1. California Child Welfare Core Practice Model Design Workshop:
Refining Elements & Building Consensus
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Welcome
Acknowledgements
Program--Refer to Goals Page for transition
MARCH 6 &
THE WESTIN
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

2. Welcome
Kelly Woodard
Director Madera County Department of Social Services
CWDA Vice President for Services

3. California Child Welfare Core Practice Model: Past, Present and Future
Diana Boyer, Senior Policy Analyst County Welfare Directors Association of California
Sylvia Deporto, Deputy Director San Francisco County Department of Human Services
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Introduce Anita and Christine

4. Background
California child welfare reforms have been implemented by counties since before 2000
Most counties have adopted multiple promising initiatives
A number of common elements have transformed the nature of child welfare work across California
Recent efforts have emerged to integrate the various initiatives into more comprehensive practice models
Katie A.
California Partners for Permanency (CAPP)
County-specific practice models

5. Towards a Statewide Practice Model
Beginning in 2012 the CWDA Children’s Committee has been working to develop a statewide practice model
Monthly subcommittee planning meetings
Statewide Workshop in July 2013
Goal:
To define California’s Child Welfare Services as a profession grounded in theory, with a set of core values, common elements and identified behaviors

6. Stakeholder Engagement
Statewide and County-level initiatives have been informed by broad stakeholder engagement
Youth, Parents, Caregivers, Tribes, Communities
Results of that engagement have informed the work of the statewide Practice Model development
Further engagement in inviting partners to today’s workshop
Additional engagement will an essential goal of next steps in the evolution of the Practice Model

7. Guiding Vision
California’s 58 counties embrace one practice model that guides their individual Child Welfare Services programs by integrating successful practices into a framework that supports the achievement of safety, permanency and well-being for children and their families in the Child Welfare Services system.

8. Workshop Objectives
ACHIEVE CONSENSUS ON THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK, VALUES AND COMPONENTS/ELEMENTS OF THE PRACTICE MODEL
ACHIEVE CONSENSUS ON THE PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING PRACTICE BEHAVIORS AND AGREEING ON THE LEVEL OF STANDARDIZATION
DEVELOP A COMMUNICATION PLAN FOR ADDITIONAL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT OF STAFF AND STAKEHOLDERS

9. FUTURE WORK
This workshop is one step in moving forward that will help us realize our Guiding Vision
Next steps include:
Working with county partners to define Practice Behaviors,
Developing Organizational System Standards,
Engagement of internal and external stakeholders in understanding and embracing the Practice Model
----- Meeting Notes (7/11/13 07:53) -----
Introduce Kelly

10. Opening Plenary: One State’s Journey to a Statewide Practice Model
Carole Wilcox, Interim Manager Child Safety and Permanency Division Children and Family Services Administration Minnesota Department of Human Services

11. Development of California’s Theoretical Framework
Anita Barbee, Professor Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, KY

12. Practice Model Elements
Theoretical framework
Values and principles
Casework components
Practice elements
Practice behaviors
Reminder of the elements

13. Overview of Today’s Work
Regional Breakout Conversations to review work to date on
Theoretical Framework
Values and Principles
Practice Elements
Input will be recorded and reported back at morning Plenary tomorrow morning

14. A few words on consensus. . .
Your facilitators will take you through a consensus process
Consensus ≠ Unanimity
The Design Team has worked very hard to integrate all of the work that has gone on around the state.

15. In other words, we don’t necessarily need this:

16. Breakout Groups Room assignments (Map in your packet):
Southern Region 3rd Floor Melbourne Room
Bay Area Region 3rd Floor Naples Rom
Mtn. Valley/North Regions 3rd Floor Casablanca Room
Central Region 4th Floor Palos Verdes Room
County stakeholders, please go with your county group
Statewide stakeholders, please divide yourselves among the regions

17. Day 2: Welcome Back Review work from Regional Breakouts
All recorded comments will be forwarded to the Design Team
Everyone’s input will be considered
Some overall themes emerged
We will highlight some specific comments from each group
Remind participants that this is the first but by no means the last opportunity to be involved in these discussions
If they have not viewed the webinar it is still available to provide context for understanding what we are trying to accomplish
If the concepts are not clear they will become so as we dig deeper into the Practice Model work—for each of us it has been a journey of learning and discovery and as we have said this process will take time and hard work

