1. CT’s DCF-Head Start Partnership Working Together to Serve Vulnerable Families & Support the Development of At-Risk Children
Presenters:
Rudy Brooks
Former Bureau Chief, Prevention Services
CT Department of Children & Families
Grace Whitney
Director, CT Head Start State Collaboration Office
  Child Welfare, Collaboration and the Courts: A Collaboration to Strengthen Educational Successes of Children and Youth in Foster Care
Renaissance Arlington Capitol View Hotel, Arlington, VA November 3-4, 2011

2. Why Should We Partner?
Head Start/EHS and DCF often serve the same children
Many Head Start/EHS children and families are at risk
Great potential for identification and prevention
Head Start/EHS is a natural environment for interventions to occur

3. What Would the Benefits Be?
Programs understand one another
Establish regular procedures for working together
Achieve continuity of care through case management
Develop creative solutions for unique and difficult cases

4. How Would Families Benefit?
Families understand and access services
Families feel supported
Placements reduced and permanency increased for children
Children access high quality ECE
Children receive care from knowledgeable, nurturing adults working together

5. Protocol for Working Together
Section I: Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
Section II: Communication on Open DCF Investigations
Section III: Treatment Planning and Case Management
Section I: Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
Head Start initiates calls to DCF Hotline
DCF assists Head Start to establish reporting protocols
DCF assists Head Start in training on child abuse/neglect
Section II: Communication on Open DCF Investigations
Head Start provides information to DCF
DCF provides feedback to Head Start on their reports to DCF
DCF provides feedback to Head Start on reports alleging abuse/neglect by a Head Start staff member
Section III: Treatment Planning and Case Management
Head Start and DCF work together to plan on-going services
Head Start assists families in making self-referrals for voluntary services with DCF

6. Protocol for Working Together
Section IV: Placement of Children
Section V: DCF Referrals to Head Start/EHS
Section VI: Agency Planning
Section IV: Placement of Children
Head Start assists DCF in identifying and locating relatives for Head Start children facing out-of-home placement
Head Start and DCF will coordinate services to assist children placed outside of their communities
Section V: DCF Referrals to Head Start
DCF caseworkers and foster parents initiate referrals to Head Start
DCF assists Head Start in determining appropriate service options for DCF-involved families
Section VI: Agency Planning
DCF assists Head Start in finding eligible families and assists Head Start in recruitment and enrollment
DCF assists Head Start in planning efforts
Head Start assists DCF in planning efforts
Head Start assists DCF in identifying and recruiting relative/foster/adoptive homes

7. DCF-Head Start Partnership
Phase 1 - Pilot
DCF Areas & 3 Head Start/Early Head Start
Created Protocol for Working Together
Phase 2 – Ready Communities
DCF Areas & 15 Head Start/Early Head Start
Began quarterly facilitated meetings
Phase 3 – Statewide Implementation
DCF Areas & 11 Head Start/Early Head Start
Added mental health, other early care, etc.
Manchester Test Site
6 Head Start/Early Head Start programs
Monthly meetings with Central Office/Collaboration
Develop referral form and referral protocol
Training DVD
Establish DCF-Head Start points of contact
Tested models of liaison/out-posted workers
Resolve issues of confidentiality
Bringing other providers into the partnership
Mental Health/ECCP; Child Care/Therapeutic Child Care; Supportive Housing
Joint Family Services
Treatment planning piece
Joint home visits

8. Evaluation Quarterly Data Collection Building Trust and Partnership
Maintaining On-going Collaboration
Improving Services to Families
“Stories” of interest
Building Trust and Partnership
Visits & ‘getting-to-know-you’ activities
Maintaining On-going Collaboration
Cross training & cross-sector committee participation
Improving Services to Families
Referrals; joint family meetings; foster family support/ recruitment; targeted mental health services
“Stories” of interest

13. DCF-Head Start Partnership & Collaboration Needs Assessment
No working Relationship
(little/
no contact)
Cooperation
(exchange info/referrals)
Coordination
(work together)
Collaboration
(share resources/
agreements)
2008
14%
11%
36%
39%
2009 8%
92%
2010 6%
94%

14. Results
Simplify/standardize referral processes and intentional enrollment of DCF-involved children, including foster care, into Head Start
Align Treatment Plan/Family Partnership Agreement
Connect mental health supports, housing supports, other early care
Modifying DCF LINK data system to help identify and serve children under five
DCF and Head Start staff report working more closely together on a wide range of services and community activities
Increased visits of DCF and Head Start staff to one another’s sites
Increased DCF staff on HS Policy Council and Head Start staff on DCF Area Councils
Increased number of designated DCF Liaisons to Head Start programs and DCF staff out-posted to Head Start sites

15. The Collaborative Process
It must be meaningful to you!
Balancing Process with Product
Mental Models
The Collaborative Path

16. Getting to Know One
Another as
Organizations

17. Common Ground

18. Improving Outcomes for Children
Stage 5: Going to Scale
Adapt and expand prototype
Deepen collaborative culture
Institutionalize processes
Stage 4: Taking Action
Implement new processes
Collect data
Evaluate progress-make course corrections
Stage 3: Developing a Plan
Formalize interagency relationships
Define service delivery processes
Develop technical tools
Stage 2: Building Trust
Get to know one another
Build cooperative relationships
Establish shared goals
Stage 1: Getting Together
Commit to Collaboration
Involve the right people
Decide to act

19. Team Self-Assessment Where are we now?
Have there been changes for which we need to repeat earlier steps to get everyone up to speed?
Are there others we need to invite to our table?
What are some logical next steps to include on our Goal Sheet?
Do we need any additional supports?

20. What’s Worked for Us.....
Ongoing commitment from and access to all levels of both agencies
Critical importance of support at the top!
A process that promotes statewide goals yet respects local differences and needs
Opportunities to share accomplishments with and learn from other communities

21. Federal/State Leaders
What’s Worked for Us.....
Community Leaders
Local Meetings
Membership Lists
Quarterly Data Sheets
Quarterly Goal Sheets
“Community NEWS”
Federal/State Leaders
Strategic Facilitation
Meeting Supports
Data, Data, Data
Policy/Practice Change
New Resources