The Washington County Community Partnership for Children and Families Community and Resource Development Project Update & Data Driven Recommendations June.

The Washington County Community The Washington County Community Partnership for Children and FamiliesPartnership for Children and Families

Community and Resource Development Project Community and Resource Development Project Update & Data Driven Recommendations Update & Data Driven Recommendations

June 20th, 2008June 20th, 2008

Presented by Teresa Shattuck, PhDPresented by Teresa Shattuck, PhD

Shattuck & Associates, Inc.Shattuck & Associates, Inc.

OverviewOverview

Recommendations are presented across Recommendations are presented across 4 domains:4 domains:

1.1. Results/IndicatorsResults/Indicators

2.2. YouthYouth

3.3. Parents/FamiliesParents/Families

4.4. Collaborative EffortsCollaborative Efforts

Target GroupTarget Group

The data consistently indicated that The data consistently indicated that planning and prevention efforts should planning and prevention efforts should focus on the following target focus on the following target audiences:audiences:

Primary:Primary: Low Income Youth 11-15 Low Income Youth 11-15Secondary:Secondary: Low Income Parents/Families Low Income Parents/FamiliesTertiary: Youth 0-5 Tertiary: Youth 0-5

Maryland Results for Maryland Results for Child Well-BeingChild Well-Being

There are 7 Result Areas (RA):There are 7 Result Areas (RA):1.1. Babies Born Healthy* Babies Born Healthy* 2.2. Healthy Children Healthy Children 3.3. Children Enter School Ready to Learn Children Enter School Ready to Learn 4.4. Children Successful in SchoolChildren Successful in School5.5. Children Completing School Children Completing School 6.6. Children Safe in Their Families and Communities* Children Safe in Their Families and Communities* 7.7. Stable and Economically Self-Sufficient Families*Stable and Economically Self-Sufficient Families*

*WC focused on RAs 1, 6, & 7 prior to the current needs *WC focused on RAs 1, 6, & 7 prior to the current needs assessment studyassessment study

Result AreasResult Areas

Throughout the course of the study, the data Throughout the course of the study, the data pointed to a continued focus on RAs 6 and 7 pointed to a continued focus on RAs 6 and 7 and a new focus on RA 2 - Healthy Childrenand a new focus on RA 2 - Healthy Children

Focus Planning and Prevention Efforts on:Focus Planning and Prevention Efforts on: RA 2 - Healthy ChildrenRA 2 - Healthy Children RA 6 - Children Safe in Their Families and Communities RA 6 - Children Safe in Their Families and Communities RA 7 - Stable and Economically Self-Sufficient Families RA 7 - Stable and Economically Self-Sufficient Families

Indicators – Prior to StudyIndicators – Prior to Study

There are 26 indicators that fall under the There are 26 indicators that fall under the respective Result Areas. Prior to the study, respective Result Areas. Prior to the study, indicators of greatest interest were: indicators of greatest interest were: Birth to Adolescents (RA 2)Birth to Adolescents (RA 2)Child Poverty (RA 7)Child Poverty (RA 7)Out-of-Home Placements (RA 7)Out-of-Home Placements (RA 7) Indicated Child Abuse and Neglect (RA 6)Indicated Child Abuse and Neglect (RA 6)

Indicators – Newly IdentifiedIndicators – Newly Identified

New Indicators Emerged from the New Indicators Emerged from the Needs Assessment*Needs Assessment*

Focus Planning and Prevention Focus Planning and Prevention Efforts on:Efforts on:

1.1. Indicated Abuse or Neglect – RA 6Indicated Abuse or Neglect – RA 62.2. Mental Health* - Covers all RAsMental Health* - Covers all RAs3.3. Substance Abuse* – RA 2Substance Abuse* – RA 24.4. Child Poverty – RA 7 Child Poverty – RA 7

Youth – Key ChallengesYouth – Key Challenges

1.1. Too many WC Children Are UnsafeToo many WC Children Are Unsafe

2.2. Lack of Quality ParentingLack of Quality Parenting

3.3. Lack of Mental Health Services for Low Lack of Mental Health Services for Low Income Youth & FamiliesIncome Youth & Families

4.4. Lack of Community Youth Development Lack of Community Youth Development Programs/Safe Spaces for Youth to GatherPrograms/Safe Spaces for Youth to Gather

5.5. Lack of Connection to School; Not Hopeful Lack of Connection to School; Not Hopeful about Academic Futuresabout Academic Futures

Youth Issue 1: Too Many Youth Issue 1: Too Many WC Children Are UnsafeWC Children Are Unsafe

