Is Change Really Needed in Florida’s Child Welfare System?
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Transcript of Is Change Really Needed in Florida’s Child Welfare System?
Is Change Really Needed in Florida’s Child Welfare System?
A child in FL is twice as likely to have an open child abuse investigation
Our focus is very incident driven Our assessment process is not comprehensive Child safety is very subjective across the state Our response to unsafe children is inconsistent Florida accepts 8 out of every 10 calls made to
the Hotline, creating a CPI investigation 80% of the time◦ Only Alabama, Texas, and Washington DC have higher
percentages
Nubia Barahona’s death in 2011
oA thorough case review revealed: Inconsistent, inefficient, and redundant practices
throughout the state High recurrence, recidivism, re-investigation rates Technology and system inefficiencies Staff turnover and ineffective training
o This case spearheaded the need for “change” in FL
Florida Safety Decision Making Methodology (FSDMM)
Professionalism Technology Compliance Communication and Change Management
FSDMM: Florida Safety Decision Making Methodology
◦ Major practice reform from Hotline to On-going Services New methodology is considered “Cutting Edge” or a
best practice approach for child welfare services A similar safety methodology is used by 20 other
states across the country◦ Improving the quality of our work with families ◦ Standardized agency performance metrics
Professionalism:◦ Base salary increases for investigators◦ Career opportunities◦ Development of and compliance with FSDMM◦ Appropriate use of authority
Technology:◦ Command Center Transformation at the Hotline◦ Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN) Updates◦ Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information
System (SACWIS) Compliance◦ Creating a better system to allow Child Welfare
Professionals to be in the field with families and not restricted by timeframes, paperwork, and/or computer work
Compliance:◦ Chapter 39 Revisions◦ Administrative Code (65 C) Revisions◦ Operating Procedure Updates
**Laws and Rules will all be aligned with the Florida Safety Decision Making Methodology (FSDMM)
Communication and Change Management:◦ Ensure delivery of core concepts and project
messages to ALL stakeholders including YOU!
Multi-year project designed to address identified concerns with Florida’s Child Protection System◦ Started over 2 years ago with the CPI Initiative◦ Dependency Judges have been a positive voice for
this project◦ Developed from years of research and other
states across the country effectively using safety models in their child welfare systems
To work more effectively with families and children toward achieving child safety
Florida families deserve to work with highly skilled, trained, knowledgeable professionals to keep children safe, keep families together when possible, with focus on protective capacities and family engagement
To help families achieve child safety and self sufficiency even when intervention is necessary
Introducing a consistently applied safety decision making methodology
Professionalizing our Workforce Enhancing our Technology
Improved and permanently changed business practice and consistent safety decision making
Reduce re-investigations and re-victimization Systems integration and technology
improvements for efficiency Professionalized and stabilized workforce Higher quality casework and better outcomes
for children and families Serving the RIGHT families for the RIGHT
reasons
Florida Department of Children and Families
Copyright 2013 Florida Department of Children &
Families
Hotline-Currently, a very high screen in rate◦ Process now is VERY intrusive
CPI-High recidivism Case Management-High case loads Community Partners-Mandatory reporting
Copyright 2013 Florida Department of Children &
Families
SAFE…children are considered safe when there are no present or impending danger threats, or the caregivers’ protective capacities control existing threats
UNSAFE… children are vulnerable to present or impending danger threats, and caregivers have insufficient protective capacity to control existing threats.
Immediate Significant Clearly Observable Severe harm Present tense---right now Requires immediate
response
Impending Danger ….not happening at this moment……but a “state of danger”
Child is in a position of continual danger
SafSaf
e?e?
Yes
No
Information Domains give us the information we need on child vulnerability…..AgePhysical abilityCognitive abilityDevelopmental statusEmotional securityFamily loyalty
Protective Capacity….how a parent thinks, feels, acts…..
Cognitive protective capacity Intellectual knowledge, understanding and
perceptions Contribute to protective vigilance
• reality oriented• accurate perception of a child• recognition of a child’s needs• ability to accurately process and interpret
various stimuli• understanding of protective role• intellectually able• understanding and recognizing threats
Behavioral Protective Capacity Specific action, activity, performance that
results in protective vigilance
• physical capacity and energy• ability to set aside own needs • adaptive, assertive and responsive• takes action • impulse control• history of being protective
Emotional protective capacity: Feelings, attitudes and identification with
the child that results in protective vigilance
• emotional bond with the child• positive attachment with the child• love, sensitivity and empathy for the child• resiliency• stability• effectively meets own emotional • needs emotional control • realizes the child cannot produce
gratification and self-esteem for the parent
Safety plan: actions and services that will temporarily substitute for the lacking parental protective capacity to control the danger threats
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An unsafe child does not automatically require placement outside the home
Safety plans range from entirely in-home to exclusively out-of-home care
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Intrusiveness
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Safe Children: •provides a measure for identifying families for prevention services. Unsafe children: •case management services
Are danger threats being managed? How can existing protective capacities –
STRENGTHS – be built upon to make changes? What is the relationship between danger
threats and the diminished caregiver protective capacities—What Must Change?
What are the parents’ perspective or awareness of their caregiver protective capacities?
What are the child’s needs and how are the parents meeting or not meeting those needs?
What are the parents ready and willing to work on in the case plan?
What are the areas of disagreement in what needs to change?
What change strategy (case plan) will be used to assist in enhancing diminished care giver protective capacities?
Safety Decision Making Methodology impacts everything: policy, automated system, legal system, quality assurance, staff development.
Agency partners – focus on safety services and safety management; includes substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence
Legal stakeholders – new constructs, new decision making criteria, new expectations
Stages of Implementation
It’s a journey…to high fidelity!
Exploration Installation Initial Implementation Full Operation Innovation Sustainability
February 2011 Project Kick-off
We are here!
July 2013Begin to Practice!
Our destination!
• Statewide Implementation Team• SunCoast Region Training Plans• Circuit 6 Training Plans for roll out
• Capacity Building• Super Safety Practice Experts – 42• Safety Practice Experts – 200 • Trainer Proficiency Evaluation Process
Questions and Discussion?Questions and Discussion?