Supervising to Permanency PRESENTED BY THE ALLIANCE FOR CHILD WELFARE EXCELLENCE

Competencies  Keeping the focus on safety and permanency during monthly supervisory conferences and case staffings  Model for staffing cases  Helping staff determine when progress has been achieved  Helping staff organize and prioritize their time to achieve permanency

Monthly Case Conferences  Safety  Permanency  Well-Being Permanency Well-Being

Reminder: Time Frames Outside Time Limits  12 of the most recent 19 months  15 of the most recent 22 months You don’t have to wait!

Well-Being  Education  Mental Health  Physical Health  Developmental Milestones Mind Body Spirit Fitness Review of the CHET

Objectives and Case Plans Safety Identify safety threats Focus on parents’ issues as well as family functioning Objectives & Tasks Objectives will reduce or eliminate safety threats Objectives are behavioral and measureable Services and tasks will help meet objectives Progress Measured by behavior change Measured against safety threats (when is good enough?)

Interviewing to help determine progress At the beginning  If I were to meet you when you had adopted a sober life, what would I notice that was different without you having to tell me?  How can you tell when XX is on top of his/her mental health issues? What is different? During the case  On a scale of 1 to 10, where a 10 means you are totally confident in using non-physical discipline, where are you now? What would get you a stop higher?  Have you noticed any change in XX’s behavior? What was it like before compared to now? (Map on T-Chart)

At your tables, answer the following  What kind of expectations do you have for your staff for the process of reviewing court reports?  How do you set the quality standards for the reports?

Reviewing Court Reports  Information should not be a surprise to the family  History should be updated so that it is reasonable for the judicial officer to read  Objectives and services/tasks should be directed at the safety threats and risk factors  The supervisor should be given time to read and modify the report  The report should be submitted timely.

Avoid Permanency Delays Documentation Safety Not Assessed Fathers Tribal Heritage Relative Search & Approval FindingsCase Plans

Case Staffing

Case Consultation Agenda 1. Who is in the family and who is in the household? 2.What safety issues brought this family to our attention? 3.What were the thoughts, feelings and behaviors surrounding the incident? 4.What are the risk factors/condition of parents that contributed to those issues? 5.What are the family’s strengths and protective skills ? 6.Does the family understand the behavioral changes needed to keep the children safe? 7.Is there a case plan in place that addresses the safety issues and risk factors?

Visits: Progress to reunification FREQUENCY RESTRICTIONS

Shared Planning Meetings FTDM whenever a child’s placement may change (in-home to out- of-home; between substitute caregivers; out-of-home to in-home) or if requested by a party to the case Shared Planning Meeting within six months of placement and prior to every permanency planning hearing Adoption Planning Review within 30 days of a TPR referral LICWAC if a child has been identified as an Indian child, or whose status as an Indian child is being investigated, until the Tribe becomes active in case planning or when requested by the Tribe

Safety and Trial Return Home  Are there safety threats?  Is there a safety plan in place?

Safety Plan Analysis 1.There is a parent/caregiver or adult in the home. 2.The home is calm enough to allow safety providers to function in the home. 3.The adults in the home agree to cooperate with and allow an in-home plan. 4.Sufficient, appropriate, reliable resources are available and willing to provide safety activities and tasks.

When Reunification Has Not Happened What are some of the triggers that should cause us to take action to implement an alternate permanent plan?  Lack of progress whether or not the family is in compliance  Lack of visits between parents and children  Lack of contact between the department and parents  Unable to locate parent  Others?

Compelling Reasons The department has not provided reasonable efforts The parents are making significant progress and reunification is expected in three months Adoption is not the appropriate permanency plan for the child Other reasons?

Permanency Report Permanency Report Link: \\Dshsfloly3001\share\Ad_Hoc_Reports_Famlink\Permanen cy Monitoring\PermPlanReport_Beta2.xls\\Dshsfloly3001\share\Ad_Hoc_Reports_Famlink\Permanen cy Monitoring\PermPlanReport_Beta2.xls

Helping Workers Focus on Permanency Maintain monthly case conferences Compile “To Do” lists with social workers Each month, monitor their progress on their “To Do” list Help prioritize Hold staff accountable when they do not complete prioritized assignments Celebrate outcomes! Model efficiency Help with time management

Ensure Staff Are Organized To Do lists Use Outlook for time-sensitive tasks Schedule monthly activities toward the beginning of the month so you can re-schedule if something comes up Set aside time everyday to do paperwork Protected time Group Activities

Time Management Schedule the most difficult activities when staff are the most efficient Set time for staff to send service letters to parents regularly When possible (i.e. phone calls) encourage staff to put information directly into FamLink Support caregivers and model the importance of this for staff!

Congratulations! YOU HAVE FINISHED SUPERVISOR CORE TRAINING