Casework Practice Model (CWPM) and Outcomes Based Service Delivery (OBSD)

1. Casework Practice Model (CWPM)and Outcomes Based Service Delivery (OBSD) Presenters: Jacqueline Dagneau, Family Preservation Manager, OBSD, The Family Centre Julie Mann, Analyst, Program Policy Practice Analysis and Coordination, Ministry of Human Services Kim Spicer, Senior Manager, Outcomes and Practice Supports, Ministry of Human Services

2. Objectives of Session To increase the knowledge and skill level of delegated staff and agency workers in relation to: • Casework Practice Model; and • Shared casework practices. To have agency and delegated staff come to a common understanding of the issues related to: • Their role; • The role of the “other” worker; and • The role of the family with in a shared practice framework.

3. Workshop Agenda • History/Overview of Casework Practice Model • Break • OBSD/ Shared Practice • Exercises/Break • Discussion/Outstanding Issues • Conclusion

4. Before the Child Youth and Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA) & the Casework Practice Model (CWPM) Front-line Staff Wanted…. • Transparency and openness of information sharing • Increased involvement of family • Increased community engagement • More collaboration with resources • Earlier permanency for children and youth • Timely and supportive services • Culturally appropriate services and supports • To get back to doing social work with children and families

6. CYFEA (2004) A Shift in Casework Practice Increased focus on supporting families to build capacity. Increased focus on need for permanency for children. Meaningful consultation with Aboriginal communities. Highlighted the importance of Assessment, Collaboration and Engagement.

7. Definition Of A Child In Need Of Intervention Services From Section 1of the CYFEA (2) For the purposes of this act, a child is in need of intervention if there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe that the survival, security or development of the child is endangered because of any of the following: (a) the child has been abandoned or lost; (b) the guardian of the child is dead and the child has no other guardian; (c) the child is neglected by the guardian; (d) the child has been or there is substantial risk that the child will be physically injured or sexually abused by the guardian of the child; (e) the guardian of the child is unable or unwilling to protect the child from physical injury or sexual abuse; (f) the child has been emotionally injured by the guardian of the child; (g) the guardian of the child is unable or unwilling to protect the child from emotional injury; (h) the guardian of the child has subjected the child to or is unable or unwilling to protect the child from cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.

8. Definition Of A Child In Need Of Intervention Services (cont’d) Matters to be Considered is another area of this legislation that guides decision making by identifying values and principles such as: • The family is the basic unit of society and its well-being should be supported and preserved; • The importance of stable, permanent and nurturing relationships for the child; and • The intervention services needed by the child should be provided in a manner that ensures the least disruption to the child.

9. Casework Practice Model (2006) • Embeds the principles of the legislation: assessment, collaboration and engagement. • Provides a framework for processes based on best practice, including: • Mandatory Decision Points; and • Mandatory Supervisory Consultation during decision- making. • Child-centered and Family-focused. • Moves from a “brokering role” to a social work role with children and families.

10. Key Features • Comprehensive intake and assessment components. • More time to develop relationships leads to quality decisions. • Plans developed with everyone involved in multi-disciplinary case conferences. • Importance placed on all parties to work together, led primarily by family/child and caseworker. • Outcomes focused, measurable results.

11. Key Features • Assessment information directly linked to case planning. • Engagement with families. • Early and meaningful involvement of First Nations Band Designate/Métis Resource Person. • Clear decision points for supervisory consultation. • Increased clarity when moving from assessment to investigation.

12. Overview of the Model • Assessment/Analysis • Engagement • Collaboration • Permanency for children including permanent homes for children in care

13. Assessment/Analysis • An ongoing and dynamic process. • Acknowledging and reducing cultural and contextual bias. • Inclusive. • Opportunities, not challenges. • Clear connections to service planning.

14. Collaboration • Includes a multi-disciplinary approach. • Goals must be negotiated with the participants to reach solutions. • Locus of control for planning shifts to family/child and supported by caseworker. • Differences in power should be acknowledged. • Clearly defined activities linked to service plan. • Clearer outcomes and measurements of success.

15. Engagement • Everyone’s perspective of the concerns and possible solutions are presented fairly. • Clearly involves a multi-disciplinary approach. • Acknowledges a significant shift toward the family and child having greater control of outcomes, supported by the caseworker. • Relationship between team members is key.

