Safety Organized Practice

Solution focused methods, organized around child safety

Safety Organized CP Practice

Partnership with Parents

+

Collaborative Relationships with Community

Partners

_____________________________

Best Outcomes for Child Safety

“Signs of Safety” Turnell & Edwards, 1999

Safety Organized CP PracticeOverview Integration with current practice Tools of the trade

Questions for detailFormats for information gatheringConsultation format

Integration/Current CP Practice

Legal definitions of maltreatment Current responses

Family Assessment vs InvestigationStructured decision making toolsFamily Group Decision MakingNeed for protective services and/or CHIPS

petitionOngoing CP services

Tools-Questions for detail

Elicit information about a specific issue Acquire details about the first question Reflect on the meaning Start over by focusing on a new issue

Tools-Formats for Info Gathering

Three houses Parent consult form Words and pictures Consultation format

More Info: www.signsofsafety.net/Around_the_World.html - New Zealand: Child Youth and Family

‘Three Houses’ Child Protection Risk Assessment Process to use with Children and Young People

Created by Nicki Weld, Wellington NZ

House of DreamsHouse of Worries House of Good Things

On 3 separate pieces of paper draw with the children their experience and vision of each house. Use these drawings with the adults in deepening the

assessment and planning process.

.

What are we Worried About? What’s Working Well? What Needs to Happen?

The WWW protocol - For worker and client to do assessment and planning together

Your ViewOur ViewSafetyStrengths

Rate the situation on a scale of 0 - 10, where 0 means things are so bad the family can no longer care for the children and 10 means that everything that needs to happen for the children to be safe in the family is happening

© 2004 Andrew Turnell aturnell@iinet.com.au

Words and Pictures

Combines all information gathered Written and drawn at child’s level Assists parent’s communication with child Explores what child knows or is concerned about Has positive and negative information Helps create a safety plan in a way the child

understands

Building Safety & Strengthening Families Practice

Danger/Harm

Risk Statement(s)

Complicating Factors

Safety = Strengths Demonstrated As

Protection Over Time.Genogram

Safety

Next Steps(Immediate Progress)

Safety Protection Required

Current Ranking

Strengths/Protective Factors (Ahlquist 2000)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Focus/Purpose of Consultation

Enough Safety to Close

.

Specific to the Family

What are the current danger and harm factors we are concerned about?

What are the risk statements? What are the complicating factors? What are the safety factors? What are the strengths?

Danger & Harm

General Concern that the child

is exposed to domestic violence

Specific 10 month old Sam is

being held by his mom, Judy, when dad, Pete, punches Judy, causing her to fall. Sam’s head strikes a table causing a large bump and bruise. Neighbors call 911 and Pete is arrested.

What are the Risk Statements

General Repeat domestic

violence

Specific We are worried

because this is the second time Pete has been physically assaultive with Judy and this time was more serious.

Risk Statements

General There is a history of

Pete being abused

Specific We are worried

because Pete’s father punched both he and his mother and injured them many times, from the time Pete was 6 years old until the father left the home when Pete was 14

What are the complicating factors?

General Judy has no income

Pete lacks a support system

Specific Pete has a job that

pays well and he provides most of the financial resources for the family

Pete does not have a supportive family and no friends he is close to and can rely on

Safety

General Relative support

system

Specific Aunt Rose has a spare

bedroom where Judy and Sam can stay for as long as Judy wants to.

Other Safety Factors

General Law enforcement

involved Exceptions to the

violence

Specific Neighbors called 911

because of concern for Judy and Sam & Pete was arrested

Pete and Judy have argued before without any threats or violence

What are the Strengths ?

General The extended family is

supportive

Specific Judy’s aunt Rose, lives

half a mile away and visits mom frequently. Rose is an excellent care giver to her own children and Judy seeks her advice. Judy leaves Sam with Rose so she can run errands.

What are the Strengths?

General Judy is a good mother

Specific Judy provides

attentive care to Sam, he goes to her, they cuddle, she responds to him being upset

What are the Strengths?

General Father interacts well

Specific Pete usually provides

good care for Sam. He plays with him and cares for him and Judy has never noted any concern for Pete harming Sam.

What are the Strengths

General Pete and Judy are

cooperative

Specific Pete and Judy have

met separately with the social workers and were open and honest in describing what happened

Building Safety & Strengthening Families Practice

Danger/Harm

Risk Statement(s)

Complicating Factors

Safety = Strengths Demonstrated As

Protection Over Time.Genogram

Safety

Next Steps(Immediate Progress)

Safety Protection Required

Current Ranking

Strengths/Protective Factors (Ahlquist 2000)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Focus/Purpose of Consultation

Enough Safety to Close

• Judy clearly loves Sam; he goes to her, they cuddle, she responds to him being upset

• Judy’s aunt Rose lives close to her, is supportive of her and provides care for Sam so Judy & Pete can have a

breakPete usually interacts well with Sam, plays with

him and has never hurt him when caring for him

Neighbors called 911 and Pete was arrested

Aunt Rose has a spare bedroom for Judy & Sam

Pete and Judy have argued before without threats or violence.

• Pete and Judy have met separately with the social workers and both

appear honest and open about what happened.• Pete views the domestic violence

as serious and believes he needs help.

Pete’s boss has tried to befriend him and is a good example for

Pete both on the job and at home

10 month old Sam was held by Judy when Pete punched Judy, she fell while holding Sam and Sam’s head hit a table causing a large bruise and bump

• We are worried because this is the second time Pete has been physical with Judy and this time was more violent.• We are worried because Pete’s father punched both he and his mother and injured them, from the time Pete was 6 years old and until his father left the home when Pete was 14

• Pete has a job that pays well and he provides most resources for the family

•Pete has no supportive family and no friends he is close to or can rely on.

Judy has decided to spend some time with Sam at Rose’s house to see if Pete takes action

Pete has told his boss about the incident & he will be part of a safety plan.Pete has contacted DAIP and will begin the Men’s education group.

Pete will visit Sam at Rose’s house and Rose will be in charge of the visit.Pete will provide financial resources to Judy and Sam, through Rose

Summit Information

This gathering is a beginning Other collaborative efforts will be made Action Steps could be grand schemes or

small beginnings Participants will get a written summary We will have a forum to gather again at

SLC Conference in October

Thoughts to Ponder

“Smooth seas do not make good sailors” (African American Proverb)

“Listen or your tongue will make you deaf” (American Indian Proverb)

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now” (Chinese Proverb)

“The future belongs to those who see the beauty of a dream” (Eleanor Roosevelt)

Safety Organized CP Practice

Partnership with Parents+

Collaborative Relationships with CommunityPartners

_____________________________Best Outcomes for Child Safety

“Signs of Safety” Turnell & Edwards, 1999

Break Out Questions

What strategies or examples of community collaboration have worked well?

What are some of the challenges to communities collaborating for child safety?

What are some of the solutions to the challenges that you have considered?

What action steps could the group recommend today?