Engagement

Ask yourself the hard questions…  How can we better involve families, youth and caregivers in case planning?  How can we better empower families to make their own decisions?  How can we best work with community partners?  How can we improve the communication of the case plan to all parties?  What can be improved for you to feel more supported/empowered in your work?

The answers to the hard questions are in policy…..  FOM 722-6: “Casework service requires the engagement of the family in the development of the service plan.”  FOM 722-8C: “Parental participation is required in developing parent/caretaker goals and objectives.”  PSM : “With family input develop a strength based service agreement which focuses on the issues identified on the risk and needs and strengths assessments.”  SRM 131: Provides guidelines for releasing reports. Policy supports the MiTEAM Practice Model!

Engagement The skill vital to successfully establishing a relationship with children, parents, and individuals that work together to help meet a child or family’s needs to resolve child welfare related issues.

Family engagement is not…  An Interview or questionnaire  Being “friends” with families  Setting aside consequences in lieu of building rapport  Pre-determined bias  Minimizing valid safety concerns  An additional CPS investigation  A Court review hearing

Why do we engage?  To develop partnerships and build rapport.  To diffuse a crisis.  To minimize trauma.  To accurately gather information to assist with the case planning.  To identify strengths and goals and encourage participation in the planning process.  To keep children safe WHY DO WE ENGAGE?

Family engagement requires…  A shift in the belief that families are incapable of planning for themselves  Allowing the family to fully participate in case planning  Being upfront with families and communicating with them about their circumstances  Understanding and communicating the dynamics of the Child Welfare System and its interactions with other systems.

Benefits of Family Engagement  Shared case planning  Family more likely to comply with a plan they helped to develop Shifts responsibility for child well-being, safety, and permanency from DHS to the family:  May assist in preventing children/youth from coming into care  Increases placement options (relative and community)  Clear expectations and outcomes

Engagement All staff will utilize a series of intentional interventions that work together in an integrated way to promote safety, well-being and permanency for children, youth and families. Techniques utilized 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

Recognize the person’s experience & feelings. Recognize how the family is communicating non-verbally. Communicate with words your understanding of the person’s experience. Allow families and youth to vent and validate their feelings. Communicating with empathy results in more openness with people!

Communicate warmth. Show commitment. Recognize & use a person’s strengths. Be open- minded. Respect can KEEP YOU SAFE!!

Be aware of and make sure your non-verbal behavior, voice tone and verbal responses match. Communicate trustworthiness and acceptance. Express yourself naturally without acting fake or phony. Be open and receptive to the families point of view. Be Yourself!

Actively Listen. Show Commitment/Make progress toward goals. Follow-through. Be open-minded/Provide and welcome feedback. Be knowledgeable. Say what you mean, and mean what you say!