Family Assessment Response

Welcome & Introduction Introduce yourself to the group: 1.Name 2.Where are you from? (office and role) 3. What do you hope to get out of the next 2 days?

Agreements You are here. You cannot be in 2 places at once, so make the most of it. Cells phones and other devices off or on mute. We will take breaks. Keep side bar conversations to a minimum. Active listening and participation is appreciated. Keep questions topic focused.

Overview of FAR Training Day 1 and 2: All FAR staff Day 3 and 4: Casework Practice Model (held in regions) FARFA Training: in local offices

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Gain knowledge about FAR Know the similarities and differences between FAR and Investigations Learn specific procedures and work flow of FAR Leave training feeling prepared to do FAR work

FAR: WHAT IS IT? FAR: WHAT IS IT?

FAR is a CPS Response Pathway 7 CPS FAR PATHWAY FAR PATHWAY INVESTIGATIVE PATHWAY INVESTIGATIVE PATHWAY

What is FAR? FAR is an alternative to the traditional Child Protective Services investigation A subject is not identified and a finding of child abuse and neglect is not made Risk and safety assessments are completed and assessing child safety is the focus Services are voluntary and of a short duration – 45 days unless the family agrees to extend the time – 90 days max 8

What is FAR? Focuses less on investigative fact finding and more on assessing families and ensuring child safety Seeks safety through family engagement and collaborative partnerships

CA’s Goals for FAR More children stay safely at home Provide early intervention Child safety through partnering and assessing Increase scope of service delivery Improve family-centered practice and integration of SBC Increase resource identification 10

Commonalities of Investigations & FAR Child safety is at the forefront of both responses Both are needed responses to Child Abuse and Neglect Reports Both maintain CA’s authority to make decisions about child removal Both utilize SBC as the case management model to improve outcomes

Differences between FAR and Investigations We contact parents before seeing the child and making a home visit (in most cases) No findings made No audio recording of interviews No pictures without parental consent 12

Why Implement FAR? 13

Why implement FAR? Not all families who receive a CPS report needs the same response. Families are better able to safely care for their children when they develop and strengthen their connections to natural supports and communities.

Why FAR? We can avoid out of home placements through better engagement with families and communities in child safety efforts. FAR is supported by legislation.

National Perspective of FAR The circumstances and needs of families differ and so should the response The majority of reports do not need an investigatory approach or court-ordered interventions Absent an investigation: – child safety will not be jeopardized – services can be in place more quickly – families will be more motivated to use services 16

Findings from other states Child safety was not compromised Families reported more involvement in decision-making More use of concrete services Families reported services “really helped” Higher family satisfaction with worker More worker visits and contact with families and providers LESS subsequent reports LESS out of home placements and removals Cost- slightly more expensive, but potential to reduce long- term costs Higher job satisfaction for workers

Research on Differential Response The research on differential response from other states is available at the following websites: /medicalschool/departments/pediatrics/subs/ can/QIC-DR/Pages/QIC-DR.aspx /medicalschool/departments/pediatrics/subs/ can/QIC-DR/Pages/QIC-DR.aspx /children/differential-response/pc-dr-ohio- section2-final-evaluation-report-1.pdf /children/differential-response/pc-dr-ohio- section2-final-evaluation-report-1.pdf

Evaluation of FAR IV-E waiver requires an evaluation of FAR implementation by an external evaluator. TriWest Group: contracted evaluator What is involved in the evaluation of FAR? Opportunities for staff input Parent survey 19

HOW FAR OPERATES: FROM INTAKE TO CASE CLOSURE

Intake Does the family meet the criteria for FAR? Yes Does the Intake meet the definition of CA/N? ON Screen out and document in FamLink

Most neglect cases will screen to FAR, except for emergent neglect Families with chronicity, some with prior dependency actions Risk factors such as drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and mental illness What types of intakes will you see in FAR? 22

Third party/kid on kid sexual abuse (negligent treatment) Low to moderate physical abuse What types of intakes will you see in FAR?

