A New Approach to Meeting the Needs of Families Affected by - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Better For Families - S TATEWIDE S YSTEM I MPROVEMENT P ROGRAM A New Approach to Meeting the Needs of Families Affected by Substance Use Disorder Rebecca L. Davison-March, Esq . Robert Rosenhaus, LMSW Barbara Wilmit, Esq. CWCIP Rockland County DSS Chautauqua County DHHS

Why is there a need for statewide system reform in New York? New York State Unified Court System ∙ Division of Professional and Court Services Child Welfare Court Improvement Project

New York State FTC Penetration for 2015 Are we identifying our families? Aggregate national data from case file reviews indicate that a minimum of Are we using our current resources to capacity? 60% of child welfare cases involve substance use Are we unnecessarily disorders. excluding people from the process? Are we engaging with the population? ARE WE DOING THE BEST FOR OUR FAMILIES? Source: CWCIP Data Metrics & UCMS Treatment Module (Office of Policy & Planning) New York State Unified Court System ∙ Division of Professional and Court Services Child Welfare Court Improvement Project

New York State Unified Court System ∙ Division of Professional and Court Services Child Welfare Court Improvement Project

Lessons Learned from FTC’s • Families have better long-term permanency outcomes when they engage with FTC • Families that do not complete FTC successfully still have better long-term permanency outcomes as compared to families that do not have any contact with FTCs • These lessons support the idea of infusing some of the FTC court practices into the general child welfare court practice New York State Unified Court System ∙ Division of Professional and Court Services Child Welfare Court Improvement Project

BFF Program Components • Early Identification of Families Impacted by Substance Use Disorder: All families are screened for SUD during the initial CPS investigation through the use of an evidence based screening tool to determine the need for further assessment. • Training on Substance Use Disorder, Treatment, and Recovery: Science of addiction, recovery, relapse, and treatment modalities. • Implementation and Expansion of Evidence Based Practices/Programming: Celebrating Families! and Motivational Interviewing. • Strengthen Existing Family Treatment Court: Through the collaboration with the Office of Policy and Planning, FTCs will be surveyed to inform the development of a statewide strategic plan to address the needs of the FTCs. • New court process and protocols for serving families impacted by SUD: Key ingredients of the FTCs are applied to the general child welfare caseload. New York State Unified Court System ∙ Division of Professional and Court Services Child Welfare Court Improvement Project

“New Approach” Protocols 1. Families should be treated in a strength-based and trauma informed manner by all system professionals. 2. Court appearances will occur every two weeks until a substance use assessment is completed and or treatment services have begun. Court appearances will then be a minimum of one time per month until permanency is achieved. 3. The court will schedule cases for trial within 90 days after the first adjournment. 4. The court may issue an order, on consent of all parties, directing the respondent to complete a SUD assessment and sign releases allowing the report to be sent directly to the court. 5. The court will acknowledge the success of families when the child welfare proceedings are concluded. New York State Unified Court System ∙ Division of Professional and Court Services Child Welfare Court Improvement Project

New York State Unified Court System ∙ Division of Professional and Court Services Child Welfare Court Improvement Project

Motivational Interviewing/Coaching • MI: Evidence-based client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. • Improve child welfare case work practice and approaches in general. • Coaching: Supervision technique that encourages critical thinking and skill development of subordinates • Training is meant for LDSS and contract agency supervisors. New York State Unified Court System ∙ Division of Professional and Court Services Child Welfare Court Improvement Project

Celebrating Families! • An evidence based cognitive behavioral, support group model written for families in which one or both parents have a serious problem with alcohol or other drugs and in which there is a high risk for domestic violence, child abuse, or neglect • Works with every member of the family, from ages 3 through adult, New York State Unified Court System ∙ Division of Professional and Court Services Child Welfare Court Improvement Project

Data Collection • When engaging in new strategies to work with families, it is important that the desired outcomes and goals of the new strategy be clearly defined • The data you want to collect should be aligned with the stated goals of the initiative. • Both the local Departments and the Court have been collecting data through a sharepoint site to monitor effectiveness New York State Unified Court System ∙ Division of Professional and Court Services Child Welfare Court Improvement Project

Chautauqua County • Background • Family Treatment Court (12 years) • Collegial Bar • Shift in various supports leading to change… Rebecca L. Davison-March, Esq. Social Services Attorney Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services davisonr@co.chautauqua.ny.us

Better for Families in Chautauqua County • Opportunity to fill the gap left by Family Treatment Court • Purpose • Pilot • Bench Card • “BFF MDT” utilizing Peer Specialists

Legal Process • Petition(s) • New Question added to reflect use of Uncope+ • [e.g. Number 10 on Neglect Petition] • First Appearance • Department indicates whether recommending for Substance Abuse Assessment & BFF Track • Subsequent Appearances • Every 2 Weeks until Assessment complete • 30 days after Assessment is complete • 90 day Fact Finding Scheduled • *Referral to MHA Peer Specialist

Outside of Court • Partnership of Helping Providers (BFF-MDT) • Examining what was missing after FTC • Wraparound Services • Gaining Support of Local Providers • Agency Descriptions • A Providers Guide to BFF • Client Contract • Release of Information • Flow Chart • MOU • Peer Specialists • Mental Health Association (MHA) • MHA Peer Specialists

Comparing to FTC • Similarities • Addressing Substance Abuse • Additional focus on families struggling with SUD/Child Welfare System • Local Provider Support • Differences - No Legal Involvement in MDT • Less Court Oversight into Provider Services • Reduced legal ramifications for lack of compliance • Foundation of support established outside of legal system • Assistance of Peer • Faster Legal Process

PROS CONS • Court Calendaring • Calendaring • 2 week appearances • Default Trials happen faster (cuts both ways) • Speedier Fact Finding Dates • Evidentiary Arguments • Faster engagement in SUD • Deviations from Bench treatment Card • Faster settlement of case • Motion Practice • Return of Children • Loaded Article 6 • Default

Questions ? Rebecca L. Davison-March, Esq . Social Services Attorney Chautauqua County DHHS davisonr@co.chautauqua.ny.us

Why These Program Topics Families Affected by Chemical Healthy Living Skills Dependency •Anger management •Appropriate expression of feelings and defenses Family Rules •Boundaries •Don’t talk •Communication •Don’t trust •Refusal skills •Don’t feel •Choosing safe and trustworthy friends •Meditation / centering / relaxation / boundaries False Beliefs •Problem solving, dreams, and goals setting •Caused the disease They Are Unique and Special! •Can cure the disease •Knowledge that they are a part of something larger (Wonder •Can control the disease of the World) •That they make a difference (Acts of Kindness) Family Members Lack Information •How to affirm themselves, their children and others About What Addiction Does to Them (Affirmations) •Don’t react normally •High risk for addiction What They Need (especially those with learning themselves differences) •Focus on alcohol / drugs •At risk for abuse, family •Structure: Agenda, consistency, clear / consistent Group violence Agreements and Consequences, patience, support •At risk for learning differences, fetal •Multi-Sensory Instruction: Do, hear, see, write •Alcohol spectrum disorders •Living skills •Help with rage and impulse control Need to Learn: •Validation: Affirmations Facts About: •Alcohol, tobacco, prescription and illegal drugs use •Addiction and brain chemistry •Learning differences and FASD Whole family is affected They are at risk •Resources