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Introduction to the Casey Foster Family Assessments (CFFA)

Introduction to the Casey Foster Family Assessments (CFFA) . An Interactive Learning Module for End Users. Click here to move to next slide. Press ESC to exit module. How to Use This Learning Module . Click on the navigation buttons to move through this learning module as follows:

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Introduction to the Casey Foster Family Assessments (CFFA)

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  1. Introduction to the Casey Foster Family Assessments (CFFA) An Interactive Learning Module for End Users Click here to move to next slide. Press ESC to exit module.

  2. How to Use This Learning Module Click on the navigation buttons to move through this learning module as follows: • Move forward to the next slide. • Move back to the previous slide. • Return to the Table of Contents & select new content. • Indicate an answer to a question. • Go to the CFFA web site WEB Back Forward

  3. How to View the Web Site While Using the Training Module • During the training module we suggest links to important information on the www.fosterfamilyassessments.orgweb site. If you want to go to the web site to view information, click on the button. When you are finished, minimize the web site to return to the training module. Back Forward

  4. Table of Contents Introduction to the Module Overview of the CFFA Why do I need to use the CFFA? CFFA Development CFFA and Standards of Best Practice Advantages of the CFFA You can navigate to any part of the content by clicking the button next to a content area.

  5. Introduction This interactive learning module prepares you to use online versions of the Casey Foster Family Assessment (CFFA) tools for assessing foster and foster/ adoptive parent applicants. ContentsBack Forward ContentsBack Forward

  6. After completing this self-study module you will know about….. • Who developed the CFFA and why it is needed • How the CFFA responds to national, state, and local child welfare standards of best practice • The benefits of using the CFFA Back Forward

  7. CFFA Overview • The CFFA has two sets of measures. • The Casey Foster Applicant Inventory (CFAI) • Casey Home Assessment Protocol (CHAP) Back Forward

  8. The Casey Foster Applicant Inventory (CFAI) has two versions • The applicant version (CFAI-A) is the applicant’s view about his or her potential • The worker version (CFAI-W) is the worker’s view about the applicant Back Forward

  9. There are 18 Casey Home Assessment Protocol measures • Foster/adoptive parents applicants complete the CHAP measures to share their views about themselves Back Forward

  10. Why do I need to use the CFFA? ContentsBack Forward

  11. Think about foster parents you know Answer the following questions based on your experiences with foster parents, foster care, and your agency. Back Forward

  12. Click to compare your experiences with studies of foster parents Questions • What % of foster parents never have children placed? • What % of foster parents dropout within a year of their first placements? • What % of foster parents say they feel prepared and supported to foster? • What are the costs when foster parents are not successful? Go to the next section Back Forward

  13. Studies with foster parents report… • Approximately one-third of homes do not have placements at any one given time. Many foster parents never accept placements because they are unwilling to care for children with special needs or teens. Click to return to questions Back Forward

  14. Studies with foster parents cont. • Almost half of foster parents quit within a year of their first placement. Twenty to 25 percent of foster parents quit each year and another quarter express uncertainty about continuing. Click to return to questions Back Forward

  15. Studies with foster parents cont. • Over half of foster parents report not having enough information about important areas of fostering. Click to return to questions Back Forward

  16. Studies with foster parents cont. • Agencies have to recruit more homes for children in care. Agencies have a less experienced pool of foster parents. Children face placement disruption and move from one new inexperienced foster home to another inexperienced foster home. Click to return to questions Back Forward

  17. Foster Parent Development Applicants come to agencies with a variety of previous experiences that affect their attitudes and beliefs about being a foster parent. Experienced foster parents As they care for children and youth and work with agencies, foster parents develop greater potential to provide stable home placements that promote child well-being. New foster parent Back Forward

  18. Foster Family Assessment Process Worker’s Knowledge Foster Parent’s Previous Experiences BeliefsAttitudes Observations of Applicant CFFA Scores Strengths Growth Areas Sharing Results Back Forward

  19. CFFA Development • Casey Family Programs developed with CFFA in collaboration with the Foster Family Project at the University of Tennessee • Casey’s mission is to provide and improve—and ultimately to prevent the need for—foster care by promoting advances in child welfare practice and policy. • The Foster Family Project conducts research on foster family characteristics, recruitment and retention, kinship care, motivation to foster, role understanding, willingness to foster, training and services for kinship care, and foster home utilization. ContentsBack Forward

  20. Others joined to develop the CFFA • Foster parents • Foster care workers • Agency administrators • Foster care researchers Back Forward

  21. The CFFA was tested with experienced foster parents and foster care workers • Reference group of experienced foster parents • 304 foster mothers • 111 foster fathers 208 Workers Refer to the CFAI and CHAP Technical Manuals to learn more about the pilot study. Back Forward

