demonstrating safety within the drug epidemic€¢team was concerned with mother due to her history...
TRANSCRIPT
Demonstrating Safety Within the Drug Epidemic
Garry Dorris (Training Tech)
Missouri Department of Social Services, Children’s Division
CaseOverview• Motherwenttothehospitalanddeliversahealthybaby
girl.• Childisplacedinafostercareduetomother’sextensive
historyandhavingparentalrightsterminatedon5previouschildrenwiththemostrecentbeing25daysbeforethebirthofthischild.
• Fatherwastravelingconstructioncontractorandwasnotaroundwhenthechildwasborn.
• Fatherandmotherhadsomehistoryofbeingphysicallyviolentwitheachotherbutwerenolongertogether.
CaseOverview• Thecasehad3workersbeforemyselfduetostaffturnover.Iwasassignedthecase8monthsafteritopened.
• Teamwasconcernedwithmotherduetoherhistorywiththeagencyanddruguseandconcernedwithfatherduetohisnotreturningimmediatelytotakecareofthechild.
• PreviousworkerhaddifficultygettingtheteamtoworkwiththeparentsasdidIinthebeginning.
DangerStatement- Mother• Theagency,thefamilysupportteamandplacementareconcernedthatmother'scontinueddruguseandhomelessnesswillcausethechild'sneeds,suchasfood,shelterandemotionalneedstonotbemetcausingaconfusingrelationshipforthechildalongwithpossiblephysicalillness,injuryandthatshewillbeleftwithunsafeindividualsorinunsafeplaces.
DangerStatement-Father• Theagency,thefamilysupportteamandplacementareconcernedthatfatherwillbegivencustodyofhischildandthengivethechildtomotheroncethecaseclosessothathecangobacktohisjobandBellahwillbeexposedtotheconcernslistedaboutmother.
SafetyGoal- Mother• Theagencywillbeabletoclosethiscasewhenmotherisabletounderstandandtalkabouthowusingdrugseffectsherrelationshipwithherchild.Motherwilldemonstratehowtokeepherchildsafeevenwhensheisstrugglingwithusingdrugsandkeepherchildfrombeingexposedtounsafepeople,placesandsituations.
SafetyGoal-Father• Theagencywillbeabletoclosethiscasewhenfathercandemonstratethathecankeephischild’sneedsandsafetyfirst,especiallywhenheisbeingpressurebythemothertoreturnthechildorstrugglingwithwantingtoreturntoovertheroadconstruction.Thiswillmakesurethathischildiscaredforbyatrustedadultatalltimes.
MyFirstTeamMeeting• Fatherhadnotbeeninvolvedinthecaselong.• Fathertookasignificantpayreductiontomoveto
Springfieldtoworktowardreunificationwithhisdaughter.• Mothermissedavisitpriortothemeetingandwasasked
todrugscreeningandhadnotbeenheardfromsincethen• AfterdiscussingtheRiskAssessmentMapwithfather,we
decidedtoscaletheGuardianAdLitembecausehebelievedshewouldbethetoughestintheroomtoconvince.
Perspective1-GuardianAdLitem• ScalingQuestionaskedoftheGuardianAdLitem• Onascaleof0-10where0isthechildwouldbesounsafeplacedwithfatherthatyouwouldpreferthechildstayinfostercareand10isyouhavenodoubtthatthechildcanbeplacedwithfatherandhecankeephersafeenoughtocloseourcase,whatwouldyournumberbe?
0 102
Perspective1-GuardianAdLitem• Whatwouldbringyounumberuptoa3?• GuardianAdLitemwantedtoseethatthefatherwascommittedtotakingcareofthechildasasinglefatherbyhimparticipatinginparentingclassesandangermanagementtherapy.
• FatherwasupsetwiththenumberthattheGuardianAdLitemgave.
Perspective1- GuardianAdLitem• Fatherenrolledinandwasactiveintheservicesrequested,successfullycompletingboth.
• Atthenextmeeting2monthslaterwhentheGuardianAdLitemwasaskedthesamescalingquestion,thenumbershegavewasan8.
• Shereportedthatthiswasduetothefactthatfathertookownershipovertheissuesinthecaseandshowedhiscommitmenttocaringforthechildasasinglefather.
Takeaways• NooneeveraskedtheGuardianAdLitemwhatconcernedherandassumeditwastreatmentrelated.
• GuardianAdLitemwasabletovoiceherconcernsandherconcernsbeaddressedwithopendialoguewhichreducedherresistancetoworkingwithfatherandresolvedherconcerns.
• Honoringherconcernshelpeddevelopaworkingrelationshipbetweenfatherandtheteamtowhereforwardprogresscouldbemade.
Perspective2- SafetyNetwork• Fatheridentifiedhismother(child’sgrandmother)aspartofhissafetynetwork.
• Thefamilysupportteamwasnotwillingforhertobeapartofthenetworkduetoherhistoryofviolencetowardsthechild’smotherandheruseofalcohol.
• Grandmotherlivedinanapartmentacrossthecourtyardfromherson.
Perspective2- SafetyNetwork• Grandmother’scloseproximitytohersonandbeingnaturallyalignedwiththechildmadeheragoodfitforthesafetynetwork.
• Herviolenthistorywiththemotherandregularuseofalcoholwereconcernsaboutherbeingabletobeusedasasafetynetworkperson.
• Teamagreedtoherbeingsafetynetworkmemberwithclearlydefinedroles.
Perspective2- SafetyNetwork• Allowed
– Visitsupervisedbyfather– Ifnoticedmothercomingaround,notifysafetynetwork
• Notallowed
– Bealonewiththechild– Notallowedtodrive withthechild
– Notallowedtoconfrontmotherifsheisatfatherapartment
Takeaways• Neverdismisssomeonewhoisnaturallyconnectedtothefamilybecauseitisbettertofacilitateappropriaterolesbecauseinthiscasefatherwasgoingtouseheranyway.
• Clearlydefinedroleshelpsthenetworkestablishboundariesandhonorsthefamiliesrelationshipbybeinghonest,makingthesafetynetworkstronger.
Perspective3-Father• Lastteammeetingwasheldasawaytohonorthefather.
• AnAppreciativeInquirywascompletedwithfatherwithfamilysupportteammembersintheroom. Imetwithfatherpriortoexplaintheprocessandgethispermission.
• Fathergottodiscusswhatwasimportanttohimaboutwhathappenedinthecaseandexplaintheprogressthathemadetothem.
Takeaways• Teammembersandfamiliesoftenseeservicesasatodolistanddonotunderstandwhatwasactuallyaccomplished.Thismeetinggavetheteamachancetounderstandwhatfatheraccomplishedandwhatheactuallylearnedandhowitappliedtohissituation.
• Thisalsogavefatheramomenttobragandbeproudaboutwhatheaccomplishedandcommunicateitdirectlywiththeteam.