Child Welfare Services Program Overview. February 27, 2015 Marianne Reagan, MFT

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1 Child Welfare Services Program Overview February 27, 2015 Marianne Reagan, MFT

2 Agenda CWS Core Values Overview of CWS programs Foster care data Engaging and partnering with families to improve outcomes

3 Child Welfare Services (CWS) Who we are In California, Child Welfare is a County-run system Governed by a variety of Federal and State Laws In Santa Barbara County, it is a branch of the Department of Social Services

4 CWS Core Values Safety Children are protected from abuse and neglect Children are maintained in their home whenever possible Permanency Preserve continuity of family connections and relationships Well-being Families can provide for their children s needs Children s educational, physical, and mental health needs are met

5 Program Components CWS programs have 5 service components, established through State legislation: 1. Emergency Response 2. Family Maintenance 3. Family Reunification 4. Permanent Placement 5. Supportive Transition

6 24-Hour Child Abuse Hotline Assess risk Using a Structured Decision Making tool, screener assesses risk to child and determines response priority Determine response Evaluate out Immediate 10-day In 2013, the Hotline got about 7,650 calls.

7 Assessment & Investigation 24-hour in-person response Individual social worker, or multi-disciplinary response Investigates referrals of child abuse and neglect Assesses child safety and parents ability to protect and care for children Links family members to services in the community Places children in out of home care when necessary In 2013, Santa Barbara County social workers investigated 3,350 referrals Referrals may have more than one child

8 Did child abuse or neglect occur? Based on the Penal Code definitions of child abuse and neglect PC through PC The social worker gathers evidence from interviews, reports, collaterals

9 Is the child safe? Assess Assess for safety, risk, protective capacity, and family strengths, including these factors: Prior Child Welfare involvement Domestic violence Substance abuse Medical and mental health care needs Assist Help families improve child safety, and refer to services The Welfare and Institutions Code defines the conditions under which a child can be removed from the home. (WIC 300)

10 Investigation Outcomes Close Referral May refer to community resources Short-Term Child Welfare Services Voluntary Family Maintenance Case Refer to Juvenile Court 30 days Referrals to community resources Up to 12 months Services to maintain child safety in the home Child remains in the home Child is removed from the home

11 Abuse & neglect by type (2013) 1.4% 19.4% 0.5% 1.9% 6.8% General Neglect Emotional Abuse Physical Abuse 10.6% 59.5% Severe Neglect Sexual Abuse At risk, sibling abused Caretaker Absence/Incapacity Data Source: As cited on kidsdata.org, Needell, B., et al. (May 2014). Child Welfare Services Reports for California, U.C. Berkeley Center for Social Services Research.

12 Family Maintenance Provides services to families in crisis to prevent or remedy abuse or neglect, allowing the social worker to work with family while keeping the child in the home.

13 Family Maintenance Voluntary Parents agree to work with CWS and participate in services Up to 12 months of services Courtordered A petition is filed in Juvenile Court FM Services may begin after an investigation or after a child is returned home from foster care

14 Family Reunification Provides intervention and support services for a limited time period to parents and their children who have been removed from the home. The goal is a safe home environment so that the child may return home.

15 Family Reunification Services Case plan Family & social worker collaboration Defines specific behaviors and actions the parent must take to improve their ability to provide a safe home May include services for: Mental health treatment Substance abuse treatment Domestic violence Parent education

16 Foster Care Children enter foster care when they cannot safely remain in the family home due to abuse or neglect. Resource Families open their homes, providing a safe haven for these children.

17 Foster Care Entries & Exits Santa Barbara County, , children Entries to Care Exits from Care Total Point in Time July 1st Source: Q3 Extract

18 Foster Care Entries & Exits 3% 2% 6% 6% FY % The majority of placement exits are due to Reunification and Adoption 39% Reunified Kin-GAP Emancipated Adopted Other Guardianship Other CCWIP reports. Retrieved 2/18/205 from University of California at Berkeley California Child Welfare Indicators Project website. URL: <

19 Children in Foster Care, by Age As of 7/1/14 Under 1 '1-2 '3-5 '6-10 ' % 6% 11% 11% 13% School aged children (6-17) represent 58% of the children in foster care 23% 24% CCWIP reports. Retrieved 2/18/2015, from University of California at Berkeley California Child Welfare Indicators Project website. URL: <

20 Permanent Placement To ensure that children have safe, stable, and permanent homes to grow up in To create lifelong connections with a caring adult

21 Permanent Placement Adoption Federal policy prefers adoption as first permanency option Requires termination of parental rights Legal Guardianship Relative or non-relative who has legal authority and responsibility Alternative Forms of Permanency Long-term foster care with relatives, nonrelatives, or group homes Continued efforts are made to obtain legal permanency

22 Supportive Transitions Fostering Connections to Success & Increasing Adoptions Act Adopted by California in 2012 Allows youth who turn 18 to remain in care up to age 21 Provides resources and services to youth currently or formerly in foster care, to support transition to adulthood

23 Supportive Transitions Independent Living Program Helps youth prepare for self-sufficiency through a wide range of training and services in the areas of employment, academics, life skills, housing and money management Transitional Housing Youth live in a community-based licensed placement that helps them practice skills learned in the ILP Program Youth who are in extended foster care or emancipated receive supervised housing and support services.

24 Engaging Families to support safety, permanency, and well-being Trauma Informed Practice Safety Organized Practice Team Decision Making Cultural Competence Strength- Based Practice Multi-agency & Community Interventions

25 Safety Organized Practice A framework for day-to-day Child Welfare casework that focuses all stakeholders on enhancing safety at all points in a case 48 Counties in CA, including Santa Barbara, are in some stage of implementation Improves outcomes through engagement, critical thinking, and enhanced safety

26 Safety Organized Practice Engagement Solution-focused strategies for effective working relationships Tools to include the child s voice Critical Thinking Balanced and Rigorous Assessments Defines reasons for Child Welfare involvement to all stakeholders Enhancing Safety Detailed plans that focus on behavioral change vs. compliance Creating Safety Networks: formal and informal support systems for families

27 We re all in this together. It takes the efforts of a community to improve the lives of children slowly and over time.