Moving Toward a Child Welfare Practice Model in California

California Child Welfare CorePractice Model Design Workshop:Refining Elements & Building Consensus

MARCH 6 & 7 2014THE WESTINLONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA----- Meeting Notes (7/11/13 07:53) -----WelcomeAcknowledgementsProgram--Refer to Goals Page for transition1WelcomeKelly Woodard DirectorMadera County Department of Social Services CWDA Vice President for Services

California Child Welfare Core Practice Model: Past, Present and FutureDiana Boyer, Senior Policy AnalystCounty Welfare Directors Association of CaliforniaSylvia Deporto, Deputy DirectorSan Francisco County Department of Human Services ----- Meeting Notes (7/11/13 07:53) -----Introduce Anita and Christine3BackgroundCalifornia child welfare reforms have been implemented by counties since before 2000Most counties have adopted multiple promising initiativesA number of common elements have transformed the nature of child welfare work across CaliforniaRecent efforts have emerged to integrate the various initiatives into more comprehensive practice modelsKatie A.California Partners for Permanency (CAPP)County-specific practice models

Towards a Statewide Practice ModelBeginning in 2012 the CWDA Childrens Committee has been working to develop a statewide practice modelMonthly subcommittee planning meetingsStatewide Workshop in July 2013Goal:To define Californias Child Welfare Services as a profession grounded in theory, with a set of core values, common elements and identified behaviors

Stakeholder EngagementStatewide and County-level initiatives have been informed by broad stakeholder engagementYouth, Parents, Caregivers, Tribes, CommunitiesResults of that engagement have informed the work of the statewide Practice Model developmentFurther engagement in inviting partners to todays workshopAdditional engagement will an essential goal of next steps in the evolution of the Practice Model

Guiding VisionCalifornias 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.

Workshop ObjectivesACHIEVE 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

FUTURE WORKThis workshop is one step in moving forward that will help us realize our Guiding VisionNext 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 Kelly9Opening Plenary: One States Journey to a Statewide Practice Model

Carole Wilcox, Interim Manager Child Safety and Permanency DivisionChildren and Family Services AdministrationMinnesota Department of Human ServicesDevelopment of Californias Theoretical FrameworkAnita Barbee, ProfessorKent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, KY

Practice Model ElementsReminder of the elements12Overview of Todays WorkRegional Breakout Conversations to review work to date on Theoretical FrameworkValues and PrinciplesPractice ElementsInput will be recorded and reported back at morning Plenary tomorrow morningA few words on consensus. . .Your facilitators will take you through a consensus processConsensus UnanimityThe Design Team has worked very hard to integrate all of the work that has gone on around the state.In other words, we dont necessarily need this:

Breakout GroupsRoom assignments (Map in your packet):

Southern Region3rd Floor Melbourne Room

Bay Area Region3rd Floor Naples Rom

Mtn. Valley/North Regions3rd Floor Casablanca Room

Central Region4th Floor Palos Verdes Room

County stakeholders, please go with your county group

Statewide stakeholders, please divide yourselves among the regionsDay 2: Welcome BackReview work from Regional Breakouts All recorded comments will be forwarded to the Design TeamEveryones input will be consideredSome 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 workfor each of us it has been a journey of learning and discovery and as we have said this process will take time and hard work17Overall ThemesEvidence Based Practice is too limitingneed to clarify languageNeed to explicitly include After-18 servicesNeed to clarify language about partners, stakeholders, etc; be explicit about public agency partners(including internal partners)

Overall Themes (contd)Simplify language/make it more family-friendly throughoutApply Values, Principles, Elements inside the agency as well as externallyMake more explicit the importance of organizational culture and climateTheoretical FrameworkOverall ResponseHigh Consensus/Enthusiastic Support across all RegionsBay Area FeedbackMore clarity about role of relationships and engagement in the FramewokNeed more synthesizing statementsSouthernCompeting Values Theory needs more clarification and narrative Important to drill down from leadership to direct practicebalance between skillful use of authority and engagement

Theoretical Framework (contd)CentralConcern about representing all 4 quadrants of the Competing Values TheoryNorthernNeed to be explicit about how to support youth into adulthoodWant to see something more explicit about disease model of addictionNeed 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 theoriesWant to see more about Prevention and Early Intervention

