Building Stronger Families for Children- Child Protection Conference March 10, 2017

1. Building Stronger Families for Children-Child Protection ConferenceMarch 10, 2017

2. Impact is not just based on Vision and Model but on the Delivery and Partnerships + + + + Vision Your Vision in terms of system change, and what it takes to get there. Solutions The things you do to generate social impact. Delivery Models The techniques to spread your Solution. Partnerships How you engage other players and align them behind your goal. Openness is important Complete impact strategy

3. At-Risk Families • Do nothing • Foster care services • What if there was a 3rd way?

4. Child Welfare in the US • 3.2 million reports of child abuse in the US in 2014 (which is up 200,000 from 2010) with 702,000 child victims or 9.4 victims per 1000 children, • 24% below the age of 1 • children suffered from child neglect (75%), physical abuse (17%), sexual abuse (9%) • 1,546 children died because of child abuse • 1,301,337 children received child welfare services and 241,919 entered foster care • Average stay in foster care is 377 days • annually can amount to $124 billion • Lifetime costs $210,012 – higher then diabetes and stroke

5. Illinois Stats • 260,000 calls per year to the Illinois child abuse hotline • 110,000 alleged victims of child abuse • 17,000 children in foster care

6. Outcome of Foster Care • Half of kids aging out of foster care are unemployed by mid 20s • 2 out of every 3 will not have a high school diploma • PTSD rates are double that of war veterans • 1:3 of kids aging out of foster care end up involved with the criminal justice system • 60% of victims of human trafficking were in foster care

7. Neglect and Poverty • Children from families (CFF) with incomes < $15,000/year compared to CFF with incomes > $30,000/year were 44 times more likely to be victims of neglect (NIS-3, 1996) • Families with incomes below poverty level often cannot provide their children with adequate food, clothing, shelter, and education.

8. Effects on Children • Detrimental impacts of early deprivation on brain development • Loss of/delays in developmental capacities (e.g., physical, cognitive, language) • Medical conditions, failure to thrive, malnutrition • Emotional, behavioral and learning problems • Mental health disorders • Elevated risk for juvenile delinquency/adult criminality

9. Neglecting Families: Who Are They? • Parental Characteristics • Social isolation • Depression/mental illness • Substance abuse • Single parents (typically young mothers) • Entrenched poverty/destitution • Multiple, profound impairments (e.g., depression, other mental health disorders, substance abuse) • Lacking life competencies; social skills • Anti social traits/anger control problems

10. Family and Community Characteristics • Chaotic, unpredictable, and disorganized family life • Fewer positive interactions • Fewer actual and/or perceived social supports • Economically Impoverished Neighborhood • Socially Impoverished Neighborhood • Precarious/substandard housing or homelessness • Violence and crime

11. Safe Families for Children Safe Families for Children hosts vulnerable children and creates extended family-like support for families in crisis through a community of compassionate volunteers. We keep children safe and ultimately reunited with their families.

12. Community Impact Safe Families for Children strives to meet these objectives: Child Welfare Deflection: Safe Families provides a safe alternative to child welfare custody, significantly reducing the number of children entering foster care. Child Abuse Prevention: Safe Families provides an overwhelmed and resource limited parent with a safe, temporary place for their child without threat of losing custody. By offering support, the goal is to avert potential abuse/neglect episodes. Family Support and Stabilization: Many parents struggle because of limited social support and unavailable extended family. Safe Families volunteers often become the extended family and support system. Cost Savings: Every child placed in foster care costs a minimum $30,000 per year. A child placed with a Safe Family costs on average $543.

13. Overall Goal Loving kids and redeeming parents Unleashing Generous People How do we do that? Children are hosted Parents are supported Parent’s biggest problem: Social Isolation Biggest resource: Community

14. The Safe Families for Children Model Engaging faith communities to enable and support local volunteer for collective action

16. Growth To Date Nearly 108 SF sites in the US 28,000 hosting arrangements 10 SF laws, 14 in process Internationally: Canada (4), UK (14), Kenya, Goal: 100,000 homes

19. Initial Response Great idea, it will never work Children are not valuable in our society We have the most selfish generation in history

20. Key Factors • “Just in time” • Power of informal support networks • Building the base: Volunteer driven, professionally support • Home based vs. center based • Supplementary care vs. substitute care (child welfare) • Power/coercion vs. parental self-determination • Movement vs. Program • Recidivism vs. Reuse – Easy entrance, easy exit • Any child, any reason, any time (raise the value of children) • Parental Self-Monitoring

21. What we Offer Space and time for a parent to get back on their feet A break from the daily pressures of parenting Help with problem solving Social connections to address isolation Hospitality Our resource network

22. Where do Parents come from? Hospitals Police Stations State workers Homeless Centers Schools Addiction Recovery Programs Social Service Agencies Churches Domestic Violence Centers Crisis Pregnancy Centers Adoption Centers Day Care Centers

23. Why are Families Referred?

24. Where do Children go?

25. How Old are the Children?

26. How Many do we Help? How many do we help?

27. Φιλοξενία: Love of Stranger Resurrecting Hospitality… Mobilizing a movement of people who will reach out to families suffering a crisis Connecting people willing to be a ”spiritual extended family” or a kind of “Godparent” to those who lack such support

28. Benefits of Hospitality: Recipient Healing through support and connectedness Course correction – Changes the direction of the family Affirmation/Recognition Respite/Refuge

29. Benefits of Hospitality: Giver Lighter hold on our possessions Gives purpose to our family Observing small miracles daily An alternative to a lifestyle centered in consumption, immediate gratification, and unrelenting busyness.

