Integrating CFSR Principles into the MSW Child Welfare Curriculum

1. Integrating CFSR Principles into the MSW Child Welfare Curriculum Matthew Mattila, ACSW, CISW Collaborative MSW Program University of Wisconsin � Green Bay University of Wisconsin � Oshkosh

2. Today�s presentation Course overview CFSR Principles Integration Sample exercise (Back to school!) Discussion Share MSW curriculum ideas

3. UW Green Bay / UW OshkoshCollaborative MSW Program Established in 2004 by two regional state universities that had established BSW programs Began as full-time, part-time program established in 2008 - currently serves 90 MSW students One of 3 Wisconsin MSW programs with Title IV-E child welfare training programs 20 IV-E students receive stipends equivalent to full or part-time tuition

4. SOC WORK 735: Emerging Issues in Child Welfare One of two required courses for MSW IV-E stipend students, taken in advanced year. Course originally designed to examine current topics / trends in child welfare � examples: Disproportional representation of children of color in child welfare system Domestic violence and child welfare Family engagement Child welfare workforce issues

5. SOC WORK 735: Emerging Issues in Child Welfare Course redesigned in 2010 to focus upon contemporary practices / strategies that achieve positive outcomes for vulnerable children and families Conceptual framework of course based upon: Federal child welfare goals: safety, permanency and well-being Child & Family Services Review concepts and principles

6. SOC WORK 735: Emerging Issues in Child Welfare Course design rationale: Up to half of MSW students enrolled are current public child welfare agency employees Preparation of MSW-level social workers for advanced-practice roles / career development Encourage student focus upon evaluation, quality assurance, practice improvement Emphasize systemic focus

7. Learning Objectives Promote policies and practices that protect children and youth from abuse and neglect Promote policies and practices that achieve permanency for children and youth Promote policies and practices that promote the well-being of children, youth and families

8. Learning Objectives Evaluate emerging issues and trends in the field of child welfare Analyze how federal and state child welfare policies impact service delivery Compare the federal and state roles in evaluating child welfare systems Apply principles of trauma-informed care to child welfare practice

9. Course texts / resources Course text: Child Welfare for the 20th Century: A handbook of practices, policies and programs. Student choice of one of the following: Signs of Safety: A solution and safety-oriented approach to child protection casework Reforming Child Welfare Child Welfare Supervision: A practical guide for child welfare supervisors and managers

10. SOC WORK 735: Emerging Issues in Child Welfare Instructor experience as federal CFSR consultant / reviewer (2009-10): Michigan Rhode Island Utah New Hampshire

11. CFSR Practice Principles Through the (CFSR) reviews, the Children�s Bureau promotes States� use of practice principles believed to support positive outcomes for children and families. These are: family-centered practice community-based services individualizing services that address the unique needs of children and families, and strengthening parents� capacity to protect and provide for their children. Children�s Bureau. 2006. CFSR Procedures Manual

12. CFSR emphasis on collaboration The safety, permanency, and well-being of children is a shared responsibility, and child welfare agencies should make every effort to reach out to other partners who can help to achieve positive results with respect to the CFSR child welfare outcomes and systemic factors. Child welfare agencies do not serve children and families in isolation. They should work in partnership with policymakers, community leaders, and other public and private agencies to improve outcomes for children and families in their States. This includes partnering with organizations that directly serve children, youth, and families, and those whose actions impact family and community life. Family-centered and community-based practices are integral to improving outcomes for children and families. As such, collaboration with families, including young people, is important in identifying and assessing strengths and barriers to improved outcomes for children, youth, and families. Children�s Bureau. 2006. CFSR Procedures Manual

13. CFSR DomainsOutcomes Safety Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect. Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever possible and appropriate Children�s Bureau. 2006. CFSR Procedures Manual

14. CFSR DomainsOutcomes Permanency Children have permanency and stability in their living situations. The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children. Children�s Bureau. 2006. CFSR Procedures Manual

15. CFSR DomainsOutcomes Child & Family Well-Being Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children�s needs. Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs. Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs.