16. Permanency/Temporary Care • Importance of having a Plan B. • If child can’t stay in the home, what are the options? • Temporary care change under new Act. • Children under 6 years can only be in temporary care for up to 9 months. • Children 6 years or older can only be in temporary care for up to 12 months. • An extension of 6 months may be granted. • Previous legislation permitted children to be in temporary care for a longer period of time.

17. Phases • Intake • Safety A - Assessment • Safety B – Assessment (Detailed Assessment/DAR) • Intervention (if necessary) • Family Enhancement Services • Protection Services • Closure

18. Casework Practice Model (Safety Phase B) (Safety Phase A)

19. Intake Maximum of 5 working days to complete. Supervisory decision point: • Close – does not meet mandate of Child in Need of Intervention • Close - with referral to community supports; or • Recommend Safety Phase A Assessment (previously called Investigation). Note: May involve forensic investigation under emergency response, or the development of a safety plan. Information resulting in an Intake is considered a Report under the Act. Under legislation the identity of a person providing a referral is protected.

20. Intake “Referral” and “Report” Any individual who has reasonable and probable grounds to believe a child is in need of intervention mustreport the matter to a director. The director must be available to receive referrals from the community and respond to those that are deemed to be reports in a timely manner. • A “referral” is where the director receives information from a person advising that a child may be in need of intervention. • A “report” is where upon receiving the referral, a decision is made to initiate an investigation because the director is satisfied that the information was not provided maliciously, is not unfounded, was provided on reasonable and probable grounds, and discloses that a child was in need of intervention per s.1(2).

21. Safety Phase A - Assessment Maximum of 10 working days to complete. Strength-based assessment is used to explore themes and patterns with the child, family and social network, looking for opportunities to overcome barriers. Information regarding three domains is gathered: child development, parenting capacity, and family and environmental factors. Brief services can be provided to address immediate needs. These can include repatriation, grocery vouchers and damage deposits. Supervisory decision point: • Close – does not meet mandate of Child in Need of Intervention; • Close - with referral to community supports; • Recommend Safety Phase B Assessment; or • Recommend a Protection Status (i.e. Court Order). Note: May include the development of additional safety plans.

22. Safety Phase B - Assessment Maximum of 30 working days to complete. • Assessors have additional time to gather information on three broad domains: • Child development; • Parenting capacity; and • Family and environmental factors. • What does the family need? • Are there supports in the community or extended family? • Can the family manage by itself? • Is the family looking for some more supports, or do they want or need an Agreement?

23. Safety Phase B – Assessment (cont’d) At the end of 30 days… Mandatory case conference occurs, involving all parties, led by assessor/caseworker and family/child, to look at the assessment, planning and next steps. Supervisory decision point: • Close – no longer meets the mandate of Child in Need of Intervention; • Close – with referral to community supports; • Recommend Family Enhancement Services; or • Recommend Protection Services. Note: Permanent placement options may be considered if child comes into care. At the end of Safety Phase B, the following documentation must be completed by caseworker: • Safety Phase Assessment Part B; • Genogram; and • Ecomap. Note: In CWPM, planning begins after thorough assessment is completed and all documents are generated.

24. Intervention • Either Family Enhancement (through Agreement with family) or Protection Services (through Supervisory Order or In-care Status with Court involvement). • Resources identified and engaged to help family achieve outcomes identified in service plan. • Kinship/foster care/group care etc. • Assessment and re-evaluation of need for intervention continues on-going basis. • Supervisory decision (on-going): • Does the child still need intervention? • Have the outcomes been achieved?

25. Status Options: Agreements & Orders Family Enhancement • Family Enhancement Agreement with Guardian • Enhancement Agreement with youth • Support and Financial Assistance Agreement Protection Services (Court Order and In-care Status) • Supervision Order • Custody Agreement with Guardian • Custody Order • Interim Order • Temporary Guardianship Order • Secure Treatment Certificate • Secure Treatment Order • Permanent Guardianship Order • Permanent Guardianship Agreement • Adoption

26. Closure Closure, following Intervention, will occur after varying amounts of time, and is based on: • an analysis of the assessment information; and • must be made in consultation with the casework supervisor, the family, as well as the multi-disciplinary team. Supervisory decision point: • Close – no longer meets the mandate of Child in Need of Intervention (i.e. service plan has been completed); • Close – with referral to community supports (i.e. where Family Enhancement Services have been utilized); or • Close – with Permanency Planning (i.e. if a PGO was granted there were permanency options with extended family or if adoption will be pursued, then file will close).

