family team meetings and georgia dfcs

Policy Incorporation

A processA partnershipA procedure

Prevent the Placement/Replacement of Ga’s children

Reduce the length of stay for Ga’s children

Reduce the number of disruptions for those children in care

Prior to the initiation of a Safety Resource or safety Plan

Within 45 calendar days of a case identified for FPS

Within 3-9 days of a child entering out of home care

Prior to development or reassessment of the Family Plan

Prior to changes in Permanency plan/goals Prior to changes in Placement

Prior to court hearings Upon the requests from the family or other Team members

Significant of lack of progress Significant changes in the family Within 6 months of a child in out of home care reaching their 18th birthday

Prior to Case closure

The FTM & the CM◦ Make the Referral

Within Required Time Frames Utilize the FTM referral form

◦ Engage the Family Encourage the Family to include Informal supports

Family members Friends Community support system (as identified by the family) Faith-Based supports

Advocate for inclusion of Formal Supports CASA

School Pediatrician (representative) Therapist/Counselor Foster Parents Service Providers

◦ Ensure that all Critical decisions/plans are developed

◦ Provide a List of Non-Neg that MUST be addressed◦ The FTM Team should be in place at time of Case

Closure

The FTM Coordinator/Designee◦ Engage the Family

Encourage the Family to include their Informal Supports Family Friends Members of community support system Faith-based supports

Advocate with the Family CASA School Pediatrician (representative)

Therapist/Counselor Foster Parents Service Providers

◦ Coordinate the FTM Obtain pertinent info

Allegations/concerns Safety concerns Sensitive issues Participants Purpose of the FTM

Conduct a Prep Interview In the home or other location

Prep the other members of the Team The Prep Interview is Required for every FTM

Ensure that family understands what to expect Discuss Safety Concerns Discuss the Potential sources of Conflict Discuss the Required Legal/Agency mandates Discuss the Non-Negotiables Discuss Confidentiality/HIPPA

Supports (Informal & Formal) should be oriented on their roles in making a positive contribution to the FTM

Schedule the FTM within required Timeframes Ensure that FTM location & date/time is convenient

for the family

◦ Conduct the FTM Follow the structured FTM model Follow Standards of Practice for DFCS FTMs Ensure families:

Actively participate Are fully involved Share in the decision making process

Ensure that FTM goals are achieved Ensure HIPPA/Confidentiality stipulations are followed

◦ Ensure FTM documentation is provided to all appropriate participants at conclusion of FTM

◦ Document FTM in Georgia Shines

Select the Family Plan tab (FPS or FC stage) Select the FTM tab (3rd level tab) Enter the FTM info

Meeting date Start time Location Participants Narrative Safety concerns requiring separate FTMs (more on this) Etc

The DFCS CM will:◦ Make all required referrals for services ◦ Develop an Action Plan to follow up with needs

identified in the FTM

FTMs – Core Component of Family Centered Approach◦ Identify a Team◦ Develop/Implement an Individualized Family Plan◦ Builds on Strengths to Address Needs

DFCS supports Group Decision Making process to:◦ Develop/incorporate Family Plan◦ Alleviate Safety/Risk Factors◦ Gain understanding of the Family’s Strengths,

Needs & Support System

What is a FTM?◦ A Gathering

Informal supports Formal supports

◦ A Purpose Develop individualized plans Strengthen family capacity

◦ A Declaration Safety Permanency Well-being

◦ A Forum for Change

The FTM is:◦ Facilitated

Competent Trained Approved

◦ Structured Follows the FTM Model Discusses Strengths before Needs/Concerns

◦ Task Oriented Develop a Family Plan Make a Decision

The FTM:◦ Fully engages the Family◦ Develops specific plans jointly◦ Addresses Safety/Risk◦ Designs Services◦ Identifies Supports

The FTM MUST BE SAFE!!◦ In Cases involving FV, CM must address Safety

Issues for the victim parent◦ See Practice Guidance DV Cases

The Purpose of FTMs◦ Develop Formal Plans◦ Address Safety Factors◦ Establish Permanency Plans◦ Promote Families Self-Sufficiency◦ Promote Well Being of children