Recommendations: Recommendations: Take steps to ensure the safety of all Take steps to ensure the safety of all WC children while recognizing the distinction between WC children while recognizing the distinction between modifiable and non- or less-modifiable risk factorsmodifiable and non- or less-modifiable risk factors

For example, Stable and Economically Self-Sufficient For example, Stable and Economically Self-Sufficient Families (RA #7) is a very complex social issue requiring Families (RA #7) is a very complex social issue requiring a long term solution (less modifiable); while it’s important a long term solution (less modifiable); while it’s important to address, WC needs to continue, in the meantime, to to address, WC needs to continue, in the meantime, to keep Children Safe in Their Families and Communities keep Children Safe in Their Families and Communities (RA #6); this too is a complex social issue, but may be (RA #6); this too is a complex social issue, but may be more amenable to short term solutionsmore amenable to short term solutions

Youth Issue 2: Lack of Youth Issue 2: Lack of High QualityHigh Quality Parenting Parenting

Recommendations:Recommendations: Provide youth with life skills and Provide youth with life skills and supports to overcome the adverse impacts of poor supports to overcome the adverse impacts of poor parentingparenting

Accept the fact that most troubled kids are not Accept the fact that most troubled kids are not getting what they need from homegetting what they need from home

Fill gaps in parenting with community services and Fill gaps in parenting with community services and caring adults/mentorscaring adults/mentors

Provide “parental replacement” to empower child; Provide “parental replacement” to empower child; give child hope for futuregive child hope for future

Youth Issue 2: Lack of Youth Issue 2: Lack of High QualityHigh Quality Parenting Parenting

Contd.Contd.Offer youth-driven After School Programs Offer youth-driven After School Programs

(and/or weekend, summer programs) that (and/or weekend, summer programs) that provide positive alternatives with supportive provide positive alternatives with supportive adults: homework help, confidence building, adults: homework help, confidence building, mentors/positive role models, life skills mentors/positive role models, life skills training, refusal skillstraining, refusal skills

Such programs can empower a child to Such programs can empower a child to report, resist, or confront areas of report, resist, or confront areas of abuse/neglect and can begin to break the abuse/neglect and can begin to break the cycle of generational violencecycle of generational violence

Youth Issue 3: Lack of Mental Health Youth Issue 3: Lack of Mental Health

Services for Low Income Youth & FamiliesServices for Low Income Youth & Families

Recommendations: Recommendations: Provide long term Provide long term engagement and support to nurture youth engagement and support to nurture youth and their families over an extended periodand their families over an extended period

Provide a well coordinated program that puts Provide a well coordinated program that puts social workers directly in contact with families social workers directly in contact with families in their communitiesin their communities

Youth Issue 3: Lack of Mental Health Youth Issue 3: Lack of Mental Health

Services for Low Income Youth & FamiliesServices for Low Income Youth & Families

Contd.Contd.Social workers would be “out and about,” Social workers would be “out and about,”

actively engaging families with formal and actively engaging families with formal and informal resources and supports (in this informal resources and supports (in this model social workers are not office-based)model social workers are not office-based)

Funding would need to be stable for at least Funding would need to be stable for at least two generations; regulations need to changetwo generations; regulations need to change

Youth Issue 4: Lack of Youth Development Youth Issue 4: Lack of Youth Development Programs / Safe Spaces for Youth to GatherPrograms / Safe Spaces for Youth to Gather

Recommendation:Recommendation: Offer more Positive Youth Offer more Positive Youth Development Programs; create more safe spaces Development Programs; create more safe spaces

In Hagerstown, conduct resource mapping to explore In Hagerstown, conduct resource mapping to explore which areas have safe spaces, where they are, and what which areas have safe spaces, where they are, and what services are offeredservices are offered

Continue to identify where the programming gaps are Continue to identify where the programming gaps are throughout the county and prioritize needsthroughout the county and prioritize needs

The greatest gap appears to be in Hancock; open a The greatest gap appears to be in Hancock; open a community center there community center there

Wherever you are working, be sure to engage the local Wherever you are working, be sure to engage the local communities in all phases of the planning processcommunities in all phases of the planning process

Youth Issue 4: Lack of Youth Development Youth Issue 4: Lack of Youth Development Programs / Safe Spaces for Youth to GatherPrograms / Safe Spaces for Youth to Gather

Contd.Contd. Conduct grassroots level needs assessments to Conduct grassroots level needs assessments to

identify or refine local programming and space identify or refine local programming and space needs needs

Develop Develop youth-drivenyouth-driven programs to fill gaps programs to fill gaps In communities that have very little, start small…In communities that have very little, start small…

the key is to start!the key is to start! In communities that have services, determine if In communities that have services, determine if

existing services are utilized; if they are not, find existing services are utilized; if they are not, find out why; if they are, find out what else is needed out why; if they are, find out what else is needed