18. Overall Themes
“Evidence Based Practice” is too limiting—need to clarify language
Need to explicitly include After-18 services
Need to clarify language about partners, stakeholders, etc; be explicit about public agency partners(including internal partners)

19. Overall Themes (cont’d)
Simplify language/make it more family-friendly throughout
Apply Values, Principles, Elements inside the agency as well as externally
Make more explicit the importance of organizational culture and climate

20. Theoretical Framework
Overall Response—High Consensus/Enthusiastic Support across all Regions
Bay Area Feedback
More clarity about role of relationships and engagement in the Framewok
Need more synthesizing statements
Southern
Competing Values Theory needs more clarification and narrative
Important to drill down from leadership to direct practice—balance between skillful use of authority and engagement

21. Theoretical Framework (cont’d)
Central
Concern about representing all 4 quadrants of the Competing Values Theory
Northern
Need to be explicit about how to support youth into adulthood
Want to see something more explicit about disease model of addiction
Need to be more explicit about the child and youth in the family
Would like to see more about parent and youth leadership in the Organizational theories
Want to see more about Prevention and Early Intervention

22. Values
Overall Response—High Consensus/Enthusiastic Support across all Regions
Southern
Make sure that there is overall language in the introductory statement about the interplay of the values—that they should be understood as working together
Use “we strive for” vs. “we do”
Would like to use Minnesota model of using a word or two to summarize each Value
Potential for Change might be split into two values
Healthy and Competent Workforce needs to include responsibility for oneself
Concern about use of word “legal” in referring to family permanence

23. Values Northern Need Value about Prevention and Early Intervention
Tribes need to be recognized for their Sovereignty in addition to being partners
Need to balance transparency and family’s right to privacy
Need to be more explicit about accepting youth for who they are

24. Values (cont’d) Central Bay
Concerned about the word “transparent”—need a better explanation of what it means
Healthy and Competent Workforce Value---needs a principle that translates into an understanding of systems supports and how to make this become a reality
Would like more specificity to ensure inclusion of faith communities, proximal placements
Bay
Agency transparency is important within and outside the agency
“Grounded in Cultural Responsiveness” needs to be more explicit about addressing disparities
“Services and Supports to meet family needs” needs to be more explicit about promoting community based early intervention and prevention
Add a principle about organizational culture and climate that addresses Value #8 on Workforce
Need to emphasize shared accountability throughout the organization

25. Practice Elements
Overall Response—High Consensus/Enthusiastic Support across all Regions
Southern
Safety, Permanence, Well-Being doesn’t look like the other elements—it is an outcome
We might adopt Minnesota’s example of “listening” for engagement
Ensure service linkage is included vs. just “advocacting” for services
Shared Commitment and Accountability---one or 2 Elements? Is it an Element?
Trauma informed system parallels—what does it mean? Clarify or eliminate

26. Elements
Central
Safety, Permanency, Well-Being should be more aligned with the Value of Safety, Permanency and Well Being; it is very permanency-skewed; needs to be more about well-being; needs to include screening, should eliminate words “to adulthood” to focus on more transitions
Workforce Support---link more to learning organization, need to be more transparent in communication with workforce
Reword last sentence

27. Elements
Northern
Last bullet in S,P,WB needs to refer to all transitions (not just to adulthood)
S,P, WB--ratther than talk about recovery, talk about growth, building parent/family capacity, achieving goals
Cross-walk elements and values
Self-Advocacy should be part of Engagement
Clarify scope of Advocacy

28. Elements
Bay Area
Overarching themes: the language “we will work to…..” is not powerful enough
“Child, youth, young adults and family” should be consistent throughout
Inquiry and Exploration—use “strategies” vs. “tools”
Trauma Informed system---more than “trauma informed” needs to be included

29. Practice Model Elements
Theoretical framework
Values and principles
Casework components
Practice elements
Practice behaviors
Reminder of the elements

30. Practice Behaviors Proposal for identifying Practice Behaviors
Table talk exercise
Report back

31. Practice Behaviors
Define expected practice so agency and community partners can create coordinated supports.
Support evaluation of model fidelity and outcomes.
Provide a framework for training.
Image is animated gif
Note that these are macro level benefits of practice behaviors.
Ask – If you don’t know what practice looks like, how can you measure fidelity?

