Getting to Permanence: The Practices of High-Performing Child Welfare Agencies
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The document discusses the practices of high-performing child welfare agencies, emphasizing the importance of achieving permanence for children in foster care. It outlines strategies that agencies can use to improve permanency outcomes, such as focusing on family relationships, engaging families in decision-making, and using data to inform practices. The document also highlights disparities in outcomes among different demographics and the critical role of stable, caring relationships in enhancing child development and life outcomes.
Getting to Permanence: The Practices of High-Performing Child Welfare Agencies
- 1. Getting to Permanence: The Practices of High-Performing Child Welfare Agencies JUNE 23, 2016 Child Welfare Strategy Group
- 2. Not pictured: Meha Desai, Consultant Presenters 1 From the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Child Welfare Strategy Group Morgan Cole Program Associate Katrina Brewsaugh Senior Associate Evette Jackson Senior Associate
- 3. 2 • Technical difficulties? Visit www.aecf.org/webex. Or use the chat or Q&A window. Or contact WebEx technical support at 1-866-229-3239 • No Q&A window? If the Q&A icon at the top of that column is not blue (like image at top left), click the icon, and the window should appear • Questions? Type questions for presenters in Q&A window at any time • We’re recording! The webinar is being recorded and will be available after the presentation Questions?
- 4. Poll: Audience What is your role in the child welfare field? A. Administrator B. Supervisor C. Caseworker D. Advocate E. Foster parent F. Service provider G. Other 3
- 5. 4 This webinar is for agency staff, advocates, community members, the legal community, data analysts, providers and others. We will discuss: • The importance of permanence — including for teens • Current permanency outcomes and indicators • What drives permanence? • Strategies to boost permanence Today’s discussion
- 6. 5 Casey’s desk guide: A key tool for agency improvement The two-volume Child Welfare Leader’s Desk Guide to Building a High-Performing Agency describes practices that shape permanency, including: • Focus on Child and Family Outcomes (Practice #1) • Make Relationships and Permanence the Focus of Casework (#8) • Develop Competent Front-End Decision Making (#6) • Meet Teens Needs for Family and Other Supports (#9) • Develop a Broad Service Array (#3) • Build A Healthy Caregiver Network (#10)
- 7. 6 Permanency means having a “family for life,” an enduring family relationship that: • is safe and meant to last a lifetime • offers the legal rights and social status of full family membership • enables physical, emotional, social, cognitive and spiritual well- being; and • assures lifelong connections to birth and extended family, siblings, other significant adults, family history, race and ethnic heritage, culture, religion and language* SOURCE: Casey Family Services, A Call to Action: An Integrated Approach to Youth Permanency and Preparation for Adulthood. In collaboration with California Permanency for Youth Project, Casey Family Programs and the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative. 2005. What is permanence?
- 8. 7 “Family relationships — particularly parent/child relationships — are the cornerstone of child development.” Consensus Statement on Group Care for Children and Adolescents: A Statement of Policy of the American Orthopsychiatry Association (2014) Leaving foster care without permanent, caring adult relationships exposes youth to poorer life chances. Compared to other young adults, those who age out of foster care are:* 2 times as likely to drop out of high school 2 times as likely to be unemployed and unable to meet basic needs 6 times as likely to have physical and mental health issues 2.5 times as likely to become young, system- involved parents 3 times as likely to be incarcerated by age 19 3 times as likely to experience homelessness for one day or more SOURCE: Casey National Alumni Study, Midwest study of the adult function of former foster youth: Outcomes at age 27, Chapin Hall Center for Children. Why permanence?
