PROMISING PRACTICES: PROMISING PRACTICES: USING SAFETY FOCUSED USING SAFETY FOCUSED

FRAMEWORK IN SUPERVISIONFRAMEWORK IN SUPERVISION

PAULA DAVIS MPA BCJPAULA DAVIS MPA BCJ

&&

AMY WOOD BS MSWAMY WOOD BS MSW

FRANKLIN COUNTYFRANKLIN COUNTY

• Located in Columbus, OH Located in Columbus, OH • Population: 1.1 millionPopulation: 1.1 million• 13 cities, 12 villages, 17 townships13 cities, 12 villages, 17 townships• Ethnically and Culturally DiverseEthnically and Culturally Diverse• Sustained influx in Hispanic/Latino, Somali, Sustained influx in Hispanic/Latino, Somali,

and Asian familiesand Asian families• Socio-economic status vary throughout Socio-economic status vary throughout

county/citiescounty/cities• Resource-rich environment Resource-rich environment

FRANKLIN COUNTY FRANKLIN COUNTY CHILDREN SERVICESCHILDREN SERVICES

Mission: Through collaboration with Mission: Through collaboration with families and their communities, we families and their communities, we

advocate for the safety, permanency advocate for the safety, permanency and well-being of each child we serve in and well-being of each child we serve in

a manner that honors family and a manner that honors family and culture. culture.

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles*We are Child Welfare *We are Child Welfare

ProfessionalsProfessionals*We Value Every Child*We Value Every Child

*We Honor Families*We Honor Families*We Value Partnerships*We Value Partnerships

PROTECTING CHILDREN BY PROTECTING CHILDREN BY STRENGTHENING FAMILIESSTRENGTHENING FAMILIES

Separate Agency from Separate Agency from Department of Job and Family Department of Job and Family Services and Child SupportServices and Child Support

Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekweek

Agency StructureAgency Structure

• Screening DepartmentScreening Department• Assessment/Investigation Department (14 Assessment/Investigation Department (14

units)units)• 3 Regional Offices (approx 30 units)3 Regional Offices (approx 30 units)• 2 Managed Care Entities—provide on-2 Managed Care Entities—provide on-

going case management servicesgoing case management services• Foster Care / Adoption DepartmentsFoster Care / Adoption Departments• Performance Improvement DepartmentPerformance Improvement Department• Data Management / Support Staff Data Management / Support Staff

(Contracts, FC/Adopt Prep, Fiscal)(Contracts, FC/Adopt Prep, Fiscal)

ASSESSMENT/INVESTIGATIONS ASSESSMENT/INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT • Receive approximately 30,000 calls/year call to the hotline each yearReceive approximately 30,000 calls/year call to the hotline each year• Approximately 13, 000 reports year are “screened-in” for Approximately 13, 000 reports year are “screened-in” for

assessment/investigationassessment/investigation--determined by State mandated “screening guidelines”--determined by State mandated “screening guidelines”

• Case Assignment—UnitsCase Assignment—Units 0-3 “Baby” Units (primary victim is under 3-years-old or younger)0-3 “Baby” Units (primary victim is under 3-years-old or younger) Sex Abuse UnitsSex Abuse Units Out-of-Home Care / Institutional UnitOut-of-Home Care / Institutional Unit Alternative Response UnitsAlternative Response Units Investigative Units (7) Investigative Units (7)

• Investigations & Assessments Investigations & Assessments Investigations completed within 30 days, with 15 extensions (if Investigations completed within 30 days, with 15 extensions (if needed)needed) AR Assessments completed within 45 daysAR Assessments completed within 45 days

Tools: Comprehensive Assessment Planning Model-Interim Solution Tools: Comprehensive Assessment Planning Model-Interim Solution (CAPMIS)(CAPMIS)

--Safety Assessment--Safety Assessment --Family Assessment--Family Assessment --On-going A/I Assessment (open case investigations)--On-going A/I Assessment (open case investigations)

ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE UNITS ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE UNITS / CASES / CASES • Three Units in A/I Department (15 caseworkers)Three Units in A/I Department (15 caseworkers)• Two Units in Regional Office (8 caseworkers)Two Units in Regional Office (8 caseworkers)• AR Units are co-located in same building in order to AR Units are co-located in same building in order to

facilitate “warm hand off” at time of case transferfacilitate “warm hand off” at time of case transfer• Cases were initially selected from 9 zip codes Cases were initially selected from 9 zip codes

primarily in Northeast portion of countyprimarily in Northeast portion of county --Diverse Population--Diverse Population --Large volume of referrals --Large volume of referrals --High representation of children in paid placement--High representation of children in paid placement --Resource rich environment (ie. 4 well-established --Resource rich environment (ie. 4 well-established Settlement Houses)Settlement Houses)

CASE SELECTION FOR CASE SELECTION FOR ALTERNATIVE RESPONSEALTERNATIVE RESPONSE• Pilot = controlled experiment, involved randomizationPilot = controlled experiment, involved randomization• Pathway Assignment Tool—determined eligibility criteria for AR Pathway Assignment Tool—determined eligibility criteria for AR

