this is what it’s all about…
TRANSCRIPT
This is what it’s all about…
http://www.youtube.com/v/GbSp88PBe9E?autoplay=1&rel=0
Strengthening Families Alaska
A Child Maltreatment Prevention Strategy
Training ObjectivesLearn the Strengthening Families
Framework and ways to implement within your agency
Review mandatory reporting requirements & signs of maltreatment
Understand the Office of Children’s Services Practice Model
Learn how a family moves through the child protective services system
The Strengthening Families Initiative
Developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policywww.cssp.org
National Expansion with the assistance of the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds
www.ctfalliance.org
Funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
just the facts…
Research Questions•With families, what already works?•What family characteristics promote children’s healthy development and link directly to reducing the risk of child abuse and neglect?
The Protective Factors Framework
• Parental Resilience
• Social Connections
• Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
• Concrete Support in Times of Need
• Social and Emotional Development
Permanence
Well-beingProtective Factors
are based on building resiliency rather than reducing risk
Safety
are concrete and identifiable behaviors,
emotions, social connections and resources
necessary for insuring child safety. Source: Child
Welfare Institute
Protective FactorsParental resilienceSocial connections
Knowledge of parenting and child development
Concrete support in times of need
Social and emotional competence of children
Protective Capacities Intellectual skillsEmotional skills
Physical care skills Motivations to protect
Social connectionsResources such as
income, employment or housing
Protective Capacities
Center for the
Study of
Social Policy
Parental Resilience
Parental ResiliencePsychological health; parents feel supported and able to solve problems; can develop trusting relationships with others and reach out for help
Parents who did not have positive childhood experiences or who are in troubling circumstances need extra support and trusting relationships
Social Connections
Social ConnectionsRelationships with extended family, friends, co-workers, other parents with children similar ages
Community norms are developed through social connections
Mutual assistance networks: child care, emotional support, concrete help
Knowledge of Parenting and Child
Development
Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
Basic information about how children develop
Basic techniques of developmentally appropriate disciplineAlternatives to parenting behaviors experienced as a child
Help with challenging behaviors
Concrete Supports in Times of Need
Concrete SupportsResponse to a crisis: food, clothing, shelter
Assistance with daily needs: health care, job opportunities, transportation, education
Services for parents in crisis: mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse
Specialized services for children
Social and Emotional Competence
Social and Emotional CompetenceNormal development (like using language to express needs and feelings) creates more positive parent-child interactions
Challenging behaviors, traumatic experiences or development that is not on track require extra adult attention
A Surprise: What children learn in school or other programs goes home to their families
Small but significant changes in everyday practices can produce huge results in preventing child abuse and neglect for young children – and helping families stay strong even under stress
Let’s watch how one program in Arkansas does it…
http://www.ctfalliance.org/arkansasvideo.htm
Mandatory Reporting AS47.17.020. Persons Required to Report.
Practitioners of the healing arts
AS 47.17.290. Definitions.
http://hss.state.ak.us/ocs/ChildrensJustice/MandatoryReporting.htm
Definition of Child Maltreatment “child abuse or neglect" means the physical injury
or neglect, mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment of a child under the age of 18 by a person under circumstances that indicate that the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby; in this paragraph, "mental injury" means an injury to the emotional well-being, or intellectual or psychological capacity of a child, as evidenced by an observable and substantial impairment in the child's ability to function
General Characteristics of Maltreating Families
Isolation – absence of friends, family & support
Stress & coping – ineffective at coping w/stress
Violence – primitive problem solving approach
Support – lack of support systems Multi-generational – historical,
“normal”
Maltreating families…
Parental capacity – basic care and protection
Maturity – own emotional needs unmet Self-esteem – value and self-confidence Social reinforcement – maladaptive
behaviors Tension – conflict and tension,
continued crisis
The Prevalence of the Problem Every 34 minutes a child is reported to OCS. Each year approximately 6% more alleged victims from
the previous year are reported to OCS. In May of 2008, OCS had as many as 2,224 children in
OOH on a single day, today there are only 1,993 children.
More than half of all children exiting out of home care reunified with their families. While this has not changed significantly, the rate at which children age out has been cut almost in half since 2006, as more children find forever families through adoption.
http://hss.state.ak.us/ocs/Statistics/default.htm
Office of Children’s Services
PRACTICE MODEL
Safe Children, Strong Families
Mission
The Office of Children’s Services works in partnership with families and
communities to support the well-being of Alaska’s children and youth. Services will enhance families’
capacities to give their children a healthy start, to provide them with safe
and permanent homes, to maintain cultural connections and to help them
realize their potential.
