Family Team Meeting Policy Updates Presented by Mitzie Smith August 10, 2009

Family Team Meeting Family Engagement –Families are the experts on themselves –When families are involved in decision-making, outcomes can improve Family Centered –Families deserve to be treated with dignity and respect –Families can make well-informed decisions about keeping their children safe when supported Family Team –A team is often more capable of creative and high-quality decision making than an individual –Sustaining family supports when we step out

Family Team Meeting- Core Values Children are best served when they live in safe, familiar, nurturing environments where they can develop trust Connecting birth and foster families to neighborhood and community support systems strengthens their ability to care for children Children suffer considerable anxiety that compromise their growth and development when they experience frequent moves and sudden changes in their environment The vast majority of families have the capacity to participate in critical decision making related to their children. These birth and foster family members are the best persons to help make decisions for and about children on issues of safety, protection, placement preservation and permanency Communities play a critical role in keeping children safe and in preserving significant relationships When replacement is needed, children must be placed in the least restrictive setting

Family Team Meeting – Preparation Preparation- key to successful FTM Staffing – FTM Facilitator and SSCM/SSS Parents/caregivers Relatives Children and Youth Resource parent All Family Team Members

Family Team Meeting – Team Members A FTM must include the families own support system. Parents (both) Children / Youth Relatives Resource parents Friends/Neighbors Religious affiliates Medical/mental health provider School/educational providers Service providers

Critical Case Junctures Decision making (safety, permanency, wellbeing) Safety Planning Permanency planning Placement Review Court Progress Changes Case Closures Multi-purpose FTM Must make sense to blend Must include multi-purpose in Referral Documentation must include that all issues are addressed

Family Team Meeting- Assessment (Investigation) –Prior to removal to determine whether to remove a child; and/or prior to initiating any type of court intervention; –To review decisions immediately after an emergency removal and to ensure that appropriate placement is made. –To develop an in-home safety plan when it is safe to do so; –Safety Resource, initial and closure

Family Team Meeting- Family Preservation Services Develop and review the Family Plan with the family; Reassessment : Make adjustments to the plan as needed; Address any ongoing concerns regarding risk/safety/wellbeing; Reach agreement on strategies to reduce risk Progress toward achieving Family Plan goals No Progress toward achieving Family Plan goals When risk escalates and there is a need to re-engage the family in services/assess whether placement is needed Changes Case Closure

Family Team Meeting- Out of Home Care (foster care) Develop Plans (Initial, 25-Day (MDT) Permanency planning Review Plans Court Placement Changes Changes in family circumstances Progress No Progress Case Closure

Family Team Meeting Hot Topics Fathers Children/Youth Family Violence Sexual Abuse

Family Team Meeting Questions?