The beginning is the most important part of the work. 24

Transparency: What does this mean? 25

What are my first steps? Call the referrer back. Review any history in famlink. Make active efforts to contact the parent(s) by phone. Provide basic information to parent on phone to include some information about FAR. Engage parent in scheduling a time to meet with them and to complete your initial face to face (IFF) contact with the child. 26

Next steps The IFF can be completed at the initial home visit so long as you are able to meet the 72 hour policy timeframe. Be upfront with parents regarding timelines. When needed we may see children at schools, daycares, etc. During the initial home visit discuss the FAR pathway with the family. Review the FAR agreement and seek their signature. 27

Initial Face to Face contact with child victims An IFF includes the following: Observation of the child(ren); Observation of the child(ren)'s circumstances; Interview(s) with the child(ren) who have the capacity to communicate. The initial interview(s) should be sufficient to help the worker gather pertinent information towards the completion of the Safety Assessment and take any steps necessary for child safety; and Completion of the present danger assessment 28

Child Interviews At times you will not be able to conduct a thorough interview of the child during your initial IFF contact. Per policy, an interview must occur within 10 calendar days of the intake date. We must gather information from the child to properly assess child safety and understand what happened to the child.. 29

Does the Family Agree to the FAR Assessment? NO Transfer to Investigations Is the child in present danger? NO Yes Take Protective Action

Does the Family Agree to FAR? YES Work with Family to complete Family Assessment

Information Gathering in FAR More of a collaborative approach than in investigations. Normalize our need to gather information with the family. Ask them who they suggest we talk with to get more information about their family. Consider what collateral contacts are needed in each case. These vary based on the allegations, age of child, etc. Normalize your need to have both group and individual conversations with family members. 32

What is involved in completing the Family Assessment? Collateral contacts Assessing all adults and other children in home Gathering questions Safety assessment CANS tool SDM (structured decision making tool) 33

Having Difficult Conversations How comfortable are you with having difficult conversations? Why are they important in our engagement work with families? How do we prepare for these conversations? 34

Does the family need services? YES Work with Family to identify appropriate services and supports NO Close Case

Identifying Needs, Resources, and Services Co-develop case plan with family Connect family with community, services, and other resources Implement and monitor the plan Case closure

Does the Family Agree to Participate in all identified services? ON Is the Child Safe? YES Implement case plan with the Family

Is the Child Safe? NO Conduct an FTDM If the Family Refuses Services Does the family agree to services identified in FTDM? NO Take action to keep child safe, transfer to CFWS If the Family Refuses Services

Is the Child Safe? NO Conduct an FTDM If the Family Refuses Services Does the family agree to safety plan and services identified in FTDM? Yes Implement case plan with the family If the Family Refuses Services

FAR Timeframes Initial face-to-face contact : 72 hours including weekends and holidays Safety assessment: 30 days from date of intake FARFA (FAR family assessment): 45 days from date of intake unless parents agree to extend longer and services are being provided Case management and closure: 90 days max

Should I close the case? Have you addressed all of the allegations in the intake? Have all safety concerns been addressed? Is the family connected to community resources or support networks? Have you discussed what the family will do if a similar situation arises again in the future? Have you discussed case closure with the family?

Community Engagement The success of FAR depends on community involvement Communities want their families and children to be safe Families are better able to care for their children when they have strong connections to their community 42

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Gain knowledge about FAR Know the similarities and differences between FAR and Investigations Learn specific procedures and work flow of FAR. Leave training feeling prepared to do FAR work.

We want to support you: Site visits to your offices to staff cases, answer questions, etc. Monthly facilitated video case consultations Follow up practice discussions Opportunities to provide feedback Use your Regional and Office Leads 44

Who You Gonna Call? Children’s Administration Headquarters Leads: Dawn Cooper: Karolyn Smith:

Who You Gonna Call? REGIONAL FAR LEADS: Region 1: Julie Ellis Region 2: Kara Rozeboom Region 3: Anita Teeter