CHMDA/CWDA Partnership Series Child Welfare Services “It Takes a Village” Danna Fabella, Interim Director Contra County Employment and Human Services Department March 17, 2006

Adoption Safe Families Act (ASFA) 1997 Safety Permanency Child Wellbeing

Who Is The Client? The Child However, we engage family, community, other agencies to help meet the ASFA goals Accountability Federal outcome AB 636 – State CWS Improvement and Accountability Act Focus on the Child

What Are Those Outcomes? Safety # of children abused/neglected # of children entering foster care % of children reabused

Permanency % of children re-entering foster care % of children with multiple placements Time to reunification Time to adoption

Well-being % of children placed with siblings % of children in least restrictive placement % of children receiving health and mental health services

Entry Into Child Welfare Services High Threshold Welfare & Institutions Code § 300 a) substantial risk that the child will suffer serious physical harm inflicted nonaccidentally upon the child by the child's parent or guardian b) substantial risk that the child will suffer serious physical harm or illness as a result of the failure or inability of his or her parent or guardian to adequately supervise or protect the child c) serious emotional damage or at substantial risk of suffering serious emotional damage

d) sexually abused or substantial risk that the child will be sexually abused e) child is under the age of five years and has suffered severe physical abuse f) child's parent or guardian caused the death of another child through abuse or neglect g) abandonment h) failure or inability to provide for the child i) failure to adequately protect the child j) child's sibling has been abused or neglected, and there is a substantial risk that the child will be abused or neglected

Often Leads to Frustration School personnel Therapist in community Community members

The Child Welfare System Hotline ER Investigations FM or FRPPEmancipation Mental Health Crises Intervention Mental Health Assessments Mental Health TX Recommendations Mental Health TX Recommendations Bridge to Adult Mental Health

Case Plan Describes services and what parent and child needs Time limited Goal oriented Most Plans Require Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Parenting Mental Health

CWS Challenges Lack of appropriate placement resources CWS Improvement Plans required under AB 636 with the focus on Safety, Permanency and Well-being outcomes CWS allocation includes little funding for direct charge so must rely on other public agencies Partner agencies (AOD, Mental Health, Schools) not being accountable on AB 636 outcomes

Unrealistic expectations of courts and attorneys “Who is the Client” differs Reimbursement under EPSDT is not at competitive rates Lack of trained therapist to work with both children and adult clients in Child Welfare System

“The Village” System of Care Mental Health Services Act System Improvement Plans Family to Family