1. Child Intervention Approach to Wellbeing Ministry of Human Services
Overview of Alberta’s
Child Intervention Approach to Wellbeing
Jon Reeves
Director
Calgary Region
Ministry of Human Services

2. Outline Child Intervention Practice Framework
Safety, Permanency, Family and Community Support, Child Wellbeing
Foundations of Caregiver Support
Approaches to Improving Wellbeing
WELLBEING IS OUR APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH

3. Child Intervention in Alberta October 2016
10,375 active Files in Child Intervention
6100 Aboriginal, 4275 Non Aboriginal
7000 Children in Care, 3375 at Home

4. Alberta’s Child Intervention Practice Framework (CIPF)
Our approach is about supporting safety and improving well-being and permanency for infants, children and youth through:
Clear organizational values;
Specific outcomes;
Strengths-based practice strategies and approaches; and
Use of research and evidence (data and information).
PRACTICE FRAMEWORK
STARTED 6 YEARS AGO, ONGOING EVOLUTION
VALUES
OUTCOMES
TOOLS, TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES
BEST PRACTICE, EVIDENCE AND DATA

5. 6 5 4 Alberta’s CIPF 6 PRINCIPLES
DEVELOPED THROUGH CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT
STAFF, AGENCIES, INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

6. Our Outcomes 5
Vulnerable children are supported to live successfully in the community
Children in temporary care are reunited quickly with their family
Children in permanent care are placed in permanent homes as quickly as possible
Youth transition to adulthood successfully
Aboriginal children live in culturally appropriate placements
5 OUTCOMES
FROM CYFE ACT

7. Domains of Practice 4 Safety Permanency Family and Community Capacity
Child Wellbeing
4 DOMAINS
HOW CHILD INTERVENTION IS PRACTICED

8. SAFETY
Ensuring infants, children and youth are of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, harm, risk, or injury.
Practice Strategies
Signs of Safety
Collaborative Decision Making
SAFETY IS JOB ONE
85/15 ALBERTA INCIDENT STUDY
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES PROVIDE SAFETY
CHILD ADVOCACY CENTRES

9. Permanency
Every infant, child and youth has a fundamental right to belong securely to a family that honors their familial ties, culture and community connections. All children and youth will grow up as valued, wanted and legal members of a lifelong family.
Relationships – life long enduring connections to sibling, family and other significant people.
Culture – continuous participation and connections to the specific culture of the child and family
Legal – right to full family membership and social status
Home – knowing where your home is, where a child and youth feels safe, secure and belongs
PERMANENCY – 4 AREAS
RELATIONAL
CULTURAL
LEGAL
HOME

10. Family and Community Support
Ensuring families and communities have the capacity to meet the social, emotional, spiritual and developmental and physical needs of infants, children and youth.
Foundations of Caregiver Support
Early Intervention and Preventions Framework
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO IMPROVING WELLBEING

11. Child Wellbeing
Ensuring infants, children and youth are supported to reach their developmental potential and enhancing opportunities and experiences.
Our practice philosophy to improving the wellbeing of infants, children and youth is articulated in the “Foundations of Caregiver Support”.
Foundation of Caregiver Support Document
MEET DEVELOPMENTAL POTENTIAL
FCGS IS OUR FOUNDATIONAL BELIEF

12. Foundations of Caregiver Support
The FCGS weaves the elements to core story, infant, child and youth development, trauma and loss and grief together to provide an approach to improving well being and mental health of infants, children, youth and families.
CORE STORY
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOSS AND GREIF
TRAUMA
INDIGENOUS MULTI GENERATIONAL TRAUMA

13. Foundations for Caregiver Support
An elevated understanding of infant mental health, the importance of developmental screening beginning in infancy, and the need to intervene early when a developmental risk is identified;
The  science of brain development which has illuminated the critical role of responsive, nurturing caregivers, the interplay of biology and the environment in shaping brain architecture, and the windows of opportunity that exist in early childhood and adolescence;
DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING
SCIENCE OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

14. Foundations for Caregiver Support
A clearer understanding of how adverse childhood experiences can derail development and impact health and overall functioning;
A growing appreciation among service providers who work with children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect that safety, permanence, and well-being are inextricably linked and require a shared focus;
ACES
THE TRIANGLE OF SAFETY, WELL BEING AND PERMANENCY

