Meeting the changing needs of the community By Colleen Bowls Skagit County Youth & Family Services ARY/CHINS Family Support Specialist

Criteria for parents to file ARY Petition Youth must be under 18 years of age and meet one of the following: Have been absent from home for at least 72 hours without the parent’s consent or, Be beyond parental control such that the child’s behavior endangers the health, safety, or welfare of the child or another person or, Have a substance abuse problem for which there are no pending criminal charges related to the substance abuse.

Child In Need of Services Petitions (CHINS) The child must be no older than 17 years The child must meet one of the following : Be beyond the control of his/her parent such that the child’s behavior endangers the health, safety, or welfare of the child or another person Have been reported as a runaway for at least 24 consecutive hours on two or more separate occasions; and Exhibited a serious substance abuse problem; or Exhibited behaviors that create a serious risk of harm ot the health, safety, welfare of self or others

CHINS cont. Be in need of Services including food, shelter, health care, clothing, education, or Services to maintain/reunite the family Lacks access to or has declined these services Parents have evidence continuing but unsuccessful efforts to maintain the family or are unable/unwilling to do so

Areas filing in first ½ of 2009

Ethnic breakdown of Petitions filed in 2008

Females by age for 2008 & ½ of 2009

Males by age for 2008 & ½ of 2009

Case 1 Prior to petition youth-no truancy petitions & no criminal charges. Mom was monolingual Significant school issues-He had brought knives to school & threatened to kill a teacher. Risk assessment was done. Gang identity Father serving time in prison for D/V Running away, hanging out with young adults Youth was youngest ARY petition Connections to substance abuse treatment-prior to treatment using pot daily

Making a difference What made a difference? Mother who continues in spite of the system Support for the parent Mentor Building Community around the youth Cultural based services Accountability and relationships

Case 2 ARY filed 10/06 14 year old male had no criminal charges or truancy petitions filed At this time he was shooting up between his toes, living with grandparents and not engaged in school WHAT WE DID NOT SEE Youth with significant criminal involvement Untreated mental health & substance abuse issues Sexually aggressive youth- no criminal history for behaviors

Case 2

Challenges In Delivering the Program: Program not designed to meet the complex mental health and co-occurring disorders need that youth are displaying with Court process- more intensive needs put families in difficult situations- balancing needs of youth vs. job their other children and meeting basic needs Keeping placements at home-encouraging families to hang in there when they are ready to give up Mental health services are lacking. If you have a child with both mental health and drug issues it feels impossible to get appropriate treatment.

Challenges In Delivering the Program: Cont. School expulsions-lack of service when most needed. Family stress- show more now in both youth and parents Monolingual parents have so many more challenges, lack of resources and cultural appropriate services.

Advantages of ARY petitions: Parents engaged & want to take action before we may see the needs See whole picture not system picture Intervene with population who could be missed-smart criminals, mental health issues that would end up in criminal justice system. Families with substance abuse or CPS history having opportunity to demonstrate changes they have made and have support to establish healthy parenting. Decreasing amount of kids getting caught in between parental conflicts-focus on the youth. Changes can be made parents, youth, both & systems. Change is driven by family not a system.

Advantages of ARY petitions: Cont. Expand the options and finding new ways of servicing families Creating a community responds not a single system Improve the communication between systems Changing the perception of family's engagement. Helping families navigate getting help for the youth. Help families understand and integrate their wishes for their family that comply with laws. Providing families who are monolingual the opportunity to clarify their understanding of what they hear.

What I’ve Learned from Parents: The more out of control a youth is the more contempt’s you get to file, go to services that you have to connect with during working hours and try to keep your job so you can put food on the table, and find time for your other kids so they don’t do the same things and then find time to take care of yourself so your not stress. Good luck. We have not even talked about the issues of money, lack of services and sleep. Everyone has advice to give but not time to listen. If it was that simple I would have already done it Sometimes I want to know I’m not alone. I want for you to hear all the challenges and fears I have about my child but for you to realize how much I love them. Please see their strengths too. Please understand I may not come across the best but it is because I want the best for my child.

What I’ve Learned From Parents-cont. Sometimes there are no simple answers but listening is powerful, thanks for taking the time. Humor is needed in difficult times I may have bad history of addiction or mental illness. I may not know how to get to a better place in my own life. This does not mean I don’t want it for my child. I may want it more than you will ever realize because I know what it is like to be stuck and see no way out. Just because my child has issues does not mean I’ve been a bad parent. Teens years can take your child in directions you may have never imagined or that I imagined as a parent. It may sound like complaining but I just want help. Your service system is confusing, disturbing and challenging.

What I’ve Learned From Parents-cont. Some times I look around at other families and feel all alone. I need to know that other struggle too. My confidence has been questioned by all that has happened. When you ask me what I want for my child I know but may appear that I don’t. Some times I just need support so I can accept those things I can not change and work on what I can change,