STRENGTHENING FAMILIES IN MCCRACKEN FAMILY COURT GRACE E. STEWART gstewart@lotusky.org ATTORNEY LOTUS INTERVENTION PROGRAM DIRECTOR
LEARNING OBJECTIVES Participants will gain a more thorough understanding of: 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.
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 Children The number of youth in out-of- home care has increased dramatically since 2014 have a right to grow up free from abuse and neglect 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 children protection and care of
IMPACT ON KENTUCKY FAMILIES 1 4 Nearly in Kentuckians are children The percent of children reunified with parent/family has decreased from 41% in 2011-2013 to 36% in 2016-2018. KYA 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. Child Maltreatment 2018 Data Book NCANDS
IMPACT ON KENTUCKY SERVICE SYSTEMS State 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. Local In 2019, McCracken DCBS investigative P&P workers overwhelmed and in need of ongoing, 'system of care' support
ISSUES TO ADDRESS 1 Rate at which children are placed and remain in out of home care 2 Amount of time it takes to find appropriate permanency for a child 3 Rate of child abuse and neglect in community
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? KNOWLEDGE COMMUNICATION families learn how their children grow & develop families teach children how to have healthy relationships RELATIONSHIP SUPPORT families have people they can count on families get help to meet basic needs NURTURING & RESILIENCE ATTACHMENT families bounce back families ensure children feel loved & safe 6 PROTECTIVE FACTOR APPROACH
6 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 FAMILY ADVOCACY/ HENSCHEL Parents and families are LOTUS more successful when they FOUR have the coordinated COUNTY RIVERS ATTORNEY BH support of a network- Family Court CASA COURT APPOINTED Both Family Court Partners ATTORNEYS/GALs and Community Partners OTHER operate from strengths- CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE based approach in serving SERVICES/TAP PROVIDERS parents and families COMMUNITY FAMILY COURT PARTNERS
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.
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. 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 PROTECTIVE FACTOR SURVEY 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 Purpose Use it to facilitate discussion with parents around protective factors and determine areas that need more support to enhance referral and service Concrete Support provision. Parental Resilience Parents Identify Needing the Most Assistance with:
EVALUATION OF NEEDS 1 Consultation with DCBS of initial reported needs and efforts to date/TAP 2 Conduct Family Needs Assessment 3 Referrals & Use of Family Court Resource Guide with specific accessibility information
REFERRALS WHEN WORKING IN SYSTEM OF CARE S upport the client's decision; it's the best way to support them T horoughly provide the client with all the information and resources available to them A ctively address barriers to accessing the services they need. Connect them with resources to provide access. R 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 INITIAL CONTACT Strengthening Families Overview Family Court Overview Packet Family Court Caregiver Report Strengths-Based Family Activity Options FOLLOW UP 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
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
OUTCOMES 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 “know I'm doing good” Parent Feedback “feel like I can stay on the right track” To Be Gathered: Duration of Cases (AOC) Number of child abuse & neglect reports received (DCBS)
Recommend
More recommend
