Meaningful Family Engagement State of Louisiana, Department of Children and Family Services Staff Development & Appreciation Day
Mar 26, 2015
Meaningful Family Engagement
State of Louisiana, Department of Children and Family
ServicesStaff Development & Appreciation
Day
Presenters
Sherry Tomlinson, NRCPFC/LCWCWP Consultant
Randy Jenkins, NRCPFC/LCWCWP Consultant
Rules of Engagement
Cell phones on vibrate or off Confidentiality Honest/open dialogue Respect other opinions Use of acronyms
Introduction to Parent Engagement
Parents At The Table
Guiding Principles
Mutual Respect Appreciation Inclusion Dignity Partnership Opportunity
What We Are Learning About Parent Engagement Families are better able to use services Improvement in service delivery More responsive and culturally sensitive Improved customer satisfaction Improved positive child welfare outcomes Parents build skills and capacity for future
Parent Engagement and Child and Family Services Review
Add Louisiana CFSA/PIP
Key Elements of Engagement
Provide all parents with children in imminent
risk of entering foster care the information they
need to successfully advocate for themselves
and for their children.
Walking In The Door
Substance Abuse
To provide all parents with substance abuse
histories the skills they need to advocate for
the services and resources they need to
overcome their addiction and maintain their
recovery.
Child and Family Team Meeting
Provide parents with children in imminent risk
of entering foster care the means to participate
in all decisions made about their children’s
care, custody, and placement.
Policy and Resource Allocation
Provide parents who have experienced the
child welfare system with opportunities to
influence and improve child welfare policy,
practice, and resource allocation
New Tools for Workers
Provide all child welfare staff the skills and tools
necessary to work effectively with families and
children.
Public Information
Inform the public, legislators, and the
community at large about the struggles and
successes of families who have been involved
with child welfare
Self-Assessment
Break
Grief, Loss & Healing
Birth Fathers and Mothers Feelings and Behaviors
How do birth parents feel when their children are removed and placed into foster care?
How might they behave or act?
Child Feelings and Behavior
What might a child feel during the first week or two after being separated from their fathers and mothers?
How might they behave or act?
Social Worker Feeling and Behaviors
How might a social worker feel after being involved in the removal of a child?
How might they behave or act?
Foster Parent Feeling and Behaviors
What might a foster parent feel when a child is removed from their home and returned to their parent?
How might they behave or act?
Relative/Kinship Caregiver Feelings and Behaviors
How might a relative or kinship caregiver feel when children are placed back with the birth parent?
How might they behave or act?
LUNCH
How “R” You Feeling?
Engaging and Working with Fathers
Father Presence/Father Involvement
Better School Performance Attachment to School Staying Out of Trouble Delayed Sexual Activity Fewer Teen Pregnancies
Discussion Guide
AFTERNOON BREAK
Benefits and Consequences of Change
Ambivalence
Mixed Feelings Or Emotions
Having Opposing Feelings Or Attitudes (Such As Love And Hate Towards A Person)
Feeling Unsure Or Undecided About What To Do (Sitting On The Fence)
An Exchange, Give And Take; Involves Speaking And Listening; Involves Non-Verbal And Verbal
Communication;
3232
Words =
Voice Tone =
Body Language =
7%
38%
55%
Percentage of Communication Conveyed Through…
Active Listening
Questions and Discussion
TRAINING IS DONE FOR DAY
GO OUT THEREAND DO YOUR GOOD WORK!
The National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections
Louisiana Child Welfare Comprehensive Workforce Project
Hunter College School of Social Work
LSU School of Social Work
A Service of the Children’s Bureau/ACF/DHHS
www.nrcpfc.org
www.lcwcwp.org
Additional Resources
National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connection (nrcpfc.org) Family Engagement: a Web Based Practice
Toolkit Digital Stories From the Field
Child Welfare Organizing Project (cwop.org) Rise Magazine (risemagazine.org) Iowa Dept. of Human Services
(www.dhs.state.ia.us/cppc)