STRENGTHENING FAMILIES IN MCCRACKEN FAMILY COURT GRACE E. STEWART - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES IN MCCRACKEN FAMILY COURT

GRACE E. STEWART gstewart@lotusky.org ATTORNEY LOTUS INTERVENTION PROGRAM DIRECTOR

• 1. The impact of dependency, neglect, and abuse on Kentucky families and service systems.
• 2. The strengths-based approach currently underway in McCracken County Family Court

through partnerships and the collaborative promotion of protective factors.

• 3. Current service system approaches and how to adapt them to better meet the needs of

families and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants will gain a more thorough understanding of:

MCCRACKEN FAMILY COURT PROJECT IS A SYSTEM OF CARE

SYSTEM OF CARE: "a spectrum of effective, community-based services and supports for children and youth with or at risk behavioral health or other challenges and their families, that is organized into a coordinated network, builds meaningful partnerships with families and youth, and addresses their cultural and linguistic needs, in order to help them function better at home, in school, in the community, and throughout life."

DEPENDENCY/NEGLECT/ABUSE

have a right to grow up free from abuse and neglect The number of youth in out-of- home care has increased dramatically since 2014

2014: 7,600 youth out of home 2019: 9,700 youth out of home

Children

Kentucky shall [promote] protection of ... strengthening and encouraging family life for the protection and care of

children children

The percent of children reunified with parent/family has decreased from 41% in 2011-2013 to 36% in 2016-2018.

IMPACT ON KENTUCKY FAMILIES

Nearly in Kentuckians are children

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There was a substantial increase of the number of youth reunified with their families during the most recent year. The most recent year had an increase of nearly 14 percent. The average yearly increase over the previous 10 years was less than 1 percent.

KYA Child Maltreatment 2018 Data Book NCANDS

IMPACT ON KENTUCKY SERVICE SYSTEMS

In the latest DHHS report, for the second year in a row, ranked Kentucky first among all states in child maltreatment, based on data from the 2018 federal fiscal year. Kentucky has ranked either first or second for the past seven years and in the top 10 for more than a decade.

State

In 2019, McCracken DCBS investigative P&P workers

• verwhelmed and in need of ongoing, 'system of care' support

Local

ISSUES TO ADDRESS

Rate at which children are placed and remain in out of home care Amount of time it takes to find appropriate permanency for a child Rate of child abuse and neglect in community

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OBJECTIVES

Increase engagement of caregivers in Family Court process Increase family accessibility to support services and resources Increase familial protective factors Buffer impact of toxic or traumatic stress

WHAT MAKES FAMILIES STRONG?

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KNOWLEDGE RELATIONSHIP COMMUNICATION SUPPORT NURTURING & ATTACHMENT RESILIENCE

families bounce back families learn how their children grow & develop families teach children how to have healthy relationships families get help to meet basic needs families ensure children feel loved & safe families have people they can count on

PROTECTIVE FACTOR APPROACH

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GUIDING PREMISES AT WORK IN FAMILY COURT

SELF-AWARENESS: People are best supported by those who understand and recognize the importance of self-awareness and self-care in their own practice. STRENGTH-BASED: People are best supported by service providers who focus on assets and use strength-based, family, and youth-driven approaches. Being strength- based means we recognize the things that are going well and work to build on them. RELATIONSHIPS: People are best supported by providers who understand that attachments, connections, and relationships are a primary source of growth and

• learning. It is in relationships and through our use of relationships that we learn and grow.

TRAUMA-INFORMED: People are best supported by service providers who understand the need to use trauma-informed practice methods. Trauma response focuses on building resilience. CULTURALL Y RESPONSIVE: People are best supported by service providers who are culturally responsive and take into account their own culture and the culture of the families and communities they serve. RACE, PRIVILEGE & POWER: People are best supported by providers who understand the role race, racism, bias and the ways in which race, other identities as well as privilege and power shape families and service providers.

COORDINATED NETWORK

JUDGE HENSCHEL CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES/TAP COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS/GALs FAMILY ADVOCACY/ LOTUS FOUR RIVERS BH

FAMILY COURT COMMUNITY PARTNERS

COUNTY ATTORNEY OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS CASA

Parents and families are more successful when they have the coordinated support of a network- Family Court Both Family Court Partners and Community Partners

• perate from strengths-

based approach in serving parents and families

STRENGTHS-BASED FAMILY ADVOCACY

• Provide assessment & evaluation
• Address barriers & ensure access to critical

resources &specialized services

• Foster a network of support & resilience
• Strengthen parent/caregiver knowledge & skills
• Engage caregivers & children in evidence-

based interventions

*This project’s purpose aligns with the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) and Kentucky's initiative to support prevention and early intervention to keep children safe and strengthen families.

Family Court Team currently discussing use of the Positive and Benevolent Childhood Experiences (PCE/BCE) Questionnaire to use following the ACE Questionnaire as a way to promote positive strength-based discussion for parents and reflection on ways to integrate their positive experiences in the lives of their children

ASSESSMENT

ACEs Questionnaire

Adverse Childhood Experiences: potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years). ACEs are linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance misuse in adulthood. ACEs can also negatively impact education and job opportunities.

Purpose

To start with better understanding of parent's experiences to inform advocacy and understanding of history. Also to inform out of home placement of child.

ASSESSMENT

PROTECTIVE FACTOR SURVEY

Use it to facilitate discussion with parents around protective factors and determine areas that need more support to enhance referral and service provision.

Purpose

Parents Identify Needing the Most Assistance with:

The PFS is a 20-item measure designed for use with caregivers receiving child maltreatment prevention services such as home visiting, parent education, and family support. It is a pre- post survey completed by parents. It measures protective factors in five areas: family functioning/resiliency, social support, concrete support, nurturing and attachment, and knowledge of parenting/child development.

FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention with the University of Kansas

Concrete Support Parental Resilience

Consultation with DCBS of initial reported needs and efforts to date/TAP Conduct Family Needs Assessment Referrals & Use of Family Court Resource Guide with specific accessibility information

EVALUATION OF NEEDS

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REFERRALS WHEN WORKING IN SYSTEM OF CARE

S T A R

upport the client's decision; it's the best way to support them horoughly provide the client with all the information and resources available to them ctively address barriers to accessing the services they need. Connect them with resources to provide access. eferral quality: Follow up to ensure the client was able to access the services they needed and use their experiences to improve future client experiences

STRENGTHS-BASED TOOLS

Strengthening Families Overview Family Court Overview Packet Family Court Caregiver Report Strengths-Based Family Activity Options Check on how caregiver is feeling- What's going well? Follow up on Advocacy Referrals & Family Activities Review Family Court Caregiver Report Form Review Resilience Assessment & Available Tools Review ACEs Questionnaire & Discuss Impact on Parenting

INITIAL CONTACT FOLLOW UP

COLLATERAL STRENGTHS-BASED SUPPORT SERVICES

Nurturing Parenting 12 Week Program for Parents with School Aged Children- approval from DCBS and local Family Court Judge, Pre & Post Inventories Strengthening Families 12 Week Program promoting development of protective factors utilizing daily and weekly individual and family activities, complemented by Parent Cafes and Book Chats using Whole Brain Child & Parenting From the Inside Out

To date, McCracken Family Court Project has served 52 parents and provided 423 services & 111 Referrals 77 Strengthening Families tools utilized Family Court Caregiver Report Form Building Resilience- Increased Protective Factors Family Court & Community Partner Feedback Parent Feedback

OUTCOMES

“feel like I can stay on the right track” “know I'm doing good”

To Be Gathered: Duration of Cases (AOC) Number of child abuse & neglect reports received (DCBS)