- 9. Family aids child development at all ages 8
- 10. 9 “Why do you want a family? It’s about my entire life. It’s not just about my childhood. I want to know that I’m going to have a place to come home to during Christmas breaks. I want to know that I’m going to have a dad to walk me down the aisle — that I’m going to have grandparents for my children. No one can make it completely on their own.” ― Youth from 2014 CWSG survey Youth who age out miss the benefits of belonging to a family
- 11. Finding permanence for some kids may require extra attention to data, policy and practice considerations. Make sure to review your agencies’ permanency outcomes for kids by race, ethnicity and gender, sibling groups, teens and sexual orientation and gender identity 10 Current indicators: What drives permanence? Factors affecting outcomes • Reason for entry • Initial placement type • Placement stability • Length of stay in placement • Strong, caring ongoing relationships with family and caregivers
- 12. 11 19,041 29,601 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 23,346 Youth emancipating from care SOURCE: KIDS COUNT Data Center, 1999-2014 Current outcomes: Despite improvement, too many youths age out each year
- 13. 12 Current indicators: Who is in foster care? SOURCE: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), 2014 children served Male 52% Female 48% 0-5 years 40% 6-12 years 30% 13-15 yrs. 13% 16-21 yrs. 18% 653,255 kids and youth were in care for at least eight days in 2014 Rates of entry • More than 264,000 children entered foster care. ‒ Kids of all ages: 3.6 per 1,000 ‒ Teens: 2.6 per 1,000 ‒ Children 0-12: 3.78 per 1,000 • In 26 states, 25% of entries were teens (13 and older)
- 14. 13 Kids of color comprise 48% of the general population but make up 54% of kids entering care 52% 14% 24% 10% 46% 22% 22% 10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% White African American Hispanic Other or Multiracial Disproportionality in entries in 2014 N=264,703 General Population Entry Population SOURCE: AFCARS 2014 and U.S. Census Bureau White 44% African-American 24% Hispanic 22% Multi-racial 7% Native American 2% Asian/Hawaiian 1% Race/ethnicity of kids served in 2014 N= 653,255 Current indicators: Children of color disproportionately represented
- 15. 14SOURCE: Chapin Hall Center for Children (2012) For kids in out-of-home care, initial placement in family settings is crucial to better outcomes. They experience well-being and developmental benefits in families 88% 7% 34% 35% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Family (Kin/Foster) Group Median Placement type Initial placements 0-12 13+ Range 50 – 93% Range 31 – 78% Range 18 – 67% Range 1 – 42% Current Indicators: Kids need stable living situations, relationships
- 16. 15 Likelihood of permanence diminishes drastically based on age, length of stay* 31.34% 42.37% 53.04% 58.37% 22% 28% 30% 30% 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Percent Months Time until permanency is reached among foster care entrants* Under Age 12 Age 12+ *Chart represents an actual jurisdiction 8 mo. for 12+ 18 mo. for 0 -11 Current indicators: How long a child is away from home can affect permanency According to U.S Children’s Bureau’s Child & Family Services Reviews (CFSR) permanency outcomes were not broadly achieved. 62% of states failed to achieve federal standard for at least 1 CFSR permanency measure2; 6 states failed federal standard for all 3 measures
- 17. Exits care SOURCES: AFCARS 2014 and U.S. Census Bureau Also, refer to previous CWSG webinar on Measuring Racial Disparity *Children in care on 9/30/2014 For each white child who… 1.82 Black children 0.88 Black children 1.25 Black children 1.00 Hispanic children 0.96 Hispanic children 0.92 Hispanic children 16 Current indicators: Kids of color face disparity at key points, affecting permanency
- 18. 17 Poll: How familiar are you with your agency’s permanency outcomes? 1 Unfamiliar 10 Extremely knowledgeable 5 Somewhat familiar
- 19. What drives permanence? 18 Before care In care After care Permanence Practice/ Policy Service/ Supports Data Boost permanence by using targeted approaches in all stages
- 20. 19 Before care • % of cases receiving in-home services • % of children entering care, exiting in fewer than 30 days • # of youth from juvenile justice system court-referred to placement • % of teens removed for behavior In placement • % in custody placed with kin • % of kids initially placed in family settings • % initially put in group care • # of youths who go AWOL • % who remain in care after 2 years After care • % of children entering care who exit to reunification or kin within one year • % entering care achieving permanence within 2 years • % of teens who emancipated or aged out • % 18-21 in extended care Strategy: Use data to track performance indicators to gauge permanency outcomes, inform practice * Disaggregate all data by age, race and gender ** Refer to Casey’s desk guide for additional performance indicators Sample indicators
- 21. 20 An effective pool of preventive services addresses: • Family issues prior to court oversight • Specific needs that bring a family to the agency’s attention • Behavior problems or parent-child conflict • Safety and builds on family strengths and child well-being Practice examplesIn 2012, 27% of older youth were removed and placed for child behavior only* Delaware FAIR Teen CONNECT *Source: The Annie E. Casey Foundation.(2015) Too many teens: Preventing unnecessary out-of-home placements. Baltimore, MD: Author. Retrieved from www.aecf.org/resources/too-many-teens/ • Screening and referral to FAIR provider based on risk and safety assessment • Timely response to families is critical • Family engagement is central this practice • 40% reduction in teen entries into child welfare • 28% return on investment • Utilizes evidence-based and best practices • Manualized, evidence- based and a cost effective intervention for birth and foster parents based on attachment theory • Focuses on youth with challenging behaviors • Decrease in youth aggression, conduct and oppositional behaviors • Increase in parenting satisfaction Strategy: Access to prevention services can reduce unnecessary entries
