1. Child Welfare Improvement
San Joaquin County
Child Welfare Improvement

2. San Joaquin County Demographics
Population
673,170
Children in Foster Care (2006)
1749
Children < 5 (2005)
8.0%
Children < 18 (2005)
29.7%
Caucasian (2005)
73.0%
African-American (2005)
7.9%
Hispanic or Latino (2005)
34.7%
Persons reporting 2+ races (2005)
3.4%
Persons below poverty level (2004)
14.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

3. Child Welfare Improvement
Differential Response
Team Decision-Meeting
Disproportionality

4. I. Differential Response

5. Differential Response Assessment
Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) with Federal Funding
Differential Response Program began in December 2002
Contracted with the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC)
Program entitled First Step Resource Response (FSRR)
$160,000 (2002/2003)

6. Child Abuse Prevention Council FSRR Sub-Contractors
Women’s Center of San Joaquin County
Domestic violence issues with children in the home
Council for Spanish Speaking
Families with Spanish as their primary language

7. First Step Resource Response Flowchart

8. First Step Resource Response
35 Path 1 cases per week
CPS sends the family a letter
No confidentiality agreement is necessary when CPS sends referral to DR agencies,
They are an extension of the Agency by contract
CAPC assess family needs and refer to appropriate agencies for individualized information and resources
Family signs confidentiality agreement forms with CAPC or subcontractors

9. FSRR Statistical Data 2002 - 2007
State Fiscal Year
Total Referrals Received
Total Referrals that Accepted Services
Case Returned to CPS by CAPC
12/2002 – 6/2003
355 29
2003 – 2004
1,121
283
2004 – 2005
1,361 37 1
2005 – 2006
1,217
356 5
1,451
822 23
Column Totals:
5,505
1,863

10. Promoting Safe and Stable Families Funding
$ 38,000 from 10/05–12/05
$ 95,000 from 1/06–6/06
$190,000 in 06/07
$190,000 in 07/08

11. Additional Differential Response Services
Family Advocacy Support Team (FAST)
Differential Response Case Management
Domestic Violence Response Team
Differential Response Service Integration

12. Differential Response Flow Chart

13. Women’s Center- Family Advocacy Support Team (FAST)
Began in July 2004
$38,000 per year
Path 1: 13 cases per week
Path 2 & 3: 12 cases per week
Domestic violence advocate out staffed at CPS

14. Differential Response Case Management Program
San Joaquin County received CWSOIP funds
$378,418 (06/07)
$378,886 (07/08)
Provision of case management services for families who voluntarily accept services

15. Collaborating agencies:
Child Abuse Prevention Council
Community Partnership for Families
Council for Spanish Speaking
Women’s Center of San Joaquin County
Data Co-op of San Joaquin County

16. Referrals received from:
FSSR Program
FAST Program
Direct Referrals from CPS
Cross-referrals between agencies

17. CBO’s average per year:
120 families
240 children per year
Community Partnership for Families
Family Success Team (FST) meetings
Case management services provide:
Weekly contact with family and bi-weekly face-to-face contact
Written case plan
Manage case for a minimum of three months

18. Differential Response Case Management Subsequent Referral’s to CPS

19. Domestic Violence Response Team
CPS – out-stationed at Stockton Police Department
SPD
Women’s Center
Probation
Victim Witness

20. Differential Response Service Integration
San Joaquin County received funding from California Department of Social Services
Child Welfare Services Outcome and Improvement Project (CWSOIP)
$200,000 05/06

21. Community Partnership for Families was contracted to enhance service delivery system and integrate services:
Plan
Coordinate
Facilitate
Train
Served as the hub of services for collaborating public and non-profit agencies

22. Differential Response Collaborative Monthly Meetings
Beginning in 2005, Child Welfare Services:
Coordinates and facilitates a monthly meeting of the partners
Approximately individuals from various agencies attend
Focus on problem-solving strategies
Share resource information

23. Arrange for CBO case managers to shadow CPS social workers
Share outcome data
Arrange for CBO case managers to shadow CPS social workers
Funding updates
Case management software discussion
CPS sponsored training and CBO cross-training
CPS supervisor liaison:
Assist in case management issues

24. Differential Response Case Management Software Program
$50,000 in 05/06 in CWSOIP funds
Development and implementation of a software program for the CBO’s providing differential response
Utilized for case documentation, case management and outcome report information
$10,000 for 07/08 for software program support services

25. II. Team Decision Meetings (TDM)

26. Team Decision Meetings
CPS Emergency Response
Family Reunification
Families on Course Unite Successfully (FOCUS)

27. CPS Emergency Response TDM’s
Began on July 1, 06
One TDM Coordinator
Intake & Assessment Units
Low to moderate risk cases
Team strategies how to best help family/child
Connect with community-based organizations
Prevent detention, if possible and safe
Court Units
Placement Issues