27. What are “Outcomes Based Services”? • Simply put, these are services focused on the purpose of the work. • Less emphasis on how, and more on what happens. • And, more emphasis on collecting and regularly reviewing relevant data on outcomes achieved. We all want to know how we are doing.

28. Outcomes Based Service Delivery Initiative Building on the philosophy of the legislation and the tenets of the Casework Practice Model, Assessment, Collaboration and Engagement, the Outcomes Based Service Delivery Initiative supports the system-wide evolution of services from thorough assessment to how the case plan and services will achieve desired child and family ‘outcomes’.

29. Goals of OBSD To improve the effectiveness of services that children and families receive and experience as they move in and out of the child intervention system. To provide agencies, foster parents and caregivers with more flexibility to respond to the unique needs of children and families while focusing on intended outcomes and better supporting innovative practice. To use outcomes data to align the work between the formal child intervention system, caregivers, and contract agency service delivery.

30. Goals of OBSD To develop a common quality improvement and learning process that will continue to guide joint practice and identify opportunities for improvement, using evidence to guide practice. To develop a service delivery system that has the capacity to measure and focus on achievement of agreed upon outcomes as the central driver for both casework and resource allocation decisions. To establish joint accountability for outcomes for vulnerable children, youth and families. We all want the same thing.

31. OBSD Outcomes Create/sustain a collaborative approach to service delivery in order to achieve five key outcomes. • Support vulnerable children to live successfully in the community. • Children in temporary care will be reunited quickly with their family. • Children in permanent care will be placed in permanent homes as quickly as possible. • Youth will be transitioned to adulthood successfully. • Aboriginal children will live in culturally appropriate placements/services.

32. OBSD A collective focus on client centred outcomes for vulnerable children and their families between contracted agencies, caregivers and Human Services staff Funding flexibility for service delivery agencies to allow them to address service delivery and environmental pressures A collective shift in practice towards a collaborative way of engaging and working with families

33. Examples of ‘Outcomes’ in Alberta Safety Support vulnerable children to live successfully in the Community. (Preservation – children stay at home) Permanency Children in temporary care will be reunited quickly with their family. (Reunification – children return home) Children in permanent care will be placed in permanent homes as quickly as possible. Youth will be transitioned to adulthood successfully.

34. Examples of ‘Outcomes’ in Alberta Family and Community Support Aboriginal children will experience culturally appropriate supports and environments. Parents will have the capacity and supports to successfully raise their children. Child Well-being The developmental needs of children will be supported. Children will be successful in school. Note: Alberta Outcomes are based on the National Outcomes Matrix and the data collected over 15 years.

35. OBSD Practice Principles • Engaging families early • Collaborative practice • Collaborative and intentional single service plan and service team meetings • Evidence-based approaches that support shared practice • Child-centred, family-focused, strength-based • Valid and reliable tools • On-going support to the family • Community involvement/engagement

36. OBSD Phase-in Sites • Phase-in sites are being developed and implemented around the province through an evolutionary learning process to develop an effective approach before considering broader implementation. • Most sites began with new intakes only, although some sites converted existing files as well. • Worksites are partnered with an identified lead agency in a specific geographic area.

37. OBSD Phase-in Sites Altered contracting and funding structure allows flexibility and adaptability in service provision, and accountability to outcomes. Case planning happens collaboratively between the family, the caregiver, the agency and the caseworker, and is focused on outcomes. This agency is responsible for the provision of allservices to the child and family according to a plan that is developed collaboratively between the family, the delegated worker, the caregiver and the agency. The delegated staff retains final decision over issues relating to delegated authority. Supervisors play critical role in the resolution process to guide agency and delegated staff through disagreements.

38. OBSD Sites REGION/WORKSITELEAD AGENCYDATE IMPLEMENTED Region 3 Wood’s Homes July 2009 Mahmawi- B&G, Enviros, Pathways July 2013 Region 6 The Family Centre August 2009 Kahkiyaw- Bent Arrow/Boyle St. February 2012 Region 7 WJS and Associates April 2010 Region 4 McManYouth Services May 2010 Region 1 Wood’s Homes November 2010 Region 5 Midwest Family April 2011 (withdrew in Oct 2011) Region 8 WJS and Associates 2012 Region 9 McMan/St. Aidans 2012 Region 2 McMan/SPEC 2012

39. Early Results Suggests Shift in Practice Leads to Positive Outcomes • Front End Loading Services • Early intervention with families in crisis—earlier the better; • Finding creative supports that fit; and • Putting them in place to avoid the need for more intrusive services. Investing time with these families upfront leads to positive results.

