Welcome to the Collaboration at the Front End Webinar!

1. Welcome to theCollaboration at the Front End Webinar! The panel on the right of your screen shows other attendees and has a Question box below.Can’t see the panel? Click the orange arrow in the top right corner. While you’re waiting…What’s your dream vacation? Type your answer in the “question” box and hit enter.    

2. Collaboration at the Front End:How Linkages Supports Preventionand Early Intervention Linkages Shared Learning Webinar #7 October 2, 2012 with Leslie Ann Hay of Hay Consulting

3. Agenda • Linkages as a Prevention and Early Intervention ToolAn overview of how a strong Linkages partnership can help workers understand, engage and support families from the start • Example From the FieldInnovations by Shasta County • Open Forum Dialogue about preparing for CalWORKs policy changes effective 2013

4. Linkages as a Prevention and Early Intervention Tool • Aligning CalWORKs and Child Welfare Services resources as early as possible helps prevent further family instability • A strong Linkages partnership can help workers understand, engage and support families from the start

5. Principles for Effective Collaboration at the Front End • Value and reinforce a collaborative service philosophy • Imperial: Leadership consistency across multiple locations to establish the staffing, infrastructure & philosophical support for collaboration to happen • Los Angeles: Conduct team-building events with line staff to solidify collaborative relationships between CalWORKs and CWS practitioners

6. 2. Share a strength-based, family-centered approach to practice across both service systems • Integrate relevant practice reforms with Linkages, e.g. CAPP, Signs of Safety, Family Engagement • Adopt a common philosophy that sees Linkages as a vehicle to promote family resiliency • Kern: Makes family-to-family mentoring referrals that reinforces family strengths as assets

7. 3. Adhere to standard confidentiality requirements • Recent California legislation further diminishes barriers to service coordination for linked clients • Santa Barbara’s Confidentiality policies are on the Linkages Toolkit.

8. 4. Identify mutual clients early, at multiple entry points and using a variety of methods • Santa Clara: at Court, CalWORKs orientation, Dependency Intake, case status changes • Siskiyou: Linkages SW (specialized CalWORKs SW) and ER Screener are responsible for client ID • El Dorado: at CPS/ER referral, CalWORKs Intake, Welfare-to-Work approval • Several counties produce Match Lists to maximize identification of linked cases

9. 5. During initial assessments, explore family strengths, needs and goals in context of both safety and self-sufficiency. • Stanislaus: A joint team (CWS Social Worker and co-located CalWORKs Family Specialist) conducts assessment and planning activities. • Tulare: Co-located CalWORKs Self-Sufficiency Resource Specialist (SSRS) collaborates with CWS VFM Social Worker to assess families and develop coordinated case plans.

10. 6. Incorporate CalWORKsexpertise into safety planning for mutual clients • Los Angeles: Co-located Linkages GAIN Services Worker (LGSW) attends TDMs for mutual clients. • Shasta: Integrating Signs of Safety practice into their Linkages program

11. Shasta County Practicing Signs of Safety Strategies with Linkages FamiliesDenise Richmond, CalWORKs Employment & Training Rod Delfer, Foster Care Eligibility Supervisor Jacqueline Dunn, Intake Supervisor

12. Shasta County Linkages • Shasta County is located in northern California. Adjacent to Tehama, Trinity & Siskiyou counties. • The population is approx. 175,700 with about 65,000 households. It is an estimated 3,850 square miles in size. • Median family income in 2002 was $35,394. • We have 3,400 CalWORKs cases and just over 500 dependency placements.

13. Shasta County Linkages (cont.) • Shasta County has 2 Child Welfare offices: Yuba Street office (In-take office) and LINCS (On-going office). The CalWORKs building is located next door to the LINCS office. • The Linkages Coordinator is a CalWORKs ETW and is co-located 50% time at Yuba Street CW office. • Shasta has been utilizing the Linkages coordinated service practice for 3 years. • Our goal was to begin Linkages implementation with the In-take Units, thereby working with families at the “front end” of services.

14. Linkages Processes Harm Past Actions Risk • Intake Supervisor contacts Linkages Coordinator via e-mail or phone • Eligibility for Linkages is confirmed and Coordinator attends Intake Staffing • Signs of Safety Mapping is used during the staffing so current harm and danger can be identified. Complicating factors are discussed. Acts of Safety and Strengths are highlighted. Safety Acts of Protection Complicating Factors Red Flags/Issues Strengths Skills

15. 3 Houses Interview Questions House of Good House of Worries House of Dreams This brings the child’s perspective & voice to the staffing.

16. Front End Service Coordination • Our goal is to complete the Linkages Coordinated Service Plan prior to the In-take SW passing the case to the On-Going SW. • Once the plan has been completed, we use additional tools such as Family Team Meetings (FTM) and follow up Linkages meetings to identify any family needs or services that the parent/s could benefit from regarding their case plan. • A FTM can be held at any time during the case (FR, FM, Voluntary) and are used by the SW as a Safety Plan measure. • FTM meetings focus on three questions: What’s Working Well? What are you worried about? What needs to happen?

17. MDT: Multi-Disciplinary Team Meetings • This team meets weekly to discuss cases. The group consists of representatives from: Mental Health, Public Health, Domestic Violence, D & A program, CalWORKs, Parenting Center, SW supervisor and Program Manager. • This is another point at which Safety Mapping is done for all cases including those identified as Linkages cases. This meeting is used to assist the Social Worker with case planning.

18. Changes to Our Process Over the past few years Looking toward the future Expanding Linkages to serve FM cases Expand our Linkages philosophy to other divisions of HHSA How will we expand our practice once the temporary exemptions are no longer granted? Expedited Cash Aid for all eligible CFS cases—not just Linkages cases • We elected to change two internal processes: • “Good Cause” for Child Support • Expedited Cash Aid once Social Worker has an anticipated return date

19. Questions & Comments • What questions do you have for our Shasta County representatives? • How is your county utilizing Linkages at the front-end for prevention or early intervention purposes?

20. Open Forum Discussion How can your county prepare for serving additional Linkages families as CalWORKs restrictions are lifted at the end of the year?

21. Follow Up: we’ll email with… • Copy of this PowerPoint • Updated Linkages Coordinators Directory • Webinar Schedule 2012 Next Webinar • November 6 – Data Management • Cathy Murnighan will send registration link Questions? danna.fabella@cfpic.org