(and randomization)(and randomization) Excludes: Allegations of sexual abuseExcludes: Allegations of sexual abuse Allegations of egregious harm (abuse or neglect)Allegations of egregious harm (abuse or neglect) Report involves suspicious child fatality or homicideReport involves suspicious child fatality or homicide Requires out-of-home care or institutional investigationRequires out-of-home care or institutional investigation Requires third-party investigationRequires third-party investigation• Discretionary: ie. history of frequent and/or similar reports with Discretionary: ie. history of frequent and/or similar reports with

the agency; the agency; placement needed; parents’ previous lack of cooperation; placement needed; parents’ previous lack of cooperation;

parents’ parents’ unwillingness to achieve child safety; zip codes; staffing unwillingness to achieve child safety; zip codes; staffing

considerations, considerations, etc.etc.

INITIATION APPROACHESINITIATION APPROACHESOhio Administrative Code (OAC) indicates reports of child Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) indicates reports of child abuse and/or neglect shall be initiated within:abuse and/or neglect shall be initiated within:--1 hour for emergency reports: attempt face to face --1 hour for emergency reports: attempt face to face contact with alleged child victim (ACV) /child subject of the contact with alleged child victim (ACV) /child subject of the report (CSR)report (CSR)--24 hours for non-emergency reports: attempt contact with --24 hours for non-emergency reports: attempt contact with principal of the report or a collateral source who has principal of the report or a collateral source who has knowledge of family and child’s safetyknowledge of family and child’s safety

Methods (AR cases)Methods (AR cases)--Face to face contact with parent, child or collateral source--Face to face contact with parent, child or collateral source--attempt a telephone contact with parent or collateral --attempt a telephone contact with parent or collateral source (preferred method)source (preferred method)--send a letter to parent, guardian or custodian --send a letter to parent, guardian or custodian acknowledging a report was received and inviting the family acknowledging a report was received and inviting the family to engage in assessment. to engage in assessment.

Decision regarding method is at discretion of Decision regarding method is at discretion of worker/supervisor dependent upon concernsworker/supervisor dependent upon concernsindicated in intake reportindicated in intake report. .

FLOW OF A CASE FLOW OF A CASE Creation of ReportCreation of ReportPathway DecisionPathway Decision

InitiationInitiationSafety Assessment (SA)Safety Assessment (SA)

Family Service Plans (can occur anytime after Family Service Plans (can occur anytime after completion of SA)completion of SA)

Family Assessment (FA)Family Assessment (FA)Close, Close and Refer to Services, Transfer to Close, Close and Refer to Services, Transfer to

On-going ServicesOn-going ServicesFamily Service Plan (Development or Revision)Family Service Plan (Development or Revision)

90 Day Case Review90 Day Case ReviewSemi-Annual Review (SAR)Semi-Annual Review (SAR)

Case Closure SummaryCase Closure Summary*Linkages to community resources can occur at *Linkages to community resources can occur at

anywhere in the above-mentioned workflowanywhere in the above-mentioned workflow

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY RESOURCES/SERVICESRESOURCES/SERVICES

Keywords: Family-driven Service Keywords: Family-driven Service PlanningPlanning

Family and caseworker Family and caseworker collaborate on identifying and collaborate on identifying and

accessing community resources accessing community resources needed to achieve child safety, needed to achieve child safety, permanency and/or well-being. permanency and/or well-being.

TYPES OF SERVICESTYPES OF SERVICES

• HARD SERVICES (FOOD, HARD SERVICES (FOOD, CLOTHING, CAR SEATS, BEDS, CLOTHING, CAR SEATS, BEDS, APPLIANCES, PAYING APPLIANCES, PAYING RENT/DEPOSIT/UTILITIESRENT/DEPOSIT/UTILITIES

• CAR REPAIRCAR REPAIR

• LINKAGE WITH WELFARE OFFICELINKAGE WITH WELFARE OFFICE

• MEDICAL DENTAL SERVICESMEDICAL DENTAL SERVICES

• RESPITERESPITE

• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICESDOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES

• DISABILITY SERVICESDISABILITY SERVICES

• EXTERMINATION SERVICESEXTERMINATION SERVICES

• JOB/VOCATION TRAININGJOB/VOCATION TRAINING

• PARENT EDUCATIONPARENT EDUCATION

• SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENTSUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT

• IN-HOME SUPPPORT SERVICESIN-HOME SUPPPORT SERVICES

• HOUSINGHOUSING

• EDUCATIONAL SERVICESEDUCATIONAL SERVICES

• CHILD CARECHILD CARE

• MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS/LINKAGES TO ASSESSMENTS/LINKAGES TO COUNSELINGCOUNSELING

• SUPPORT GROUPSSUPPORT GROUPS

• EMPLOYMENT NEEDSEMPLOYMENT NEEDS

• LEGAL SERVICESLEGAL SERVICES

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPSPARTNERSHIPS

Community partnerships are crucial to the Community partnerships are crucial to the success of ensuring family’s receive services success of ensuring family’s receive services

that address their specific needs.that address their specific needs.