15. Foundations for Caregiver Support
The recognition that every responsive and supportive interaction between a caregiver and an infant, child or youth has the potential to positively alter their developmental trajectory and improve their health and well-being.
A deeper appreciation of the impact of intergenerational trauma on Aboriginal families and communities, and a renewed emphasis on integrating an Aboriginal lens throughout the entirety of our work.
Alberta Human Services, Child and Family Services.. (2015). Foundations of Caregiver Support. GoA, AB. .
ONE CAREGIVER CAN MAKE A DIFFER4ENCE
MULTIGENERATIONAL ABUSE
EPIGENETICS

16. Trauma
Trauma occurs as the result of an intense event that threatens the safety or security of an infant, child or youth
Prolonged exposure to traumatic events can impact a child’s brain development, their ability to learn, their ability to trust and relate to others and their ability to care for themselves.
We are trying to focus on asking “What happened to you?” rather then “What’s wrong with you?”;
Indigenous and culturally diverse infants, children and youth have unique needs that must be addressed in a culturally sensitive manner.
TOXIC STRESS
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU
CULTURE UNIQUE NEEDS

17. Loss and Grief
The loss experience is unique for each infant, child and youth;
Significant loss has the potential to threaten a child’s sense of identity, safety, mastery and control;
Grief is a normal response to loss; it is the means for healing;
Infants, children and youth experience multiple losses when they come into care;
Sensitive and informed caregivers can support children and youth through the grieving process
INFANTS, CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO COME INTO CARE EXPERIENCE LOSS AND GRIEF
GRIEF IS A NORMAL RESPONSE
NEED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN THROUGH THE GRIEVING PROCESS
3,5,7 – DARLA HENRY

18. Core Story
Brain science is complex and difficult to communicate across various disciplines and sectors
The core brain story uses metaphors (e.g., “serve and return”) and social math (e.g., “there are as many neurons in a baby’s brain as stars in the Milky Way”) to communicate a complex science
The core story creates a call to action (i.e., “We want all children in Alberta to grow up healthy and strong”) and suggests who is responsible (i.e., We are ALL responsible)
(AFWI & Frameworks Institute)
BRAIN SCIENCE IS COMPLEX
NEED TO BE SIMPLE BUT DEEP
CORE STORY UNITES OUR ACTION FOR CHANGE

19. The Core Story
Brain architecture is established early in life and supports lifelong learning, behavior, and health
Stable, caring and responsive relationships and interactions shape brain architecture
Adverse experiences in the early years of life can impact healthy development
Earlier is better
PRENATAL AND FIRST 3 YEARS
CARING RELATIONSHIPS SHAPE THE BRAIN
ACE IMPACT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

20. Foundations of Caregiver Support Systemic Approaches
Child Intervention Staff educated in the FCGS
Parents, Foster care, Kinship Care, Group care, Residential Care educated in the FCGS
Agencies working with child intervention must incorporate the FCGS into their practice.
Clearly articulated in the contracting requirements to provide services for Child Intervention.
Best practice and evidence based approach's
ALL CAREGIVERS HAVE A COMMON LANGUAGE AND UNDERSTANDING
CONTRACTING PROCESS IS CLEAR THAT FCGS IS USED TO SHAPE SERVICE DELIVERY
USE BEST PRACTICE AND EVIDENCE TO DRIVE OUTCOMES OF WELLBEING
ONGOING RESEARCH INTO TRAUMA, CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND GRIEF AND LOSS
TRAUMA SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS

21. Approach to Wellbeing LAYERS OF SUPPORT REGARDING FCGS
BASIC TRAINING AND SUPPORT
BASIC TRAINING PLUS ENHANCED TRAINING AND SUPPORT BASED ON LEVEL OF TRAUMA AND LOSS/GRIEF AND DEVELOPMENT
BASIC AND ENHANCED TRAINING AND SUPPORT PLUS SIGNIFICANT CLINICAL SUPPORT

22. Foundations of Caregiver Support Models and Tools
Below are some approach that have been used to address impacts of trauma.
Alberta Infant Wellness Initiative [Infant Mental Health Promotion
FIND - Filming Interactions to Nurture Development (Dr. Fisher at the Oregon Social Learning Center and OSLC Developments Inc)
NMT - Neurosequential Model of Treatment (ChildTrauma Academy)
ARC - Attachment, Regulation and Competency (Trauma Center)
ON A PATH TO MOVE SERVICE DELIVERY TOWARDS WELLBEING

23. Organizational Approach to Wellbeing
To know better is to do better
Use of best practice, data, evidence and science to drive practice
Need to focus on simple and deep not complex and shallow
Families and Communities improve wellbeing