1. LOS ANGELES COUNTY

2. To learn about the Katie A. Settlement Agreement and its impact on the Child Welfare and Mental Health systems To appreciate the Shared Core Practice Model and the practice elements To review California Partners for Permanency (CAPP) and the 23 Practice Behaviors that support the Shared Core Practice Model To expand our knowledge of the Strengths Based Approach to practice while assuring child safety

3. LA County DMH, DCFS, & PROBATION Adopting a Common Practice Model - Working towards a Common Vision - Sharing a Common Language Transforming our Approach - Promoting Best Practice Standards - Improving Outcomes for Children and Families

4. Class action lawsuit filed on behalf of 5 plaintiff foster children. Sought to improve the provision of mental health and supportive services for children and youth in foster care. Challenged the State and County agencies for neglecting their duties to provide necessary and legally mandated mental health care services to foster children.

5. Children and families will receive mental health services in a timely manner Child Welfare and Mental Health Systems will change the standard of practice Children and families will receive care and services to prevent removal, and maintain safety, permanence and stability

6. Focus is to reduce the number of children in long-term foster care 23 Practice Behaviors describe actions for staff to engage in when interacting with children, families and the community New way of working with children, families and their teams, while keeping children safe

7. Assessment & Understanding STRENGTHS NEEDS PRACTICE & CHILD SAFETY Long Term View Cultural Humility Trauma Responsive Engaging Teaming Planning & Intervention Tracking & Adapting

8. Used to assess and evaluate current practice Uses a combination of record review, interviews and observation Overall Practice and Overall Status must be 85% The following 3 Practice indicators must score 70% - Engagement - Teamwork - Assessment

9. What Do You Value…

10. Children/youth are first and foremost protected and safe Family-Centered Practice: Respecting the family’s voice and choice; developing trusting, working relationships Strength based assessments that identify underlying needs with families

11. Individualized plans and services based on underlying needs Teaming and collaboration with family and community partners Cultural Humility & approaching all interactions with respect

13. Assessment & Understanding STRENGTHS NEEDS PRACTICE & CHILD SAFETY Long Term View Cultural Humility Trauma Responsive Engaging Teaming Planning & Intervention Tracking & Adapting

14. SCPM ELEMENT PRACTICE BEHAVIORS Engaging: Creating trustful working relationships with a child and their family Approaches all interactions with openness through listening and using understandable language. Consistently models honest and respectful communication. Explores family relationships and natural circles of support. Identifies safety issues and how they can be addressed. Explores with children worries, wishes and with whom they feel safe and want to live with.

15. SCPM ELEMENT PRACTICE BEHAVIORS Teaming: Building and strengthening the child and family’s support system Establishes and continuously brings together, and supports the child and family’s team. Facilitates and coordinates sharing of important information among all parties. Creates environment for open and honest communication among all parties. Follows through and admits bias, missteps and mistakes.

16. Empowers Family and Youth to use their Voice and Choice Encourages the Family to articulate their Family Goal and Vision Focuses on the Family Story to identify Strengths and Underlying Needs Helps the Family form their Team of Natural and Informal Supports Benefits of the CFT Process

18. SCPM ELEMENT PRACTICE BEHAVIORS Assessment & Understanding: Collaborating with a family’s team to obtain information about their strengths and underlying needs Acknowledges and validates feelings of grief, loss and trauma. Listens to the family’s story and helps explore history and impact. Shows understanding that normal is different for everyone. Individualizes underlying needs and solutions. Uses cultural humility when assessing for safety, well-being and understanding of underlying needs.

20. Skills you use everyday Every individual & family has strengths Family culture & story is a source of identifying strengths The child and family’s strengths can be mobilized to meet the child’s needs

22. protection belonging basic needs connections self-esteem security confidence acceptance affection safety

23. SCPM ELEMENT PRACTICE BEHAVIORS Planning & Intervening: Tailors Plans to build on strengths to meet individual needs for each child and family  Facilitates appropriate supports and services.  Explores with the team how programs can assist the family.  Shared commitment and accountability: identifies roles and responsibilities and timeframes for accomplishing goals.

24. SCPM ELEMENT PRACTICE BEHAVIORS Tracking & Adapting: Evaluates the effectiveness of the plan; adapting to challenges; celebrating success and organizing aftercare support Facilitates continuous dialogue with the family/youth and their team about how supports and services are working. Make adjustments based on the child and family team. Promotes the importance of the family and youth’s circle of support team even beyond the time of agency involvement.

26. Assessment & Understanding STRENGTHS NEEDS PRACTICE & CHILD SAFETY Long Term View Cultural Humility Trauma Responsive Engaging Teaming Planning & Intervention Tracking & Adapting

27. SCPM ELEMENT PRACTICE BEHAVIOR Long Term View: The degree to which there are stated, shared and understood goals of safety, well-being and permanency outcomes, as well as, functional life goals for the child and family In all interactions affirms unique strengths, life experiences, and self- identified goals of family. Honors the role of culture and community connections in the exploration of issues, options and solutions. Identifies needed supports in the long term planning.

28. SCPM ELEMENT PRACTICE BEHAVIORS Cultural Humility: Seeks to explore and embrace diversity; listens for and is open to differences in experience, perception, values, beliefs and traditions; supports exploration of how one’s bias and assumptions may impact interactions Uses culturally sensitive services to address child safety, well being and family needs. Assesses and arranges culturally appropriate activities and services in the most natural environment. Explores cultural practices and traditions that can assist with grief, loss and trauma.

29. SCPM ELEMENTPRACTICE BEHAVIORS Acknowledges and validates feelings of grief, loss and trauma. Explores history and experiences and how this may be impacting one’s current life situation and underlying needs. Connects and advocates for a broad array of culturally sensitive services to assist with healing. Trauma Responsive: Recognizes that interventions can cause traumatization & re-traumatization. Utilizes a comprehensive assessment to guide practice. Explore how one’s own traumatic experience may impact interactions and practice

30. Assessment & Understanding STRENGTHS NEEDS PRACTICE & CHILD SAFETY Long Term View Cultural Humility Trauma Responsive Engaging Teaming Planning & Intervention Tracking & Adapting

32. For all your hard work! For your dedication to helping children & families thrive in their communities!