FTM Members:◦ Primary Family (parent/caretakers)◦ Children/Youth◦ Other Family members (extended)◦ Foster Parents◦ Relative Caregivers◦ Neighbors◦ Friends◦ Religious/Faith-Based supports◦ OFI◦ Schools◦ Mental Health Providers

◦ CASA◦ Substance Abuse Treatment Providers◦ Other Service Providers

Children◦ Engaged in the FTM◦ Consult with parents, gain approval◦ Considerations for inclusion:

Age Developmental level Emotional level

Fathers & the FTM◦ Should be included in development of

plan/decisions made◦ Includes Alleged/Putative Fathers◦ If mother objects:

CM should engage mother around purpose of FTM, outlining benefits of father’s participation

DFCS recognizes father’s RIGHT to be a part of the Team

DFCS will work to include father and make him an equal participant

◦ If Mother Refuses: FTM documentation MUST reflect the SPECIFIC safety

concerns which necessitate having separate FTMs Examples (but not limited to)

Protective Orders Parent Child

Court order no contact with children Other assessed Safety Concerns DV

See Practice Guidance regarding DV Cases

ILP◦ For Youth Eligible for services◦ ILP Coordinator should be included

CASA◦ Valuable asset◦ Serves as an advocate for the child◦ Provides valuable support in court◦ Can gain first hand knowledge◦ Supports Team’s Recommendations in Court

The FTM Preparation Interview◦ Successful FTMs REQUIRE care preparation of the

family◦ Goal of the Prep: Engage & Empower Family◦ Focused on Shared Planning & Decision Making◦ Conducted by the Facilitator/Designee:

In the home whenever possible Family identifies supports Family provided with FTM brochure Family informed of the specific stages/format of FTM HIPPA/Confidentiality discussed Legal Issues/Non-Negotiables explained

Potential conflicts or safety issues discussed, along with plans to resolve/prevent

Role of the participants discussed Family has opportunity to ask questions or address

concerns Are any special accommodations necessary? Need for an interpreter? Date, place, time of FTM is discussed Consider arranging around school schedules, to

minimize school absences Family provided with written & verbal info on the date,

place & time of FTM Discuss childcare/transportation issues

◦ Other participants should be contacted, provided information about FTM and role within the process

Domestic Violence Cases◦ Primary concern is the Safety of the Team◦ Must be treated with appropriate care◦ Family is the best source of information◦ Safety/Risk Assessment MUST be completed prior

to FTM◦ Discussion must include:

Potential conflict? Existing Orders of Protection? Potential violation of provisions? With Victim, what will ensure her safety (or

children’s)?

◦ Two FTMs may be necessary◦ RECOMMENDED: inclusion of a community

partner with expertise in DV or a DV liaison

Standards of Practice for DFCS FTM DFCS FTM Prep Interview Worksheet FTM HIPPS Release Form FTM Brochure (English & Spanish) Social Services County Letter No 08-01 Family Team Conferences in DV Cases:

Guidelines for Practice

In regards to the new FTM policy requirement stating that FTM's are required before court hearings...does this mean ALL court hearings in ALL program areas or just certain court hearings?

This new policy states that an FTM is to held :

1.During the assessment (investigative) phase prior to the initiation of a safety resource or safety plan.

These two things often happen immediately, at the first contact with a family where children are in peril. How could an FTM be held PRIOR to the need of a SR or a SP  if it happens at 3am when a worker is on call and the well-being of the children must be dealt with immediately?

Can you give clarification as to who is allowed to conduct FTM's on the county level?  What are the exceptions to having a non-certified staff member do the FTM's?  Or is this accepted practice?

During training, I remember the trainers stating the reason for training is to build capacity in the counties due to the number of family team meetings each case could possibly have primarily due to changes that may occur; what constitutes a change in a family preservation case?

i.e. - If a mom and dad are separated during the inception of the case but midway through the case dad decided he wants to move back into the home, he was not part of the reason the case was open thus do we need to have a family team meeting prior to dad moving back into the home?

Would you mind discussing the role of the children in the FTM. (Ages to include in FTM, questions to ask, when to excuse, etc.)