May 18, 2012

MiTEAM Is Michigan’s guide to how staff, children, families, stakeholders and community partners work together to achieve outcomes that focus on the safety, well-being and permanency of children and their families.* It aligns with the agency’s mission and principles and incorporates the following competencies: Teaming, Engagement, Assessment, and Mentoring. *National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement: An Introduction to the Practice Model Framework.

Why MiTEAM? When families, children, youth and caregivers are engaged and involved in case planning, they understand their roles and are more empowered and motivated to make long lasting positive changes.

Michigan’s Outcome Data Absence of Recurrence of Maltreatment [Standard: 94.6% or more]: 91.7% (NCANDS Safety Data). Absence of Child Abuse and /or Neglect in Foster Care [Standard: 99.68% or more]: 99.06% (NCANDS Safety Data). Timeliness and Permanency of Reunification [standard: or higher]: (AFCARS). 48% of cases reviewed adequately addressed needs of children, parents & foster parents (CFSR Well-Being Data). 46% of cases reviewed made diligent efforts to involve parents and/or children in case planning process. (CFSR Well-Being Data).

Additional Issues that Led to this Change Initiative Incorporated into the PIP. Part of MSA from Children’s Rights Lawsuit “Dwayne B. vs. Granholm”. Dire need for consistency in child welfare practice throughout Michigan.

Indiana Data after Practice Model Implementation There was an increase of children placed in their own home (22.77% to 29.70% ) and children placed in a relative’s home (15.38% to 25.10%). Indiana experienced a decrease in foster home placements (44.74% to 36.60%) and residential care placements (12.58% to 6.90%). Indiana increased the absence of repeat maltreatment to 90.14%, increased permanency to 956, decrease length of child in out of home placement to 399, increased children placed locally to 71.77%, increase child visitations 21.5%, increased siblings placed together to 70.64%, decreased rate of removal to substantiated assessments to 30.28% and decreased number of placement moves to 2.73.

MiTEAM MiTEAM has 4 key competencies which all child welfare staff will utilize when working internally and with children, families, tribes, stakeholders, community partners: Teaming Engagement Assessment Mentoring

Teaming will be utilized to engage families, children and caregivers in case planning, identify family strengths and needed supports, services and resources to achieve positive outcomes. Teaming will also be utilized to support child welfare staff in their day to day work. Some Key Elements of Teaming: Families are empowered to take the lead (setting agenda, selecting participants and meeting location). Staff, Foster Parents and Relatives serving as mentors. Case plans are made with a team and the responsibility of plan development is not with the case manager.

A series of intentional interventions that work together in an integrated way to promote safety, wellbeing and permanency for children, youth and families. Some Interventions Include: Solution focused interviewing Active listening Asking for parent, child and caregiver input Listen for needs interests, and concerns Assist family members in identifying connections and strengths

Family-centered assessment skills and tools that combine good case practice, reliable tools and in-depth family input to produce successful outcomes for children and families. Assessment Tools: Safety Assessment (CPS) Strength & Needs Risk Assessment (CPS) Family Assessment of Needs (CPS/FC) Child Assessment of Needs (CPS/ FC) Reunification Assessment (FC) Safety Assessment (FC) Parenting Time Compliance (FC) CPS & FC Decision Making Trees

Concurrent Permanency Planning Permanency Plan A and Plan B Diligent Relative Searches Frontloading Services Full Disclosure with families and caregivers Increased parental visitation

Concurrent Permanency Planning: Parental Visitation * Ages 0 to 2 years of age: 3 visits per week * Ages 3 to 5 years of age: 2 visits per week * Ages 6 years and up: 1 visit per week

Partnership between managers, staff, caregivers, parents and children that guides and empowers others in personal or professional growth to achieve positive outcomes. Mentoring Opportunities: Worker child visits Worker parent visits Worker caregiver visits Parent child visits Caregiver supervising parent child visits Supervisor worker consultation Supervisor shadowing Peer Coaching

Inputs Public and Private Child Welfare Directors, Managers, Supervisors, Facilitators and front-line staff MiTEAM Manager & Analysts FC Review Board Child Welfare Workforce Dev. Tribal Representation FC & CPS Program Office Youth, Parents and Caregivers CQI, BCAL, BCW, CFSR & Field Operations Family Preservation Casey Family Programs American Public Human Service Association Steering Committee Sponsor Group Actions Steering Committee meets monthly TA from Casey & APHSA Practice Model (T.E.A.M. & CPP) Practice Model incorporated into new worker training Public and Private Director presentations Local Focus Groups Pre-Training Conference Calls (management and facilitators) Train managers, supervisors and facilitators Management and Facilitators train frontline staff Policy changes Development of Supervision Tools & TA Practice Model Observation Tools Conference calls w/ Liaisons, Facilitators & Supervisors (DHS & PAFC) Ongoing TA, Supplemental Training & Support Outputs Steering Committee involved in development of model and planning of implementation Counties identify barriers & solutions DHS & PAFC Child Welfare staff trained Revision of model materials Implementation of model statewide Implementation supported through Observations, Coaching, Mentoring, TA, training, CQI, BCAL and CFRS process Initial Outcomes Trained and skilled workforce Supportive supervision Transparent management FTM’s held for all triggers and routinely for case planning Increase in visits for children age 0-5 Relative search forms completed Plan A and Plan B developed w/in 120 days Services front loaded w/in 30 days Intermediate Outcomes Parents and youth are involved in case planning. Parents, youth and caregivers needs are met. Children are achieving permanence timely. Results Children experience safety, permanency and well-being. Results

How will we measure results? Increased scores on CFSR, AFCARS & NCANDS MiTEAM TA Process Parents, Youth and Caregiver Interviews Staff Surveys Better results in CQI Reviews

Implementation Benefits When families feel valued and respected they are more willing to work with child welfare staff, thus increasing the chances for successful intervention. Expands options to maintain family connections. Improves the quality and focus of visits. Enhances the fit between family, youth and caregiver needs and service. Skilled, supported staff. Staff retention. New supervision one-on-one case review tool w/ more qualitative measures. Increased collaboration internally and externally.

Link to MiTEAM Newsletter & Materials Click on MiTEAM link on below web page and you can access MiTEAM Materials & Newsletter. Tracie A. Kress, MiTEAM Departmental Manager (517)