- 22. 21 Benefits to family engagement This practice can lead to increased: • Opportunities for family to be involved in decision making and maintain connections to child • Trust and relationships with families • Opportunities to meet child and family needs in least-restrictive settings • Initial placements with relatives • Timely reunification • Placement stability and an increase in conversations that lead to permanency Team Decision Making (TDM) Key decision points Facilitated Family/youth involved Strategy: Include families from the beginning and throughout the life of a case
- 23. 22 Kinship Remove barriers that limit the approval of relatives FosterFamily Target recruitment to ensure foster home network can serve population GroupPlacement Restrict group settings to meeting short-term therapeutic needs; eliminate use of emergency/ assessment shelter Placement continuum Practice examples • Kinship Process Mapping (KPM) • Licensing/approval standard, waivers for kin • Family Search and Engagement • Recruitment, Development and Support (RDS) • Trauma Training Curriculum (TST/ARC) • TEEN Connect • Expedited Permanency Meetings (EPM) • Director sign off policy • Placing youth near home of origin Provide youth in out-of-home placement with developmentally appropriate, trauma- informed services that support their ability to live in families Strategy: Prioritize kin, family foster care to increase placement stability, improve outcomes
- 24. 23 Strategy: Frequent caseworker contact strongly associated with improved safety, permanency outcomes PRACTICE STANDARDS • Caseworker facilitates visits between children and birth parent • Sibling visits are critical • Face-to-face visits are key to effective casework • Visits should be done regularly, regardless of child’s placement • Provide support services when needed + FREQUENCY At least monthly QUALITY Face-to-face, focused on family strengthens and services needs Improve safety and permanency outcomes SOURCE: U.S. Health and Human Services, Administration fro Children and Families. Findings from initial 2001-2004 Child and Family Services Review. Retrieved from www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/findings_from_the_inital_cfsr.pdf +
- 25. Strategy: Post-reunification, adoption services are key to sustain permanency outcomes, reduce re-entries 24 In-home services stabilize reunification and reduce re-entries Practice standards Provide: • Ongoing casework after exit • In-home therapeutic service to stabilize reunification • Aftercare therapeutic intervention provided by residential treatment providers (www.BuildingBridges4Youth.org )
- 26. 25 Poll: What do you feel is the TOP priority to improve for your agency? A. Preventing unnecessary entries B. Engaging families at all key decision points throughout the life of a case C. Making initial placements with relatives and families D. Providing after-care supports to minimize re-entry
- 27. 26 Casey recommends • Pay attention to permanence and family search from day one and thereafter • Continuously collect and assess data on permanence and identify, address inequitable permanency outcomes by race, ethnicity, age and gender • Engage families at key decision points, including in placement options, and involve them in services and treatment • Provide children with stable living situations, caring relationships and ongoing family connections and prioritize permanence • Build a robust service array so most children live in families, using group placements for only short-term therapeutic care • Provide parents, caregivers sufficient supports to develop children and concrete, trauma-informed skills to use in everyday life to ensure children’s well-being
- 28. 27 See endnotes for links to: • Casey’s desk guide • Too many teens: Preventing unnecessary out-of-home placements • Team Decision Making case study: Engaging families in placement decisions • Back on track: Transforming Virginia’s child welfare system • Building successful resource families practice guide • Stepping up for kids: What government and communities should do to support kinship families Casey resources can help
- 29. 28 Endnotes and additional resources Practice resources • A Child Welfare Leader’s Desk Guide to Becoming a High-Performing Agency (2015) http://www.aecf.org/resources/10-practices-part-one/ • Model foster home licensing standards http://www.grandfamilies.org/Portals/0/Model%20Licensing%20Standards%20FINAL.pdf • Too many teens: Preventing unnecessary out of home placements http://www.aecf.org/resources/too-many-teens/ • Team Decision Making case study: Engaging families in placement decisions http://www.aecf.org/resources/team-decision-making/ • Back on track: Transforming Virginia’s child welfare system http://www.aecf.org/resources/back-on-track/ • Building successful resource families practice guide http://www.aecf.org/resources/building-successful-resource-families/ • Stepping up for kids: What government and communities should do to support kinship families http://www.aecf.org/resources/stepping-up-for-kids/
- 30. For print copies of the desk guide, please email dortiz@aecf.org Next steps 29 Please share your ideas and promising practices Casey will update the desk guide in 2017. What should be included? Do you have a promising practice to share with the field? Please email your feedback and ideas to Morgan Cole at mcole@aecf.org.
- 31. Questions? 30