Building Successful Case Plans

Case plans often feel like yet "another piece of paperwork." However, they are the root of all that we do and all that others will do. Case plans:

• are an opportunity to engage the youth
• are an opportunity to engage parents, family, services providers, care providers, and others interested in the well-being of the youth
• clearly identify the goal of our invovlement, the behavioral growth needed to achieve that goal and the services/tasks of all members of the team
• build on identified strengths and competencies
• are the central focus of all subsequent contacts with the youth, family, care providers, and service providers
• provide the "point of departure" for reassessment and case plan updates

Our blogs over the next several weeks will focus on each component of case plans. Look for announcements of youtube presentations that you can use as reminders or mini trainings for new workers or refreshers!

There's Money!

County Fiscal Letter (CFL) 09/10-14 has just been released detailing the allocations for all probation departments (except IV-E waiver counties) for the Child Welfare Services Outcome IMprovement Project grants. A total of $1,203,000.00 is available upon approval of the FY 2009-10 Budget Act to assist in meeting federal oucome standards. Every county is guaranteed a minimum floor of $10,000.00 but you must adhere to federal TItle IV-E rules when claiming federally allowable activities AND you must ensure that your current Memoranda of Understanding with your county's Child Welfare Department supports these expenditures. Remember, these funds are intended to support your progress in meeting the program improvement plans that are contained within your System Improvement Plan. The funds must also be used within this fiscal year.

Examples of how probation departments have utilized this funding have included:

• provided funding for travel for family to visit youth placed out-of-county or out-of-state (see previous blog on family visitation to youth in placement)
• paid for services that enable youth to return home;
• paid for services that the family has needed in order to successfully participate in the case plan.

Your next steps?

• review your System Improvement Plan;
• check your Memoranda of Understanding with Child Welfare Department;
• amend your Memoranda of Understanding if necessary;
• create your plan;
• utilize this funding!

Don't let this opportunity slip by to support your youth and their families. Make a difference today.

Criminogenic Need and Family Engagement

One of the seven dynamic criminogenic needs is family. This is particularly true for juveniles who are dependent on family and to whom they most often return after placement in out-of-home care. Research on the efficacy of out-of-home care reveals that treatment gains will only be sustained after return home if the family is able to transfer the intervention to the home/community.

In order to accomplish this successfully, we need to engage and involve family. We are required by law, regulations, and practice obligations to involve family in case planning, concurrent planning, permanency and every facet of a youth's life. This is reinforced by the inclusion of "Child and Family Involvement in Case Planning" as an item in the federal Child and Family Services Review and in the Program Improvement Plan that California has established with the federal government. In addition, the California Department of Social Services has issued All County Information Notice No. I-67-09 regarding Family Engagement Efforts. Although much of this notice is devoted to informing child welfare services about how to document their family engagement efforts in the child welfare services/case management system; it does include definitions of family engagement efforts that you may find useful. You can find the ACIN on the CDSS website.

The Resource Center for Family-Focused Practice has always used family-centered practice as its approach to working with children, youth, and families. Several specific trainings designed for probation emphasize the critical nature of work with families including "Engaging Youth and Family in Case Planning" and "Family Engagement." Check your practice and the support of your agency:

• Agency makes it possible for officers to meet at places and times that are convenient for family members
• Providers expect family to be involved in youth's treatment and include them in planning, implementation, evaluation
• Case plans are not only signed by parents and youth but are developed with them
• Providers involve family during visits to the placement and strategies to use during home visits and when youth return home
• Build in time for building relationships with youth and family
• Expect that family has the best intentions and expectations for their youth
• Active listening is a component to every evidence based practice
• Positive reinforcement should be provided for every effort and success should be celebrated. Research demonstrates that we should provide four positive reinforcements for every negative reinforcement
• Providers maintain a connection to youth and families after the youth has returned home and act as an informal consultant

What approaches and strategies do you or your agency use to promote and support family engagement?