This is what it’s all about… .

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!