16. Practices emphasized in CFSR reviews Formal and informal safety assessments (including while child is in foster care) Timeliness, appropriateness and achievement of permanency goal Preserving foster child�s connection with parents, siblings, extended family and community Proximity (for visits) Siblings (visitation, if not placed together) Relatives (�concerted efforts to place with relatives�) Community (neighborhood, faith, tribe, school, friends)

17. Practices emphasized in CFSR reviews Needs assessment of child, parents and foster parents Service provision to child, parents and foster parents Identification of and outreach to absent parent Child and family involvement in case planning Quality of social worker visits

18. Incorporating CFSR principles into child welfare course Framework Safety / Permanency / Well-Being Content / Learning Activities Examine practices and strategies that achieve positive outcomes in each of these 3 areas Examine role and purpose of CQI and CFSR in child welfare service delivery Assignments Designed to provide flexibility for student inquiry within the overall context of the course

19. Integration of CFSR Themes Family-centered practice Community-based Individualized services Enhancement of parental capacity Collaboration to achieve positive outcomes Child welfare is community responsibility Partnership with community organizations Partnership with families and young people

20. Unit 1: Child safety Safety Outcome #1: Children and youth are, first and foremost, to be protected from abuse and neglect Learning goal: Promote effective policies and practices (that achieve outcome) Achieved by: Readings on safety and risk assessment Case analysis Class exercise Written assignment

21. Unit 1: Child Safety Safety Outcome #2: Children and youth are safely maintained in their own homes whenever possible and appropriate. Learning goal: Promote effective policies and practices (that achieve outcome) Achieved by: Readings on family preservation Case analysis Class exercise Written assignment

22. Unit 2: Permanency Permanency Outcome 1: Children have permanency and stability in their living situations. Learning goal: Promote effective policies and practices (that achieve outcome) Achieved by: Readings on concurrent planning Case analysis Class exercise Written assignment

23. Unit 2: Permanency Permanency Outcome 2: The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved. Learning goal: Promote effective policies and practices (that achieve outcome) Achieved by: Readings on family reunification, engaging fathers & permanency for special populations Case analysis Class exercise Written assignment

24. Unit 3: Family & Child Well-being Well-being Outcome 1: Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children�s needs. Learning goal: Promote effective policies and practices (that achieve outcome) Achieved by: Readings on risk and resilience principles, assessment for sound decision-making and engaging families in planning / service delivery Case analysis Class exercise Written assignment

25. Unit 3: Family & Child Well-being Well-being Outcome 2: Children and youth receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs. Learning goal: Promote effective policies and practices (that achieve outcome) Achieved by: Readings on identifying educational needs of youth in foster care and accessing appropriate services Case analysis Class exercise Written assignment

26. Unit 3: Family & Child well-being Well-being Outcome 3: Children and youth receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental heath needs. Learning goal: Promote effective policies and practices (that achieve outcome) Achieved by: Readings on identifying mental health service needs of children in family foster care Case analysis Class exercise Written assignment

27. Unit 4: Evaluation and improvement of child welfare systems Continuous quality improvement initiatives Wisconsin DCF Quality Service Review program Review sample report Child and family service reviews Review 2010 Wisconsin CFSR Round 2 report Guest speaker Program improvement plans Review 2010 Wisconsin PIP

28. Unit 5: Trauma-informed child welfare practice Assessing child trauma Essentials of trauma-informed child welfare practice Guest speaker

29. Sample exercise: Family reunification Setting: Wisconsin County, post-CFSR Three overall strategies developed to improve family reunification services: Remove practice-level barriers. Adopt �promising practices�. Improve visitation options.

30. Sample exercise: Family reunification Group 1: Manager, supervisors and case managers identify strategies to remove practice-level barriers to family reunification. Group 2: Supervisors develop strategies to implement promising practices in family reunification. Group 3: Agency staff, foster parents, biological parents and therapist develop visitation guidelines and plan for visitation center.

31. Approach to teaching Preparation Assigned readings and class exercise Lecture / discussion of key points Bring at least 2 comments / questions Activity Expect to participate in fairly complex small group exercises in every class Review / debrief Expect to present the work of your group and summarize what you learned tonight

32. Questions / Comments Questions Comments Share an idea Email Matthew Mattila, ACSW, CISW mattilam@uwgb.edu for copy of syllabus