The Importance of Parent Involvement in Child Welfare

A Parent’s Perspective

April 25, 2019

Jeanette Vega, Training DirectorNancy Fortunato, Senior Parent Leader

Agenda• Welcome!• Introductions• Rise- Who we are • Why is it important to have parents involved in

Child Welfare?• Parent’s Perspective of Child Welfare • Barriers/challenges• Lessons learned/outcomes• Q/A

The Importance of having Parents involved in Child Welfare

• Parents are experts on what can work for them in Child Welfare

• Our model enhances the parent voice and help parents get back their power

• Parents who have been affected by the Child Welfare system should be able to share their story and shape Child Welfare reform

• Parents understand the system and can share what choices and information other parents and families need

Rise – Who We Are

Rise changes the story of who parents are–and who they can

become.

How We Involve Parents

• We deliver parent-led presentations and trainings to frontline staff to foster care agencies, lawyers and to ACS

• Rise and Shine Leadership Program: child welfare knowledge, writing and public speaking skills, healing, leadership and advocacy

A Parent’s Story

What did you hear?

What you heard?

• Feeling awful about herself

• Scared

• Powerless

• Feeling mandated to services

• Feeling like she’s not a good mother

Negative Experiences Parents face in Child Welfare

Negative Experiences Parents face in Child Welfare

● No guidance about case

● Too many services to do

● Authority being used against parent

● Threats of removals or moving visits back

● Confusion on what is happening and what

comes next

Contributing factors to Parent Stress

• Lack of employment• No longer able to attend school• Little or no money for food• Possible eviction

What happens to parents when facing so much?

When families experience adversity they are

often less able to use coping skills, especially

if it continues for a period of time.

Parents reactions to Child Welfare

When children are removed parents get into a fight, flight, or freeze mode and they cannot think or plan for their children.

What can professionals do to help ?

● Ask what got parents to this overwhelming place?

● Have a conversation with parents to better understand where they are in their life and discuss what can help their family.

● Give parents written information.

RISE TIPS: Visiting

This approach requires high level involvement

● Assuring your staff understand a parents perspective.

● Assuring that staff is giving parents written information from the start of the case.

● Assuring parents get peer support or a Parent advocate

● Understanding the outside stress that may be interfering with compliance.

● Supporting/training staff on lifting parents voices.

Empower Parents● Help them organize and plan throughout the

case● Give parents a calendar to put in all

appointments● Provide contact sheet to add all important

people● Give as much written material as possible.● Explain the Child Welfare process

What will change:

● Honesty of what going on and what is

expected

● Parent understanding own behaviors(

acknowledging their behaviors and how it

affects the children)

Changes...● Parents will feel like partners and will engage

● Parents will have choices on what assistance

their family needs. This makes it more likely

that parents comply.

● Parents will feel empowered to overcome their

situation and future issues that arise.

● Workers will feel more satisfied with their

work.

Building Relationships

Problem-Solving Together● Communicate Positive Intentions----Clear Expectations

Learning Together from Other Parents’ Expertise● Sharing Power---“Person is not the problem”--Curiosity and

Openness---Making an Invitation

Standoff● Fear---Anger----Distrust----Judgment----Avoidance----

Assumption

Families can flourish and grow and never return to child welfare involvement when they are supported and guided

Barriers/Challenges

• Helping parents understand their own traumas and how to regulate their emotions

• Supporting parents as they begin to use their voice and power to change the system

• Building parent leadership in a small organization

Questions

Upcoming Events

Toxic Masculinity & Clinical Practice with Men Thursday, May 16th at 1 PM

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