Family Team Meetings and Georgia DFCS

1. Family Team MeetingsandGeorgia DFCS Policy Incorporation

2. What is a FTM? • A process • A partnership • A procedure

3. The overarching goals of FTMs: • Prevent the Placement/Replacement of Ga’s children • Reduce the length of stay for Ga’s children • Reduce the number of disruptions for those children in care

4. FTM’s and Critical Case Junctures • Prior to the initiation of a Safety Resource or safety Plan • Within 45 calendar days of a case identified for FPS • Within 3-9 days of a child entering out of home care • Prior to development or reassessment of the Family Plan • Prior to changes in Permanency plan/goals • Prior to changes in Placement

5. FTM’s and Critical Case Junctures • Prior to court hearings • Upon the requests from the family or other Team members • Significant of lack of progress • Significant changes in the family • Within 6 months of a child in out of home care reaching their 18th birthday • Prior to Case closure

6. The FTM Procedure • The FTM & the CM • Make the Referral • Within Required Time Frames • Utilize the FTM referral form • Engage the Family • Encourage the Family to include Informal supports • Family members • Friends • Community support system (as identified by the family) • Faith-Based supports • Advocate for inclusion of Formal Supports • CASA

7. The FTM Procedure (cont) • School • Pediatrician (representative) • Therapist/Counselor • Foster Parents • Service Providers • Ensure that all Critical decisions/plans are developed • Provide a List of Non-Neg that MUST be addressed • The FTM Team should be in place at time of Case Closure

8. The FTM Procedure (cont) • The FTM Coordinator/Designee • Engage the Family • Encourage the Family to include their Informal Supports • Family • Friends • Members of community support system • Faith-based supports • Advocate with the Family • CASA • School • Pediatrician (representative)

9. The FTM Procedure (cont) • Therapist/Counselor • Foster Parents • Service Providers • Coordinate the FTM • Obtain pertinent info • Allegations/concerns • Safety concerns • Sensitive issues • Participants • Purpose of the FTM • Conduct a Prep Interview • In the home or other location

10. The FTM Procedure (cont) • Prep the other members of the Team • The Prep Interview is Required for every FTM • Ensure that family understands what to expect • Discuss Safety Concerns • Discuss the Potential sources of Conflict • Discuss the Required Legal/Agency mandates • Discuss the Non-Negotiables • Discuss Confidentiality/HIPPA • Supports (Informal & Formal) should be oriented on their roles in making a positive contribution to the FTM • Schedule the FTM within required Timeframes • Ensure that FTM location & date/time is convenient for the family

11. The FTM Procedure (cont) • Conduct the FTM • Follow the structured FTM model • Follow Standards of Practice for DFCS FTMs • Ensure families: • Actively participate • Are fully involved • Share in the decision making process • Ensure that FTM goals are achieved • Ensure HIPPA/Confidentiality stipulations are followed • Ensure FTM documentation is provided to all appropriate participants at conclusion of FTM • Document FTM in Georgia Shines

12. The FTM Procedure (cont) • Select the Family Plan tab (FPS or FC stage) • Select the FTM tab (3rd level tab) • Enter the FTM info • Meeting date • Start time • Location • Participants • Narrative • Safety concerns requiring separate FTMs (more on this) • Etc • The DFCS CM will: • Make all required referrals for services • Develop an Action Plan to follow up with needs identified in the FTM

13. The FTM – Practice Guidance • FTMs – Core Component of Family Centered Approach • Identify a Team • Develop/Implement an Individualized Family Plan • Builds on Strengths to Address Needs • DFCS supports Group Decision Making process to: • Develop/incorporate Family Plan • Alleviate Safety/Risk Factors • Gain understanding of the Family’s Strengths, Needs & Support System

14. The FTM – Practice Guidance • What is a FTM? • A Gathering • Informal supports • Formal supports • A Purpose • Develop individualized plans • Strengthen family capacity • A Declaration • Safety • Permanency • Well-being • A Forum for Change

15. The FTM – Practice Guidance • The FTM is: • Facilitated • Competent • Trained • Approved • Structured • Follows the FTM Model • Discusses Strengths before Needs/Concerns • Task Oriented • Develop a Family Plan • Make a Decision

16. The FTM – Practice Guidance • The FTM: • Fully engages the Family • Develops specific plans jointly • Addresses Safety/Risk • Designs Services • Identifies Supports • The FTM MUST BE SAFE!! • In Cases involving FV, CM must address Safety Issues for the victim parent • See Practice Guidance DV Cases