Youth Issue 5: Lack of Connection to Youth Issue 5: Lack of Connection to Schools; Not Hopeful about Schools; Not Hopeful about

Academic FuturesAcademic Futures

Recommendation:Recommendation: Focus on relationship building Focus on relationship building as a way to connect youth to schools and build as a way to connect youth to schools and build hope for the futurehope for the future

No significant learning can occur without a No significant learning can occur without a significant relationship; as such, strong significant relationship; as such, strong relationships are necessary between relationships are necessary between administrators, teachers, staff, students and administrators, teachers, staff, students and parents to create supportive learning parents to create supportive learning environments that are safe, healthy, intellectually environments that are safe, healthy, intellectually stimulating, and respectfulstimulating, and respectful

Youth Issue 5: Lack of Connection to Youth Issue 5: Lack of Connection to Schools; Not Hopeful about Schools; Not Hopeful about

Academic FuturesAcademic Futures

Contd.Contd. Caring relationships are established when Caring relationships are established when

students and families feel like they are being students and families feel like they are being treated fairly by school staff; teachers express a treated fairly by school staff; teachers express a personal interests in students’ outside activities; personal interests in students’ outside activities; and leadership is shared among students and leadership is shared among students

Raise Expectations: Parents, students, teachers, Raise Expectations: Parents, students, teachers, and school leadership should have high and school leadership should have high expectations and hopes for ALL students to expectations and hopes for ALL students to excel and to have bright futuresexcel and to have bright futures

Successful schools are infused with a culture of Successful schools are infused with a culture of high expectations and accountabilityhigh expectations and accountability

Parents – Key ChallengesParents – Key Challenges

1.1. Parents Lack Adequate Parenting SkillsParents Lack Adequate Parenting Skills

2.2. Parents place minimal value on Parents place minimal value on education and are disconnected from education and are disconnected from schoolsschools

3.3. Parents Lack Adequate Job Training & Parents Lack Adequate Job Training & Job StabilityJob Stability

4.4. Parents Drug and Alcohol AddictedParents Drug and Alcohol Addicted

Parent Issue 1: Lack of Parent Issue 1: Lack of Adequate Parenting SkillsAdequate Parenting Skills

Recommendation: Recommendation: Provide comprehensive parent Provide comprehensive parent education programs education programs

Conduct resource mapping to explore which Conduct resource mapping to explore which communities have strong parent resources/education communities have strong parent resources/education programsprograms

Identify where the gaps are; prioritize needsIdentify where the gaps are; prioritize needs Conduct local needs assessments to develop Conduct local needs assessments to develop parent-parent-

drivendriven programs to fill gaps programs to fill gaps Integrate parent education strategies into school- and Integrate parent education strategies into school- and

community-based youth development programscommunity-based youth development programs

Parent Issue 2: Place minimal value on Parent Issue 2: Place minimal value on

education; disconnected from schoolseducation; disconnected from schools

Recommendation: Recommendation: Educate parents/families about the Educate parents/families about the value of educationvalue of education

Youth place more value on education than their parentsYouth place more value on education than their parents WC youth report that their parents are critical to helping WC youth report that their parents are critical to helping

them succeed in schoolthem succeed in school Educate parents about what their children need from Educate parents about what their children need from

them in order to be successful in schoolthem in order to be successful in school Ensure that parents understand what it means for Ensure that parents understand what it means for

children to be “workforce ready” or “college ready” in children to be “workforce ready” or “college ready” in today’s worldtoday’s world

Parent Issue 2: Place minimal value on Parent Issue 2: Place minimal value on

education; disconnected from schoolseducation; disconnected from schools

Contd.Contd. Develop strategies to facilitate parents’ Develop strategies to facilitate parents’

connections to school connections to school Raise Expectations: high expectations promote Raise Expectations: high expectations promote

a culture of excellence for students, parents, and a culture of excellence for students, parents, and staff; whereby high standards become the norm staff; whereby high standards become the norm and getting students to meet those standards is and getting students to meet those standards is the responsibility of the whole communitythe responsibility of the whole community

Conduct a community wide communication Conduct a community wide communication campaign emphasizing the importance of campaign emphasizing the importance of education and high expectations education and high expectations

Parent Issue 3: Lack of Adequate Parent Issue 3: Lack of Adequate Job Training & Job StabilityJob Training & Job Stability

Recommendations: Ensure that parents are Recommendations: Ensure that parents are aware of available job training and aware of available job training and employment opportunitiesemployment opportunities