32. Practice Behaviors
Provide direction to practitioners about how they will practice social work using the practice model.
Image is animated gif
These are more micro level benefits of practice behaviors
Think back to your first day as a new social worker… Wouldn’t it have been nice to know what you were doing

33. Getting to Practice Behaviors
Casework components and practice elements provide the scaffolding for practice behaviors
Theories, values and principles guide the selection and development of the behaviors
For example, based on our casework components, we know we want to engage.
Our theoretical framework tells us we think we can best engage by showing respect for the culture and approaching the family in a culturally appropriate way. Build trust by telling them the truth about why you are there and what will happen during the process. Try to form a relationship with them. Listen carefully to their story. Ask them to work with you in resolving the issue to keep their children safe and in the home or to be returned to the home quickly.
Point out the casework component handout on the tables

34. Our Goal Identify a set of practice behaviors that are
Specific enough to be observable and recognizable to all parties involved.
Flexible enough to allow for customization to incorporate county level differences in procedures, tools, and supports.
Analogous to existing practice behaviors already in use.
Informed by our key stakeholders, who know what good practice looks like.

35. Sample Practice Behaviors
Katie A.
Be diligent in reaching out to children and families in ways that are welcoming, appropriate and comfortable for them.
CAPP
Assesses with the family and their team the need for interactive, experiential coaching during visitation and at other times of natural parent/child interaction to improve parenting skills; follows through with identifying, arranging or advocating for this when needed.
SOP
Actively engages safety network members to critically evaluate their group process. Specifically focuses on ways to increase understanding, agreement and collaboration going forward.

36. Recommended Process
(feedback gathered regionally at the county level, then Regional Children’s Committees)
Stakeholder Feedback
(develop examples of PBs and share/develop more PBs)
Regional Workgroups
(CWDA leads effort to consolidate and develop behaviors)
Info Consolidation
(feedback loop to stakeholders, communities, counties)
Share Findings
(convening to share the finalized practice behaviors)
Continue Discussion

37. Table Activity Work as table groups for the next 20 minutes
Review the recommended process using the handouts on your tables
Choose someone to speak for your table in the report out
Answer the discussion questions on the back of the blue copy of the handout
Give your YELLOW handout to Barry or Melissa after the report out

38. Day 2 Regional Breakouts Overview
Outreach and Engagement of both Internal and External Stakeholders
Overview of Communications Materials and Use for Alignment of materials with engagement strategies

39. Friday Breakout Rooms
Southern Region Lobby Level Ocean Ballroom Bay Area Region 3rd Floor Tokyo/Vancover Room Mtn. Valley/North Regions 3rd Floor Barcelona Room Central Region 4th Floor Palos Verdes Room

40. Recap of Our Work Objective:
ACHIEVE CONSENSUS ON THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK, VALUES AND ELEMENTS OF THE PRACTICE MODEL
Largely Accomplished
Excellent Input to Improve the work that we brought to the Workshop
Additional work for the Design Team to meld input into the final Framework, Values and Elements

41. Recap of Our Work Objective:
ACHIEVE CONSENSUS ON THE PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING PRACTICE BEHAVIORS AND AGREEING ON THE LEVEL OF STANDARDIZATION
Excellent input that will help refine the draft development plan that we provided today
Design Team will rework the plan to develop a process that is doable for counties and engaging for partners
Additional communications materials and technical assistance/facilitation will be developed to assist in the implementation of this process

42. Recap of Our Work Objectives:
DEVELOP A COMMUNICATION PLAN FOR ADDITIONAL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT OF STAFF AND STAKEHOLDERS
Brief Report out from the Regional Groups

43. Next Steps
Design Team reviews today’s work to incorporate input on the Framework, Values, and Elements
Define what we mean by “Practice Behaviors”
Develop communication tools and materials and technical assistance to support the engagement of staff and partners
Engage staff and partners in understanding and embracing the Practice Model
Work with county staff and partners to develop Practice Behaviors,
Develop Organizational System Standards,

44. What Does the Future Look Like?