40. Early Results Suggests Shift in Practice Leads to Positive Outcomes (cont’d) More children receiving services in their home vs. out of home. (OBSD sites - 70% at home/30% in-care; opposite in non-OBSD sites) More children are placed with their immediate or extended family. Fewer children are coming into care. Children are staying in care for shorter periods of time - overall 34% shorter. More children are returning home. Files are closing faster with lower rates of recurrence because the right supports are used, and families are supported after files are closed. Practice is changing – ‘spill-over’ is happening into other units/staff.

41. Shared Practice • Delegated staff and agency staff collaboration is not always easy!! • Decision points where agency staff and caseworkers need to come together & talk about next steps include: • When children are coming into care; • Placements; • Visit planning; • Supports to families as part of service planning; and • Permanency. • This is done in collaboration with the family and their support network. • There is often a need for agency and CFSA staff to meet prior to meeting with the family to ensure consistency of message and understanding of the “other’s” position.

42. Perspectives and Inherent Tensions Delegated workers, agency workers and families often have quite different: • Perspectives; • Emphasis on what is most important; • Delegated staff (safety), agency staff (well-being), family (permanence) • Ways of approaching issues and problem solving. There is a natural (dual) tension between a focus on Safety vs. Well-being. Families focus upon Permanence almost immediately. Focus on Outcomes Involves not just dual tension between CFSA and the Agency but tri-partite tension between CFSA, the Agency and the family.

43. Role Clarifications Under OBSD • Roles of delegated & agency workers/family need to be defined, known and respected. • Delegated worker’s role – defined in legislation; different levels of staff have different levels of responsibility. • Agency worker’s role – to support families moving through change to achieve outcomes; no delegated (legislated) responsibilities. • Family’s role – to be heard; to be an active participant, maintaining familial responsibilities. • Rights of child • Role of Children’s Advocate remains unchanged under OBSD, advising on procedural rights, etc.

44. Practice model(s) There is consistency in the elements of practice used for OBSD. • Solution-focused/appreciative inquiry. • What are we worried about? What’s working well? What needs to happen? • Relationship/Engagement • Asset/strength-based • Evidence-based • Community-based • Region 6 – Developed a Shared Practice Framework Regions 1 & 4 – Signs of Safety – Safety Plan

45. OBSD Shared Practice Framework Region 6 OBSD – DRAFT October 2011

46. OBSD Shared Practice Framework Region 6 OBSD – DRAFT October 2011

47. Planning with Families • Occurs as quickly as possible. • Is transparent and open. • Includes family/child goals. • Has goals, roles and expectations of all parties clearly articulated. • Has room for creativity, innovation and flexibility. • The real goal is for the family to come up with their own plan.

48. Planning Processes Service planning/Service Team Meetings/Family Group Conferences Family Enhancement Plan • Purpose/procedures Supervision Order Components of concurrent planning • Part A – Reunification • Part B - Permanency Transition planning (children 16 and over) • Youth to Independence, Transitioning to Adulthood/Supports Process Kinship Care Foster Care Preparing a child/expectations at placement/ role of child’s culture Family Support for Children with Disabilities Program (FSCD)

49. Pre-service Team Meeting • OBSD allows for a shift in practice from staff working alone to working in multidisciplinary teams. • Many OBSD sites have created different approaches to work together more effectively—one mechanism is the pre-service team meeting. • Team members discuss initial thoughts and strategies before meeting with the family. • Areas of disagreement are identified and discussed. • (Supervisors may assist in determining course of action.) • Staff must present a united front regarding any differences when they meet with the family. • Team members must feel supported—even if they agree to disagree.

50. Single Collaborative Family Plan An OBSD goal is for the family to have a single plan: • That has been developed collaboratively by the delegated worker, agency worker, family and other stakeholders (foster parents, community partners, school etc.); • With goals that are clearly defined, attainable and relevant, and include time frames; • With indicators of success that are measurable; and • That is written in the language of the family.