tertiary care

Phase One - Methodology Aim: Learn as much as we possibly can about residential care in BC and beyond as a foundation for Phase 2 work Approach: Community and stakeholder consultations (600+ people; 43 focus groups) Comprehensive literature review BC reports review (what can we learn) Other jurisdictions review (who is doing what and with what outcomes) Statistical analysis

Statistical Analysis - Residential Resources by Service Stream

Breakdown by Type of Residential Services (10,171 Children & Youth)

Residential Child in Care Placements by Type - % Comparison 2005 and 2010

Phase One - Findings Key Themes: Achieving permanency Delivering an array of accessible residential care options Supporting foster caregivers Working together Youth perspectives Other issues: Funding, legal and court services, Accountability for quality care and positive outcomes

Achieving Permanency Intent: Maximize family, community and cultural connectedness and stability Priority: Overall systemic goal; Framework within which residential services are provided Scope: Relational, legal, and physical permanency (FBCYICN) Consultation findings: Permanency as a priority Barriers e.g. timeframes, legal, unplanned moves Opportunities e.g. prior to placement, in early stages of placement, when child/youth returns home, when youth approaching age of majority Assessment Placement planning and matching e.g. processes, managing transitions

Array of Residential Care Options Distinction between ‘care’ and ‘treatment’ Scope suggested in consultations for child welfare: Kinship care Family-based care: Foster homes, specialized family care homes (e.g. treatment foster care), concurrent planning homes, ‘whole-family’ homes, relief foster care, etc Staffed/contracted resources: shelters, safe houses, receiving homes, resources for assessment, stabilization and treatment, ‘step down’ resources Tertiary care and treatment Supported independent living, supportive housing

Array continued Residential care is embedded in a broader system Array of supports required for success in residential care: from day programs and community-based supports to life skill and transitional supports to specialized assessment, counselling and intervention/treatment Inherent tensions in the system e.g. supply of resources; placement or treatment?

Supporting Foster Caregivers Dominant focus in consultations Many concerns and issues raised are covered by existing policies and standards - raising implementation issues? Recruitment: Particularly in some communities and for Aboriginal, youth- friendly, specialized, birth-family- friendly/reunification focused, and multi- generational care homes

Supporting Foster Caregivers cont’ Caregiver training and education: Orientation Basic training (post approval, prior to first placement) Core training Specialized training Situation/child-specific training What, when, how, who?

Supporting Foster Caregivers cont’ Retention and support Support for caregivers: Relational: respect, valuing, inclusion, mentoring Practical: Information, role clarity, placement planning, access to support/sounding board, relief, compensation, etc Timely and appropriate support for children and youth = support to caregiver

Working Together Respect and valuing: Qualities: basic courtesies, communication, inclusion, responsiveness, collaboration, resolving differences Barriers: worker changes, attitudes, time constraints Opportunities: joint training and learning, informal & formal networking, staff continuity, standards,

Working Together cont’ Communications and information sharing about: Children and youth Roles and responsibilities Services and systems Cultural considerations and practices Collaboration and teamwork Systems coordination

Youth Perspectives Permanency Maintain a broad view of permanency Stabilize relationships – too many changes in workers, caregivers, service providers Lifelong connections are vital Don’t give up on permanency

Youth Perspectives Array of accessible services & supports Clear information about who to call Broader range of options Flexibility – some rules don’t make sense Supports during transitions Preparation for adulthood More appropriate use of Youth Agreements

Youth Perspectives Working together with youth Communicating and respecting rights Sharing information, including about family Inclusion in planning processes Presenting options about placements Listening to concerns with an open mind Quality and accountability Quality of caregivers – screening, training, monitoring

Other Issues Funding Legal and court services Accountability for quality care and positive outcomes: Quality and continuity of relationships Case planning and implementation Reporting, monitoring and quality improvement

Phase One Process & Timelines Findings Reports completed Summary version Comprehensive report and appendices Review with Transformation team, DM, Minister Release following review

Phase Two Plan Working sessions Achieving permanency; Supporting foster caregivers (March 15-16) Array of accessible services & supports (April 12-13) 40 participants each, drawn equally from MCFD staff and community sector (foster caregivers, service providers, etc) + youth Facilitated sessions addressing key questions - what could we do differently, how, when, who, opportunities for greatest impact?

Phase Two Plan - cont’ Key informant interviews: Leaders in residential care and permanency Timeline: March Online survey: Broadly distributed, requesting ideas and recommendations Timeline: March-April Final report with recommendations

Phase Three MCFD to lead Integrate findings and recommendations from all 4 elements to develop a five- year plan Initial years - low/no cost shifts Mid-years - reinvestments, pilots Latter years - enhanced resources