  22. Let’s Review The CFFA was developed with input from • Foster parents • Foster care workers • Foster parents and foster care workers ContentsBack Forward

  23. Yes! You are correct. • You answered C. The CFFA was developed with input from foster parents and foster care workers about qualities and characteristics they think are important to assess. This is a good point to make when talking with applicants about the CFFA Go to the next question ContentsBack Forward

  24. Nope. Try again. • You answered A. Foster parents had input. So did other stakeholders. Return to the question ContentsBack Forward

  25. Nope. Try again. • You answered B. Foster care workers had input. So did other stakeholders. Return to the question ContentsBack Forward

  26. Let’s Review For measures completed by the applicant (CFAI-A and CHAP measures), applicants’ responses are compared withthe responses of experienced • Foster mothers • Foster mothers and foster fathers • Foster care workers ContentsBack Forward

  27. Yes! You are correct. • You answered B. The normative group for the CFAI-A and CHAP is the sample of 304 foster mothers and 111 foster fathers. You know what the applicant’s responses mean in comparison to the responses of these experienced foster mothers and fathers. The CFAI-W uses foster care workers’ responses for comparison. Proceed to the next section Back Forward

  28. Nope. Try again. • You answered A. CFFA norms are based on the experienced foster parents who participated in the pilot study. Return to the question ContentsBack Forward

  29. Nope. Try again. • You answered C. Foster care workers are the normative group for the CFAI-W. Return to the question ContentsBack Forward

  30. The CFFA represents best practice in assessing applicants • Complies with best practice standards • Child Welfare League of America • Casey Family Programs • National Commission on Family Foster Care • Fits with pre-service training programs (e.g., MAPP, PRIDE, PATH, IHS) • Based on foster family research ContentsBack Forward

  31. The CFFA adds to selection practices workers already use • The CFFA fits with existing guidelines for selection Back Forward

  32. CFFA assesses fostering potential Work as Partners with Agency Provide a Safe Environment Provide a Nurturing Environment Support Birth Family Relations Meet Physical and Emotional Needs Fostering Potential Fostering Potential Manage Demands on Well-Being Support Development Grow as a Foster Parent Promote Education Support Cultural Needs Manage Loss Support Permanency ContentsBack Forward

  33. CFFA is good assessment practice • Informs, engages, and clarifies • Guides tasks for foster home development • Plans for training and support • Improves stability, safety, and well-being for children • Increases foster parent satisfaction and retention ContentsBack Forward

  34. Advantages of the CFFA Standardized Reliable Valid ContentsBack Forward

  35. More advantages… • Assesses parenting AND unique aspects of foster parenting • Designed specifically for foster and foster/adopt parents • Developed with input from foster parents • Compares results with normative group of experienced foster parents • Compatible with pre-service training Back Forward

  36. Benefits for Workers • Easy to use • Guides what to ask • Opens communication • Suggests how to interpret information • Makes every home study unique Back Forward

  37. Benefits for Applicants • Share information easily, quickly, and thoroughly • Add to autobiographical information • See themselves as foster/adoptive parents Back Forward

  38. Do Not Use the CFFA Tools: To approve or disapprove a family to foster/adopt Without considering what else you know about the applicant ContentsBack Forward

  39. CFFA Review Your agency is considering how to improve its assessment practices. What are three key points to share about the advantages of using the CFFA? 1. ________________________ 2. ________________________ 3. ________________________ Need help answering this question? Return to the previous section Go Ahead Contents Back Forward

  40. CFFA Review Which of the following is NOT a way to use information obtained from the CFFA? • To plan for ongoing training • To guide questions for further assessment • To approve or disapprove a family to foster ContentsBack Forward

  41. Yes! You are correct • You answered C. You can use the CFFA results to guide further assessment and plan for training and support. You should not use the CFFA to approve or disapprove applicants without considering other information you have about the prospective foster/adoptive parent. Proceed to the next section Back Forward

  42. Nope. Try again • You answered A. One use of the CFFA results is to plan for additional training and support. Return to the question Back Forward

  43. No. Try again • You answered B. One use of the CFFA is to guide other questions you want to ask the applicant. Return to the question Back Forward

  44. This concludes Introduction to the Casey Foster Family Assessments Thank you for your interest in learning about the CFFA! Other interactive self-tutorials on the CFFA: • Completing the CFAI • Completing the CHAP Measures • Sharing Information about the CFFA with Caregivers To print a Certificate of Completion for this tutorial, click on the button then press “PrtSc” on your keyboard Click here to return to the beginning of this tutorial. Press “ESC” on you keyboard to exit the tutorial

  45. Certificate of Completion Is presented to: (Trainee’s Name) For completing the online interactive training module Introduction to the Casey Foster Family Assessments (CFFA) (Date Completed)

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