Imperative that community partners model the Imperative that community partners model the tenets of family-driven service planning.tenets of family-driven service planning.

*partner with families to identify service *partner with families to identify service needsneeds

*recognize families are the experts of *recognize families are the experts of their own experiences and are not to betheir own experiences and are not to be

identified by “an incident.” identified by “an incident.” *engagement is key to children’s safety and *engagement is key to children’s safety and

families’ well-beingfamilies’ well-being

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS:BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS:“Spreading the Word”“Spreading the Word”• Invited community partners to “Alternative Invited community partners to “Alternative

Response Overview” presentationsResponse Overview” presentations• Included Alternative Response as a part of Included Alternative Response as a part of

Mandated Reporter trainingsMandated Reporter trainings• Traveled to schools, prosecutor’s office, hospitals, Traveled to schools, prosecutor’s office, hospitals,

mental health providers, etc.mental health providers, etc.• Highlighted Alternative Response in the media Highlighted Alternative Response in the media • Participated in informal speaking engagements—Participated in informal speaking engagements—

churches, friends, etc.churches, friends, etc.• Invited community partners to unit meetings in Invited community partners to unit meetings in

order to encourage peer relationships between order to encourage peer relationships between agency staff and community partnersagency staff and community partners

““Molding Service Providers”Molding Service Providers”

• Service Delivery Committee—identifies Service Delivery Committee—identifies needed servicesneeded services

• Change in Request for Proposal (RFP) Change in Request for Proposal (RFP) processprocess

• On-going liaison meeting with support On-going liaison meeting with support servicesservices

• Attendance to linkage meetingsAttendance to linkage meetings

• Invite community partners to family case Invite community partners to family case conferences, reviews, etc.conferences, reviews, etc.

TRANSFER TO ON-GOING TRANSFER TO ON-GOING OR NOT???OR NOT???

Franklin County is the only Franklin County is the only county (at this time) that county (at this time) that

transfers cases from an intake transfers cases from an intake service team to an on-going service team to an on-going

service teamservice team

Family’s involvement at time Family’s involvement at time of transfer is “voluntary.” of transfer is “voluntary.”

Reasons for transfer to Reasons for transfer to Ongoing ServicesOngoing Services

• Family’s requestFamily’s request

• ““High” or “Intensive” Level of Risk and High” or “Intensive” Level of Risk and continued involvement is needed to further continued involvement is needed to further ensure children’s safety, permanency and/or ensure children’s safety, permanency and/or well-beingwell-being

• Active safety threat; current safety planActive safety threat; current safety plan

• Child/ren in paid placement as a result of 30-Child/ren in paid placement as a result of 30-day agreement (voluntary custody agreement)day agreement (voluntary custody agreement)

COLLABORATION COLLABORATION BETWEEN INTAKE AND BETWEEN INTAKE AND

ON-GOING ON-GOING

Collaboration begins during Collaboration begins during case consultations.case consultations.

At times, intake service team At times, intake service team will contact on-going service will contact on-going service team and schedule a time to team and schedule a time to

partner with one another for a partner with one another for a visit at family’s home.visit at family’s home.

““Warm Hand Off”Warm Hand Off”

FAMILY DRIVEN SERVICE FAMILY DRIVEN SERVICE PLANNINGPLANNING

• SERVICE PLAN DEVELOPED AT SERVICE PLAN DEVELOPED AT TRANSFER MEETING WHEN POSSIBILETRANSFER MEETING WHEN POSSIBILE

• FAMILY DRIVES PROCESSFAMILY DRIVES PROCESS

• CASES ARE REVIEWED EVERY 90 CASES ARE REVIEWED EVERY 90 DAYS IN THE FAMILY HOMEDAYS IN THE FAMILY HOME

• EXPECTATION THAT FAMILY IS ALSO EXPECTATION THAT FAMILY IS ALSO INVOLVED IN CLOSURE DECISIONINVOLVED IN CLOSURE DECISION

COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKERWORKER

• IN DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF IN DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCESCOMMUNITY RESOURCES

• ABLE TO PROVIDE EXTRA ABLE TO PROVIDE EXTRA ASSISTANCE TO THE FAMILIESASSISTANCE TO THE FAMILIES

NEW CASE CONSULTATIONNEW CASE CONSULTATIONTOOLTOOL

CASE SCENERIOCASE SCENERIO

WHAT DECISION WOULD YOU WHAT DECISION WOULD YOU MAKE?MAKE?

Paula Davis Paula Davis 614-229-7124614-229-7124padavis@fccs.co.franklin.oh.us

Amy WoodAmy Wood614-229-7130614-229-7130acwood@fccs.co.franklin.oh.acwood@fccs.co.franklin.oh.usus