Key Components of the Practice Model
Begins at point of intake Family centered assessment throughout the
life of the case Information gathering – 6 questions 10 safety threats – safety vs. risk Analysis of identified safety threats Unsafe or high risk children/families served Effective safety planning Out of home placement last option
IntakeProtective Services Reports Information and Referrals Front door, first contact with OCS,
customer serviceAs much information gathered as possibleAids in decision-making – screening &
response timeResponsiveness to reporters
Initial Assessment Instead of “investigation”Goes beyond substantiated/not
substantiatedFamily engagement, family centered
practiceDecision making based on safety and
risk Keep children in their own homes
whenever possible - in-home safety plan If unsafe or at high risk = Family
Services
Safety determined at 2 points (IA)
Present Danger – at initial contact
If so, Protective Action PlanImpending Danger –at conclusion of initial assessment
If so, Safety Plan
Present and Impending Danger Present – Immediate, significant, clearly
observable family condition occurring in the present tense, endangering a child
Impending- Family behaviors, attitudes, motives, emotions and/or situations pose a danger which may or may not be currently active but can be anticipated to have severe effects on a child
6 Questions
Extent of maltreatmentCircumstances surrounding
maltreatmentGeneral parenting practicesDisciplinary practicesChild functioningAdult functioning
Safety Threats No adult in the home is performing parenting
duties and responsibilities that assure child safety One or both caregivers are violent and/or acting
dangerously One or both caregivers are not/will not/cannot
control their behavior A child is perceived in extremely negative terms
by one or both caregivers The family does not have or use resources
necessary to assure a child’s safety
Safety Threats – con’t One or both caregivers are threatening to severely harm a
child or are fearful they will maltreat the child and/or request placement
One or both caregivers intended to seriously hurt the child One or both lack knowledge, skills and motivation necessary
to assure a child’s safety A child has exceptional needs that affect his/her safety which
the caregivers are not meeting, cannot or will not meet Living arrangements seriously endanger the child’s physical
health
Safety
Children are considered safe when there are no present danger or impending danger threats, or the non-maltreating caregiver’s protective capacities control existing threats
After a determination of unsafe -Safety analysisHow the safety factors work
within the familyNon-offending parent’s
protective capacities Safety planningWhat needs to happen in order
for children to remain in their own homes
Transfer to Family Services
Family Services Family Services Worker meets with
initial assessment worker to “transfer” information
Worker reads complete case file, prepares to meet the family
Worker assures that safety plan is still working to keep the child safe
Worker meets the family and spends time building rapport to engage with the family
Family Services, continuedWorker continues to meet with family
regularly to assure they understand the safety threats and discuss ways in which they will make changes to keep their children safe without OCS intervention
Case Plan is developed, Change Strategies determined
Case Plan is reviewed with family every 90 days
Benefits Family provides information, gives input into
decision making Statewide consistency OCS has standardized criteria for intervention Effective safety planning means more
children can remain in their own homes Families who design their own case plan are
more likely to make changes to protect their children
Federal outcomes are achieved Safe Children, Strong Families
Strengthening Families Program andEarly Childhood Interventions
Infants, Toddlers, PreschoolersVulnerability/ InterventionsLaws and policy
ALASKA
In October of 2010, 49% of children with a substantiated
allegation of maltreatment were between birth and five
years of age
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EARLY YEARS MATTER!EARLY YEARS MATTER!
90% of brain 90% of brain development takes development takes place before the age place before the age of 3of 3
Early brain Early brain development development determines determines continued continued developmentdevelopment
Jack P. Shonkoff, M.S., Center on the Developing Child. Jack P. Shonkoff, M.S., Center on the Developing Child. Presentation 1/18/07Presentation 1/18/07
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Relationships with Relationships with CaregiverCaregiver
Brain Brain development development requires healthy requires healthy caregivingcaregiving
Stress Stress associated with associated with abuse and abuse and neglect impairs neglect impairs brain brain developmentdevelopment
A majority of children entering foster care are under the age of 6
These children experience developmental delays at 4 -5 times the rate of other children
As many as 90% experience serious or chronic health problems These children may have fundamental
and severe difficulties with friendships, school, independence, and self esteem.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) linked to emotional,
behavioral, and health problems in adults.
Best Practices for Children under 6If…The key to healthy and social and emotional development is positive and consistent early experiences with loving caregiversAnd early brain development is supported by caregiving by trusted adults who can play with, talk to, and comfort a child.Then…How do we assure that the children we work with have these supports, connections, and attachments. What are best practices for the children we work with?
Best Practices for Children under 6If…Young children are more likely to have physical health problems than other children and many enter foster care with complex physical health needsThen…How do we assure the children we work with have their medical needs met?What are best practices for the children we work with?
Best Practices for Children under 6If…If a young child is not adequately supported at the time separation, then a separation can be traumatic for a child. To reduce the impact of separation on a young child, the child needs to maintain healthy contact with caregivers.Then…How do we assure the young children who have been separated from caregivers maintain healthy family contact with those caregivers?What are best practices for the children we work with?
Best Practices for Children under 6If…If a young child is not adequately supported at the time separation, then a separation can be traumatic for a child. To reduce the impact of separation on a young child, the child needs to maintain healthy contact with caregivers.Then…How do we assure the young children who have been separated from caregivers maintain healthy family contact with caregivers?What are best practices for the children we work with?
To get more information visit: http://www.cssp.org/reform/strengthening-families http://strengtheningfamilies.alaska.gov/ “Like” us at Strengthening Families Alaska on Facebook http://onetoughjob.org/
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/childwelfareacademy/ “Like us at Alaska Child Welfare Academy on Facebook
Thank you and please complete an evaluation!