30. Generosity • Giving freely without expectation • Being openhanded with what has been provided to us • Teaches children to value people over possessions

31. Generosity and Recognition Dignity and worth of every person Because Safe Families volunteers are not paid, there is greater opportunity for connection with the placing families Cultivating a grateful spirit

32. Barriers to Hospitality & Generosity • Castle Mentality (Possessions): Protecting our things. There is an inverse relationship between wealth and hospitality. • Fortress Mentality (Fear): Our home is a “safe place” to which we can withdraw. • Haven Mentality (Rest): Homes are sanctuaries for refueling and restoration. • Time: Busyness and Over-scheduling

33. “The problem with our world is that we draw the circle of family too small” -Mother Teresa

34. Guard Against: Our own prejudices: We all have them! Rescue mentality: Savior complex Negativity: Maintain hope Distance: It is easy to become overwhelmed by a parent’s problems and distance yourself from partnering with them. Unfair expectations: Frustration when it appears that a parent does not make progress when we expect

35. Types of Poverty Poverty can be generational or situational Generational Poverty is having been in poverty for at least 2 generations Situational Poverty is a lack of resources due to a particular event (death, chronic illness, divorce, etc.) Adapted from ”A Framework for Understanding Poverty” by Dr. Ruby Payne

36. Hidden Rules of Poverty Hidden rules are the unspoken cues and habits of an ethnic or economic group Adapted from ”A Framework for Understanding Poverty” by Dr. Ruby Payne

37. Empowering Parents Help parents develop the skills necessary to care for their child Listen to, encourage, reinforce and respect them Encourage them to participate in decisions that affect their child Recognize their skills and efforts to cope with difficult life circumstances

38. What to Avoid

39. Protective Factors • Parental resilience • Social connections • Knowledge of parenting and child development • Concrete support in times of need • Social and emotional competence of children

40. Resilience The human capacity to face, overcome, be strengthened by and even transformed by the adversities of life.

41. Building blocks of resilience Prepare for Action Internal Inventory Skills and Attitudes

42. Parental Resilience Be strong, not stressed: managing stress and functioning well when faced with challenges, adversity, and trauma What it looks like: • Resilience to general life stress • Hope, optimism, self confidence • Problem solving skills • Self care and willingness to ask for help • Ability to manage negative emotions • Resilience to parenting stress • Not allowing stress to interfere with nurturing • Positive attitude about parenting and child

43. Parental Resilience: Action Steps • Demonstrate in multiple ways that parents are valued • Honor each family’s race, language, culture, history and approach to parenting • Encourage parents to manage stress effectively • Support parents as decision-makers and help build decision-making and leadership skills • Help parents understand how to buffer their child during stressful times

44. Social Connections Get and give support: positive relationships that provide emotional, informational, and spiritual support What it looks like: • Multiple friendships and supportive relationships with others • Feeling respected and appreciated • Accepting help from others, and giving help to others • Skills for establishing and maintaining connections

45. Building an Eco-map Child Sister Friend You Parent at your child’s school Friend Co-worker Spouse Co-worker

46. Social Isolation: High Predictor of the Incidence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect 46 • Social Support functions in 3 general ways to affect parenting (Belsky, 1984) • By providing emotional Support (verbal support and caring • By providing instrumental assistance (practical help with tasks and advice directed toward problem solving). • By providing social expectations and sanctions for appropriate parenting behavior (Feedback on boundaries for appropriate behavior). • Gottlieg (1978) Described 4 categories of behavior. • Emotionally sustaining behavior (talking or encouraging) • Problem-solving (advising, directing, referring) • Indirect personal influence and availability • Environmental action – action taken to alleviate stressors in the environment.

47. Social Connections: Action Steps • Help families value, build, sustain and use social connections • Create an inclusive environment • Facilitate mutual support • Promote engagement in the community and participation in community activities • Model connection by listening with empathy, acceptance, and non-judgment

48. Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development Learn more so you can parent better: understanding child development and parenting strategies that support physical, cognitive, language, social, & emotional development What it looks like: • Ability to create a developmentally supportive environment • Positive discipline techniques; ability to manage behavior • Recognizing and responding to child’s specific needs • Nurturing Parenting Behavior • Appropriate Developmental Expectations

49. Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development: Action Steps • Model developmentally appropriate interactions with children • Provides information and resources on child development • Encourage parents to observe, ask questions, explore parenting issues, and try out new strategies • Address parenting issues from a strengths-based perspective

50. Concrete Support in Times of Need Get help when you need it: Access to concrete support and services that address a family’s needs help minimize stress caused by challenges. What it looks like: • Seeking and receiving support when needed • Knowing what services are available and how to access them • Adequate financial security for basic needs to be met • Advocating for self and child to receive help • Persistence