ValuesOverall ResponseHigh Consensus/Enthusiastic Support across all RegionsSouthernMake sure that there is overall language in the introductory statement about the interplay of the valuesthat they should be understood as working togetherUse we strive for vs. we doWould like to use Minnesota model of using a word or two to summarize each ValuePotential for Change might be split into two valuesHealthy and Competent Workforce needs to include responsibility for oneselfConcern about use of word legal in referring to family permanence

ValuesNorthernNeed Value about Prevention and Early InterventionTribes need to be recognized for their Sovereignty in addition to being partnersNeed to balance transparency and familys right to privacyNeed to be more explicit about accepting youth for who they are

Values (contd)CentralConcerned about the word transparentneed a better explanation of what it meansHealthy and Competent Workforce Value---needs a principle that translates into an understanding of systems supports and how to make this become a realityWould like more specificity to ensure inclusion of faith communities, proximal placementsBayAgency transparency is important within and outside the agencyGrounded in Cultural Responsiveness needs to be more explicit about addressing disparitiesServices and Supports to meet family needs needs to be more explicit about promoting community based early intervention and preventionAdd a principle about organizational culture and climate that addresses Value #8 on WorkforceNeed to emphasize shared accountability throughout the organization

Practice ElementsOverall ResponseHigh Consensus/Enthusiastic Support across all RegionsSouthernSafety, Permanence, Well-Being doesnt look like the other elementsit is an outcomeWe might adopt Minnesotas example of listening for engagementEnsure service linkage is included vs. just advocacting for servicesShared Commitment and Accountability---one or 2 Elements? Is it an Element?Trauma informed system parallelswhat does it mean? Clarify or eliminate

ElementsCentralSafety, 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 transitionsWorkforce Support---link more to learning organization, need to be more transparent in communication with workforceReword last sentenceElementsNorthernLast 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 goalsCross-walk elements and valuesSelf-Advocacy should be part of EngagementClarify scope of Advocacy

ElementsBay AreaOverarching themes: the language we will work to.. is not powerful enoughChild, youth, young adults and family should be consistent throughoutInquiry and Explorationuse strategies vs. toolsTrauma Informed system---more than trauma informed needs to be includedPractice Model ElementsReminder of the elements29Practice BehaviorsProposal for identifying Practice BehaviorsTable talk exerciseReport back

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 gifNote that these are macro level benefits of practice behaviors.Ask If you dont know what practice looks like, how can you measure fidelity?31Practice Behaviors

Provide direction to practitioners about how they will practice social work using the practice model.

Image is animated gifThese are more micro level benefits of practice behaviorsThink back to your first day as a new social worker Wouldnt it have been nice to know what you were doing32Getting to Practice Behaviors

Casework components and practice elements provide the scaffolding for practice behaviorsTheories, values and principles guide the selection and development of the behaviorsFor 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 tables33Our GoalIdentify a set of practice behaviors that areSpecific 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.Sample Practice BehaviorsKatie A.Be diligent in reaching out to children and families in ways that are welcoming, appropriate and comfortable for them.CAPPAssesses 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.

Recommended ProcessTable ActivityWork as table groups for the next 20 minutesReview the recommended process using the handouts on your tablesChoose someone to speak for your table in the report outAnswer 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

Day 2 Regional Breakouts OverviewOutreach and Engagement of both Internal and External Stakeholders

Overview of Communications Materials and Use for Alignment of materials with engagement strategies

Friday Breakout RoomsSouthern RegionLobby LevelOcean Ballroom

Bay Area Region3rd FloorTokyo/Vancover Room

Mtn. Valley/North Regions3rd FloorBarcelona Room

Central Region4th Floor Palos Verdes RoomRecap of Our Work Objective:ACHIEVE CONSENSUS ON THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK, VALUES AND ELEMENTS OF THE PRACTICE MODEL Largely AccomplishedExcellent Input to Improve the work that we brought to the WorkshopAdditional work for the Design Team to meld input into the final Framework, Values and Elements

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 todayDesign Team will rework the plan to develop a process that is doable for counties and engaging for partnersAdditional communications materials and technical assistance/facilitation will be developed to assist in the implementation of this process

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

Next StepsDesign Team reviews todays work to incorporate input on the Framework, Values, and ElementsDefine what we mean by Practice BehaviorsDevelop communication tools and materials and technical assistance to support the engagement of staff and partnersEngage staff and partners in understanding and embracing the Practice ModelWork with county staff and partners to develop Practice Behaviors, Develop Organizational System Standards,

What Does the Future Look Like?