Housing and Housing Related Services to Child Welfare Families under Flexible Funding Programs

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1 Housing and Housing Related Services to Child Welfare Families under Flexible Funding Programs Tony Loman Institute of Applied Research, St. Louis 1

2 Flexible Funding Studies at both Ends of the Child Welfare Spectrum Differential Response studies: a new approach to the 85% of reported families with Unsafe homes, homelessness, failure to provide for basic needs of children (food, clothing, etc.), lack of proper supervision, bruises or scratches on the child s body, educational neglect,... Traditional CPS investigations replaced by family friendly assessments of child safety and family needs and greater flexibility in choice of services from the first visit with the family. Title IV-E Waiver studies: of services to children removed from their homes or likely to be removed from their families Funds formerly restricted to foster care payments used flexibly for various services to avoid child removal or to hasten return of children to their homes. 2

3 Child Protective Services (CPS) Families are the Most Impoverished Incomes are very low less than $15,000/year for two thirds or more of families in several studies. Deprivation and stress of poverty are implicated in child abuse and neglect, particularly the latter. Sometimes report is the manifestation of deprivation and family s reaction to it. Particularly evident in reports of homelessness, inadequate housing and the like. We have shown that by addressing these underlying material needs the future safety of children and their welfare may be enhanced. 3

4 Example: Indiana Title IV-E Flexible Funding Study: Types of Services or Referrals Received individual counseling family preservation* household needs* parenting classes homemaker* marital/group counseling drug abuse treatment basic needs* basic needs to child in placement transportation* Medicaid or other medical insurance* money management* mental health services housing* TANF, food stamps* job services* medical or dental care support groups other financial assistance* education alcohol abuse treatment independent living skills for child childcare* emergency services* domestic violence legal assistance recreational child support* special education emergency shelter family member with disability* vocational training respite/crisis nursery child transitional living * 10% to 23% Waiver Control 14% to 43% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 4

5 Some examples of Assistance with Homelessness and Housing-related Problems in Flexible Funding Programs In Mississippi, a child was in danger of removal from his grandmother s home because porch flooring was rotten. Title IV-E funds were used to repair the porch instead of paying for foster care for the child. In Minnesota, funds available as part of the differential response reforms were used for a trailer home in need of repair. The mother was given a voucher to buy repair materials and made the repairs herself. This averted removal of the children from the unsafe home. In one of our first studies in Missouri, a family was on the verge of eviction. The family assessment worker had no extra funds but under differential response was able to devote time assisting the family in contacting and using housing services to obtain stable housing. In Indiana, Title IV-E funds were used to purchase and install a fence around the yard to enable a mother to control her hyperactive four-year old child who had been found on a busy street and was in danger of being removed to foster care. In Minnesota, a family living in a tent in a state park was assisted in finding stable housing as part of the Parent Support Outreach program. 5

6 Conclusions We have many anecdotal accounts of similar assistance to families with rent, utilities, home repairs, avoiding housing loss, escape from homelessness, etc. Most of these service responses would not have happened if CPS workers had not had the flexibility to use their time and funds for the broader needs of families. However, in most cases these represent short-term assistance to families and do not address the longer-term needs of debt, employment and income. More is needed outside CPS For those who would like to read further examples of how Child Protection Services workers have addressed needs of these kinds, the following references are provided to our website: 6

7 Flexible Funding Study References Our reports can be found at (click on the papers and reports tab). Here are some direct references containing particular examples of services to families with housing related needs: Case Studies: Use of Flexible Funding in Indiana s Child Welfare Demonstration, Dec : IVE%20Special%20Project%20Case%20Studies%20Report-final.pdf Contains many examples related to housing. Indiana IV-E Child Welfare Demonstration, Final Report, Jan (pages 86-93): E%20Final%20Evaluation%20Report-2011.pdf. Minnesota Parent Support Outreach Program Evaluation, Mar Many case examples are provided throughout the report: 7