Conduct resource mapping to track job Conduct resource mapping to track job training and employment opportunities training and employment opportunities around the countyaround the county

Develop effective systems to communicate Develop effective systems to communicate opportunities to parents opportunities to parents

Parent Issue 4: Drug and Alcohol AddictionParent Issue 4: Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Recommendations: Ensure that parents are Recommendations: Ensure that parents are aware of treatment servicesaware of treatment services

Conduct resource mapping to track Conduct resource mapping to track prevention and treatment programs prevention and treatment programs around the countyaround the county

Develop systems to effectively Develop systems to effectively communicate/refer parents to treatment communicate/refer parents to treatment programsprograms

Collaborations – Key ChallengesCollaborations – Key Challenges

1.1. Finger Pointing/Turf IssuesFinger Pointing/Turf Issues

2.2. CommunicationCommunication

3.3. CoordinationCoordination

Collaborative Issue 1:Collaborative Issue 1:Finger Pointing/Turf IssuesFinger Pointing/Turf Issues

Recommendation: Stop blaming one Recommendation: Stop blaming one another and figure out how to work another and figure out how to work together toward the greater goodtogether toward the greater good

For example, education folks think For example, education folks think community folks don’t collaborate well, community folks don’t collaborate well, and vice versaand vice versa

Collaboration is the new paradigmCollaboration is the new paradigm It is not an add on, it’s an integral part of It is not an add on, it’s an integral part of

what professionals dowhat professionals do

Collaborative Issue 1:Collaborative Issue 1:Finger Pointing/Turf IssuesFinger Pointing/Turf Issues

Contd.Contd.Leadership and staff may need to rethink Leadership and staff may need to rethink

how they do their jobshow they do their jobsFigure out ways to work together, get past Figure out ways to work together, get past

sticky issues such as HIPPA with sticky issues such as HIPPA with interagency MOUsinteragency MOUs

Together you’ll provide better, more Together you’ll provide better, more coordinated and comprehensive servicescoordinated and comprehensive services

Collaborative Issue 2:Collaborative Issue 2:CommunicationCommunication

Recommendation: Start or continue conversationsRecommendation: Start or continue conversations Determine the appropriate level for communication Determine the appropriate level for communication

(directors talking to directors, staff to staff, etc.)(directors talking to directors, staff to staff, etc.) Get the right people in the room and have Get the right people in the room and have

intentional discussions (prepare thoughtful intentional discussions (prepare thoughtful agendas with meeting objectives)agendas with meeting objectives)

An impediment to collaboration is not An impediment to collaboration is not understanding what a potential partner can bring to understanding what a potential partner can bring to the table; afford individuals in blossoming the table; afford individuals in blossoming collaborations ample opportunity to tell the group collaborations ample opportunity to tell the group who they are and what their organization can bring who they are and what their organization can bring to the tableto the table

Collaborative Issue 2:Collaborative Issue 2:CommunicationCommunication

Contd.Contd. Ensure mutual understanding by talking through Ensure mutual understanding by talking through

the tough stuff (e.g., finger pointing, conflict, turf the tough stuff (e.g., finger pointing, conflict, turf issues, value issues)issues, value issues)

Develop systems to sustain meaningful Develop systems to sustain meaningful communication (e.g., establish communication communication (e.g., establish communication channels, timeframes, and document meetings) channels, timeframes, and document meetings)

Tolerate and welcome tension/turmoil, it likely Tolerate and welcome tension/turmoil, it likely means the group is getting somewheremeans the group is getting somewhere

Collaboration Issue 3: CoordinationCollaboration Issue 3: Coordination

Recommendation: Conduct locally driven strategic planning Recommendation: Conduct locally driven strategic planning to improve the coordination of prevention and treatment to improve the coordination of prevention and treatment servicesservices

Look at collaborative efforts/programs that are working Look at collaborative efforts/programs that are working and seek ways to model those successes (look in WC, and seek ways to model those successes (look in WC, the State, nationally…review literature on collaboration)the State, nationally…review literature on collaboration)

Identify gaps in coordination and develop a feasible Identify gaps in coordination and develop a feasible strategic plan to address gapsstrategic plan to address gaps

Conduct planning with a broad range of stakeholders Conduct planning with a broad range of stakeholders (Community members are key!!!!) (Community members are key!!!!)

Develop plans for coordination both county-wide and in Develop plans for coordination both county-wide and in specific localitiesspecific localities

Be patient!Be patient!

Wrapping UpWrapping Up

Your Thoughts?Your Thoughts?Geographic issues to considerGeographic issues to considerRecommendationsRecommendations

Final Report – coming out next monthFinal Report – coming out next monthNext StepsNext Steps