San Joaquin County

Child Welfare Improvement

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San Joaquin County Demographics

Population 673,170

Children in Foster Care (2006) 1749 Children < 5 (2005) 8.0% Children < 18 (2005) 29.7% Caucasian (2005) 73.0% African-American (2005) 7.9% Hispanic or Latino (2005) 34.7% Persons reporting 2+ races (2005) 3.4%

Persons below poverty level (2004) 14.0%Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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Child Welfare Improvement

I. Differential Response

II. Team Decision-Meeting

III. Disproportionality

I. Differential Response

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Differential Response Assessment

Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) with Federal Funding

Differential Response Program began in December 2002

Contracted with the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC)

Program entitled First Step Resource Response (FSRR)

$160,000 (2002/2003)

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Child Abuse Prevention Council FSRR Sub-Contractors

Women’s Center of San Joaquin County Domestic violence issues with

children in the home Council for Spanish Speaking

Families with Spanish as their primary language

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First Step Resource Response Flowchart

CAPC El Concilio Women's Center

Path IFSRR Program

throughCAPC

CPS ReferralsPath I

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First Step Resource Response 35 Path 1 cases per week CPS sends the family a letter No confidentiality agreement is necessary

when CPS sends referral to DR agencies, They are an extension of the Agency by contract

CAPC assess family needs and refer to appropriate agencies for individualized information and resources

Family signs confidentiality agreement forms with CAPC or subcontractors

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FSRR Statistical Data2002 - 2007

State Fiscal Year Total Referrals Received

Total Referrals that Accepted

Services

Case Returned to CPS by CAPC

12/2002 – 6/2003 355 29 0

2003 – 2004 1,121 283 0

2004 – 2005 1,361 37 1

2005 – 2006 1,217 356 5

2006 - 2007 1,451 822 23

Column Totals: 5,505 1,863 29

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Promoting Safe and Stable Families Funding

$160,000 in 03/04 $160,000 in 04/05 $ 38,000 from 10/05–12/05 $ 95,000 from 1/06–6/06 $190,000 in 06/07 $190,000 in 07/08

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Additional Differential Response Services

Family Advocacy Support Team (FAST)

Differential Response Case Management

Domestic Violence Response Team

Differential Response Service Integration

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Differential ResponseFlow Chart

Child Welfare Services

Path I Evaluated out

Path II CPS & CBO Joint

Response

Path III CPS Response

Differential Response Case Management Program

F.S.R.R. Program

F.A.S.T. Program

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Women’s Center- Family Advocacy Support Team (FAST)

Began in July 2004 $38,000 per year Path 1: 13 cases per

week Path 2 & 3: 12 cases

per week Domestic violence

advocate out staffed at CPS

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Differential Response Case Management Program

San Joaquin County received CWSOIP funds $378,418 (06/07) $378,886 (07/08)

Provision of case management services for families who voluntarily accept services

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Collaborating agencies: Child Abuse Prevention Council Community Partnership for Families Council for Spanish Speaking Women’s Center of San Joaquin

County Data Co-op of San Joaquin County

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Referrals received from: FSSR Program FAST Program Direct Referrals from CPS Cross-referrals between agencies

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CBO’s average per year: 120 families 240 children per year

Community Partnership for Families Family Success Team (FST) meetings

Case management services provide: Weekly contact with family and bi-weekly

face-to-face contact Written case plan Manage case for a minimum of three

months

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Differential Response Case Management Subsequent Referral’s to CPS

Differential Response (DR) case management cases, either still open or previously open in DR within 6 months

Month/ Year Total Case Management

Referrals

Number Substantiated Inconclusive Unfounded Eval-Out

Detained

November-06 32 12 1 2 5 4 1 December-06 40 25 3 8 8 6 1 January-07 82 39 3 8 19 9 0 February-07 79 41 9 7 11 14 2 March-07 95 39 8 9 17 5 0 April-07 93 40 11 6 13 10 3 May-07 81 18 4 7 3 4 1 June-07 55 15 1 2 6 6 1

Total: 557 229 40 49 82 58 9

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Domestic Violence Response Team

Domestic Violence Response Team

CPS – out-stationed at Stockton Police Department

SPD Women’s Center Probation Victim Witness

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Differential ResponseService Integration

San Joaquin County received funding from California Department of Social Services

Child Welfare Services Outcome and Improvement Project (CWSOIP)

$200,000 05/06

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Community Partnership for Families was contracted to enhance service delivery system and integrate services: Plan Coordinate Facilitate Train

Served as the hub of services for collaborating public and non-profit agencies

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Differential Response Collaborative Monthly Meetings

Beginning in 2005, Child Welfare Services: Coordinates and facilitates a monthly

meeting of the partners Approximately 25 - 30 individuals

from various agencies attend Focus on problem-solving strategies Share resource information

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Share outcome data Arrange for CBO case managers to

shadow CPS social workers Funding updates Case management software discussion CPS sponsored training and CBO cross-

training CPS supervisor liaison:

Assist in case management issues

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Differential Response Case Management Software Program

$50,000 in 05/06 in CWSOIP funds Development and implementation of a

software program for the CBO’s providing differential response

Utilized for case documentation, case management and outcome report information

$10,000 for 07/08 for software program support services

II. Team Decision Meetings(TDM)

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Team Decision Meetings

CPS Emergency Response Family Reunification

Families on Course Unite Successfully (FOCUS)

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CPS Emergency Response TDM’s Began on July 1, 06 One TDM Coordinator Intake & Assessment Units

Low to moderate risk cases Team strategies how to best help family/child Connect with community-based organizations Prevent detention, if possible and safe

Court Units Placement Issues

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Goal:To reduce the rate of re-entry into foster care

PSSF funding provided for TDM’s and post-reunification case management services: 05/06 $60,000 (six months) 06/07 $114,000 07/08 $114,000

TDM and Case Management for Family Reunification Cases

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Awarded a contract to the Center for Positive Prevention Alternatives (CPPA) Families on Course Unite Successfully (FOCUS)

Referrals come through the Family Social Work Program of CWS when families appear close to reunification

Since October ’06, TDM’s have averaged nine cases per month (initial and follow-up TDM’s)

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How FOCUS TDM’s Work CWS referred to FOCUS families who are

within two to three months of reunification FOCUS coordinates and facilitates TDM TDM held at Community Partnership for

Families, Family Resource Centers, if possible

Goal of TDM: Address case plan process Develop a safety net for family

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Post Reunification Services

Provide services for a minimum of three months or until the family appears to be stabilized

In addition to Family Social Worker, FOCUS provides case management services Weekly contact and a minimum of one face-

to-face visit per month Goal is to serve up to 120 families per year

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Community Resources Available Through FOCUS Program

Center for Positive Prevention Alternatives Individual & family therapy Anger management classes Youth decision group Art-based therapy group Parent support group

Council for Spanish Speaking Case Management issues Services for Spanish speaking people

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Community Partnership for Families - Family Resource Centers Housing Financial planning School related issues Child care Family safety Case management services

Child Abuse Prevention Council Crisis nursery services Structured child care Case management services

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Women’s Center of San Joaquin County Domestic violence counseling/support

groups Domestic violence shelter Sexual assault counseling Case management services

III. Disproportionality

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Over-Representation of African-American Children in the CWS

Disproportionate amount of African-American children in the Child Welfare System Federal State County

2005/2006 San Joaquin County convened a workgroup to determine how to approach this issue. Group consisting of: Line Staff Supervisors Administrators Facilitator

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Disproportionality in Referrals

Disproportionality in Referrals

Percentage of Children in San Joaquin County and Referred to CPS by Ethnicity, July 2005

8.6%11.5%

1.3%0.5%

43.8%

31.1%

4.5%

36.7%37.3%

21.0%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

AfricanAmerican

White Hispanic Asian NativeAmerican

Children in San Joaquin County Children Referred to CPS

Source: University of California at Berkeley Center for Social Services Research

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Disproportionality in Foster Care

Disproportionality in Foster Care

Percentage of Children in San Joaquin County and in Foster Care by Ethnicity, July 2005

8.6%11.5%

1.3%0.6%

43.8%

31.1%

3.9%

41.2%

32.0%

22.3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

AfricanAmerican

White Hispanic Asian NativeAmerican

Children in San Joaquin County Children in Foster Care

Source: University of California at Berkeley Center for Social Services Research

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05/06 Disproportionality Workgroup Activities

Organize the “Closing the Gap” Conference

Developed CWS specific training approach on the issue of bias

Regular meetings to move disproportionality efforts forward

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“Closing the Gap” Conference April 19, 2006 Approximately 300 participants

Social workers Community-based agency

representatives Community members

Presenters: Antwone Fisher Dr. Rita Cameron Wedding

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Presentation on County child welfare data

Community input on the issue of disproportionality

Models from other counties Facilitated group discussions

Communicating about cultural issues Improving work place practice Societal issues

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Recommendations from Conference Increase cultural competency training for CWS

staff Bring families, community, public & private

agencies together to identify best practice Increase prevention & intervention services for

families Increase educational opportunities for parents Invest resources to support reunification

and/or kin placements Hire more African-American’s in all positions

CWS CBO’s

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Disproportionality Activities 2006 - 2007 “One worker One solution at a Time”

trainings for all administration, supervisory, and line staff as provided by Dr. Rita Cameron-Wedding

System Partner Conferences “Understanding CPS” presentation

Two community forums “Understanding CPS” presentation Approximately 130 participants

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Disproportionality Activities 2007 - 2008

2008 Children’s Services Coordinating Committee - Annual Child Abuse Workshop Presentation

Peer-to-Peer disproportionality training for administrators and supervisors

Identify additional staff trainings for practice strategies around disproportionality

Development of cultural considerations policy Mobilization of community engagement

activities