28. TDM and Case Management for Family Reunification Cases
Goal:To reduce the rate of re-entry into foster care
PSSF funding provided for TDM’s and post-reunification case management services:
05/06 $60,000 (six months)
06/07 $114,000
07/08 $114,000

29. Awarded a contract to the Center for Positive Prevention Alternatives (CPPA)
Families on Course Unite Successfully (FOCUS)
Referrals come through the Family Social Work Program of CWS when families appear close to reunification
Since October ’06, TDM’s have averaged nine cases per month (initial and follow-up TDM’s)

30. How FOCUS TDM’s Work
CWS referred to FOCUS families who are within two to three months of reunification
FOCUS coordinates and facilitates TDM
TDM held at Community Partnership for Families, Family Resource Centers, if possible
Goal of TDM:
Address case plan process
Develop a safety net for family

31. Post Reunification Services
Provide services for a minimum of three months or until the family appears to be stabilized
In addition to Family Social Worker, FOCUS provides case management services
Weekly contact and a minimum of one face-to-face visit per month
Goal is to serve up to 120 families per year

32. Community Resources Available Through FOCUS Program
Center for Positive Prevention Alternatives
Individual & family therapy
Anger management classes
Youth decision group
Art-based therapy group
Parent support group
Council for Spanish Speaking
Case Management issues
Services for Spanish speaking people

33. Community Partnership for Families - Family Resource Centers
Housing
Financial planning
School related issues
Child care
Family safety
Case management services
Child Abuse Prevention Council
Crisis nursery services
Structured child care

34. Women’s Center of San Joaquin County
Domestic violence counseling/support groups
Domestic violence shelter
Sexual assault counseling
Case management services

35. III. Disproportionality

36. Over-Representation of African-American Children in the CWS
Disproportionate amount of African-American children in the Child Welfare System
Federal
State
County
2005/2006 San Joaquin County convened a workgroup to determine how to approach this issue. Group consisting of:
Line Staff
Supervisors
Administrators
Facilitator

37. Disproportionality in Referrals
Notes:
Highlight the data, and explain that this is reflective of statewide and national data also (refer them to the complementary data summarized in a handout) – Identify issue with missing data. Percentages based upon 4313 referrals that had identified ethnicity attached.
Significant Sample
Punch the point - referrals
Additional Points:
Disproportionality exists for African American children in San Joaquin County at several points in the child welfare process, including first entries, longer stays in foster care, being more likely to be in long-term care, and less likely to be reunified
Source: University of California at Berkeley Center for Social Services Research

38. Disproportionality in Foster Care
Notes:
Highlight the data, and explain that this is reflective of statewide and national data also (refer them to the complementary data summarized in a handout) (African American children are represented in foster care at nearly 3 times their representation in the population in the county)
Based upon total number of 1732 children in care and 195,328 children in population
Additional Points:
In California – African American children represent 7.22% of population and 28.99% of children in care (as of July 1, 2005)
Nationally – Based on census data, African American children represent 15.10% of the population and 36.6% of the children in care [African American and Native American children are the most disproportionately represented children in foster care—African American children are 4 times more likely and Native American children are 3.5 times more likely than White children to be in foster care – Child Welfare League of America – National Data Analysis Data]
In addition, research indicates that children of color are Not at greater risk for abuse and neglect than White children and there are no differences in incidence of maltreatment (Child Welfare League of America – National Data Analysis System)…However, disproportionality exists.
Source: University of California at Berkeley Center for Social Services Research

39. 05/06 Disproportionality Workgroup Activities
Organize the “Closing the Gap” Conference
Developed CWS specific training approach on the issue of bias
Regular meetings to move disproportionality efforts forward

40. “Closing the Gap” Conference
April 19, 2006
Approximately 300 participants
Social workers
Community-based agency representatives
Community members
Presenters:
Antwone Fisher
Dr. Rita Cameron Wedding

41. Presentation on County child welfare data
Community input on the issue of disproportionality
Models from other counties
Facilitated group discussions
Communicating about cultural issues
Improving work place practice
Societal issues

42. Recommendations from Conference
Increase cultural competency training for CWS staff
Bring families, community, public & private agencies together to identify best practice
Increase prevention & intervention services for families
Increase educational opportunities for parents
Invest resources to support reunification and/or kin placements
Hire more African-American’s in all positions
CWS
CBO’s

43. Disproportionality Activities 2006 - 2007
“One worker One solution at a Time” trainings for all administration, supervisory, and line staff as provided by Dr. Rita Cameron-Wedding
System Partner Conferences
“Understanding CPS” presentation
Two community forums
Approximately 130 participants

44. Disproportionality Activities 2007 - 2008
2008 Children’s Services Coordinating Committee - Annual Child Abuse Workshop Presentation
Peer-to-Peer disproportionality training for administrators and supervisors
Identify additional staff trainings for practice strategies around disproportionality
Development of cultural considerations policy
Mobilization of community engagement activities