Safety Planning for Children in Court Involved Cases: Using a Multidisciplinary Approach

1. Protecting Children, Supporting Families: Linking Networks and Knowledge 6th National Child Welfare SymposiumMontreal May 26, 2005 “Glories and Woes of Common Assessment” 11:00 – 12:30 Safety Planning for Children in Court Involved Cases: Using a Multidisciplinary Approach Thomas F. Carr, M.A., LMFT, LMHC, LCSW Patricia Brady M.S., LMFT, LMHC

2. CRISIS Danger Opportunity

3. Safety Planning for Children in Court Involved Cases: Using a Multidisciplinary Approach Thomas F. Carr, M.A., LMFT, LMHC, LCSW Thomas F. Carr & Associates Inc. Natick, Massachusetts USA www.thomascarrlmft.com Patricia Brady M.S., LMFT, LMHC Care & Protection Services Medford, Massachusetts USA

4. Safety Plans Safety Plans are formal arrangements, most often drafted for the Court, which will enable contact (or perhaps even placement) of a child with a parent who may have been found (or suspected) to have perpetrated some form of abuse to the child, or may pose a risk to the child for some other reason (s).

5. Multidisciplinary Teams [MDT] Groups of professionals from diverse disciplines who come together. Disciplines typically represented: protective services, criminal justice systems, health and social services, and mental health services, some teams include domestic violence advocates, substance abuse specialists, providers ofcomprehensive assessmentand consultation services

6. Multidisciplinary Teams [MDT] While their primary purpose is typically to help team members resolve difficult cases, teams may fulfill a variety of additional functions they … can… should… must…

7. Multidisciplinary Teams [MDT] • promote coordination between agencies; • provide a "checks and balances" • ensure that mechanisms are in place so that the interests and rights of all concerned parties are addressed; • identify service gaps and breakdowns in coordination or communication between agencies or individuals. What are CAN DO, SHOULD DO, or MUST DO Tasks ?

8. The MDT has written agreements, protocols, and/or guidelines signed by authorized representatives of all team components. All members of the MDT are routinely involved in intervention, as defined by the needs of the case. The MDT has implemented procedures for routine information sharing among team members.

9. The members of the MDT have routine opportunity to provide feedback and suggestions regarding procedures/operations of the MDT (or primary treatment agency). Members of the MDT receive on-going and relevant cross-discipline training.

10. Multidisciplinary teams Also enhance the professional skills and knowledge of individual team members by providing a forum for learning more about the strategies, resources, and approaches used by various disciplines.

11. Safety plans are developed trying to see problems and solutions from many different points of view

12. Primary to the creation of such plans Safety Plans consideration of the case history

13. Primary to the creation of such plans adoption of a philosophy that makes the child visible to a wide variety of individuals, especially professional who are aware of the past abuse and/or issues

14. Primary to the creation of such plans additional safeguards, including legal avenues (such as employment of court orders, stipulations and voluntary releases). development of specific plans for locating primary providers and furnishing the pertinent information

15. Primary to the creation of Safety Plans Making sure that responsibilities are defined Who has the ball ?

16. Primary to the creation of such plans method of identifying specific supports

17. How are decisions made? Assessing Risk AssessingStrengths

18. Merci Beaucoup !