17. The FTM – Practice Guidance • The Purpose of FTMs • Develop Formal Plans • Address Safety Factors • Establish Permanency Plans • Promote Families Self-Sufficiency • Promote Well Being of children

18. The FTM – Practice Guidance • FTM Members: • Primary Family (parent/caretakers) • Children/Youth • Other Family members (extended) • Foster Parents • Relative Caregivers • Neighbors • Friends • Religious/Faith-Based supports • OFI • Schools • Mental Health Providers

19. The FTM – Practice Guidance • CASA • Substance Abuse Treatment Providers • Other Service Providers • Children • Engaged in the FTM • Consult with parents, gain approval • Considerations for inclusion: • Age • Developmental level • Emotional level

20. The FTM – Practice Guidance • Fathers & the FTM • Should be included in development of plan/decisions made • Includes Alleged/Putative Fathers • If mother objects: • CM should engage mother around purpose of FTM, outlining benefits of father’s participation • DFCS recognizes father’s RIGHT to be a part of the Team • DFCS will work to include father and make him an equal participant

21. The FTM – Practice Guidance • If Mother Refuses: • FTM documentation MUST reflect the SPECIFIC safety concerns which necessitate having separate FTMs • Examples (but not limited to) • Protective Orders • Parent • Child • Court order no contact with children • Other assessed Safety Concerns • DV • See Practice Guidance regarding DV Cases

22. The FTM – Practice Guidance • ILP • For Youth Eligible for services • ILP Coordinator should be included • CASA • Valuable asset • Serves as an advocate for the child • Provides valuable support in court • Can gain first hand knowledge • Supports Team’s Recommendations in Court

23. The FTM – Practice Guidance • The FTM Preparation Interview • Successful FTMs REQUIRE care preparation of the family • Goal of the Prep: Engage & Empower Family • Focused on Shared Planning & Decision Making • Conducted by the Facilitator/Designee: • In the home whenever possible • Family identifies supports • Family provided with FTM brochure • Family informed of the specific stages/format of FTM • HIPPA/Confidentiality discussed • Legal Issues/Non-Negotiables explained

24. The FTM – Practice Guidance • Potential conflicts or safety issues discussed, along with plans to resolve/prevent • Role of the participants discussed • Family has opportunity to ask questions or address concerns • Are any special accommodations necessary? • Need for an interpreter? • Date, place, time of FTM is discussed • Consider arranging around school schedules, to minimize school absences • Family provided with written & verbal info on the date, place & time of FTM • Discuss childcare/transportation issues • Other participants should be contacted, provided information about FTM and role within the process

25. The FTM – Practice Guidance • Domestic Violence Cases • Primary concern is the Safety of the Team • Must be treated with appropriate care • Family is the best source of information • Safety/Risk Assessment MUST be completed prior to FTM • Discussion must include: • Potential conflict? • Existing Orders of Protection? • Potential violation of provisions? • With Victim, what will ensure her safety (or children’s)?

26. The FTM – Practice Guidance • Two FTMs may be necessary • RECOMMENDED: inclusion of a community partner with expertise in DV or a DV liaison

27. FTM References • Standards of Practice for DFCS FTM • DFCS FTM Prep Interview Worksheet • FTM HIPPS Release Form • FTM Brochure (English & Spanish) • Social Services County Letter No 08-01 • Family Team Conferences in DV Cases: Guidelines for Practice

28. FTM Policy Questions • In regards to the new FTM policy requirement stating that FTM's are required before court hearings...does this mean ALL court hearings in ALL program areas or just certain court hearings?

29. FTM Policy Questions • This new policy states that an FTM is to held : 1.During the assessment (investigative) phase prior to the initiation of a safety resource or safety plan.These two things often happen immediately, at the first contact with a family where children are in peril. How could an FTM be held PRIOR to the need of a SR or a SP  if it happens at 3am when a worker is on call and the well-being of the children must be dealt with immediately?

30. FTM Policy Questions • Can you give clarification as to who is allowed to conduct FTM's on the county level?  What are the exceptions to having a non-certified staff member do the FTM's?  Or is this accepted practice?

31. FTM Policy Questions • During training, I remember the trainers stating the reason for training is to build capacity in the counties due to the number of family team meetings each case could possibly have primarily due to changes that may occur; what constitutes a change in a family preservation case? i.e. - If a mom and dad are separated during the inception of the case but midway through the case dad decided he wants to move back into the home, he was not part of the reason the case was open thus do we need to have a family team meeting prior to dad moving back into the home?

32. FTM Policy Questions • Would you mind discussing the role of the children in the FTM. (Ages to include in FTM, questions to ask, when to excuse, etc.)