DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE Arkansas DCFS

1. DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSEArkansas DCFS Differential Response Initiative Implementation August 2012

2. Differential Response (DR) allows child welfare systems to respond to reports of specific allegations of child maltreatment with either a child protection investigation or a family assessment. Both responses focus on safety and well-being of the child and promote permanency. What is Differential Response?

3. It’s all about…… •Family Focus (and Support) •Family Engagement •Community Collaboration •Attitude-(Family, Worker, Community) •Partnerships •Promising Evidence Based Practice Differential Response

4. The Goal…… …..To achieve child safety, permanency, and well being. Differential Response

5. Differential Response: The What, Why, Where, When, and How… What Differential Response IS… •Alternate service track for Intake calls of abuse and neglect •Flexibility to meet individual, unique family needs •Family centered/family engaged service model •Community approach to family needs and services •Up front, assessment, intervention, and support services •Promising Child Welfare practice to promote and improve child safety, permanency and well being

6. Differential Response: The What, Why, Where, When and How… What Differential Response IS NOT… •Service model for all families •Replacement of current Child Welfare Investigation Services •Service option for abuse/neglect cases of: • Sex Abuse • Serious injury/hospitalization • Criminal charges of abuse/neglect

7. Differential Response: The What, Why, Where, When and How… Why Differential Response… •70-80% of child welfare reports are unsubstantiated •Up front family focused support services… • Strengthen families • Create family confidence, connectedness • Early problem identification/(re)solution • Reduce agency dependence and further penetration into system • Maintain children in own homes whenever possible

8. Why… (cont.) Promising National and State outcome data : •Child safety NOT compromised •Fewer children enter foster care •Reduced length of agency involvement •Prevents further need for agency services •Fewer repeat maltreatment calls •Rapid implementation of upfront services •Improved client and staff satisfaction Differential Response: The What, Why, Where, When and How…

9. Where is DR implemented…

10. Differential Response: The What, Why, Where, When and How… When… •First implemented in late 1990’s •Missouri and Minnesota -1st two states to go statewide •Over 20 states provide Differential Response services

11. Differential Response: The What, Why, Where, When and How… How Differential Response is provided… •Family Engagement/Partnership •Up front assessment/support services •Community collaboration •Service coordination •Removal of barriers to client/worker partnership • Voluntary agreement to service model • No labels • No disposition

12. Differential Response Service Model Collaboration: • US Dept. of Health and Human Services/ • American Humane Association/National Quality Improvement Center on Differential Response • Casey Family Programs • County/community partnerships • Shared Learning Collaborative = Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Minnesota, Ohio, and Tennessee

13. Potential DR Cases In 2010, Arkansas DCFS conducted 32,915 investigations and of these approximately 10,016 would be directed to the DR pathway. That’s over 30%of the referrals accepted for investigations at the hotline annually.

14. Based upon SFY 2010 data, the estimated annual number of DR referrals by Area…

15. Based upon SFY 2010 data, the estimated annual number of DR referrals by Area…

16. Differential Response: Eligibility Criteria All of the following factors must be present to be DR… • Identifying info for the family members and their current address • The alleged perpetrators are parents or legal guardians • The family has no pending investigation or open service case • The alleged victims, siblings, or other household members are not currently in the care and custody of DHS • Protective Custody of the children has not been taken or required in the current investigation

17. What are the DR Allegations? • Inadequate Supervision • Inadequate Food • Inadequate Clothing • Inadequate Shelter • Educational Neglect • Environmental Neglect • Lock Out • Medical Neglect

18. Allegations Prohibited from Being Assigned to Differential Response • Environmental Neglect involving a child under the age of 6, and situations in which the hotline assesses as immediate danger to child’s health or physical well-being based on severity. • Lock out involving a child under 13, and situations in which the hotline assesses an immediate danger to child’s health or physical well-being based upon severity. • Inadequate Supervision involving a child under 9, or a child older than 9 with a physical or mental disability which limits their skills in the areas of communication, self-care, self-direction, and safety.

19. Allegations Prohibited from Being Assigned to Differential Response cont. • Inadequate Food involving a child under the age of 6, and situations in which hotline assesses as an immediate danger to the child’s health based on severity. • Medical Neglect involving a child under 13 or a child with a severe medical condition that could become serious enough to cause long-term harm to the child if untreated. • Educational Neglect reports involving a child that was never enrolled in an educational program.

20. Investigation vs. Differential Response:Service Model Differential Response Investigation • Child Safety, Permanency, and Well Being • All Screened in reports of Abuse/Neglect • Investigation focus • Mandated agency intervention • Child Safety, Permanency, and Well Being • Screened in reports of Abuse/Neglect that meet established criteria • Family engagement/Solution focus • Voluntary agreement to service(s) model

21. Investigation vs. Differential Response:Service Model (cont.) Differential Response Investigation • Incident driven • Identified victim, perpetrator • Disposition of unsubstantiatedor substantiated (within 30 days) • Family strengths/needs driven • No labels • No disposition

22. Investigation vs. Differential Response:Service Model (cont.) Differential Response Investigation • 1st Activity: • Direct family contact • Safety Assessment • Ongoing investigation of allegations • 1st Activity: • Phone call or Direct family contact • Safety Assessment • Ongoing assessment, problem solving

23. Investigation vs. Differential Response:Service Model (cont.) Differential Response Investigation • Family Assessment • Information/Referral • System Driven • Family Assessment • Service Engagement • Service referrals/linkage • Service implementation • Service Coordination/Collaboration • Family Driven

24. What’s the Difference Between Family Driven and System Driven Practice? Family Driven • Expectation of collaboration & engagement • Families are the experts • Build safety around child(ren) • Solution Focused • Focus on a holistic view of the family System Driven • Expectation of compliance • The system/worker is the expert • Protect children from abuser/perpetrator • Problem Focused • Focus on what brought the family into the system

25. Differential Response What Makes it All Work…… •Family Focus (and Support) •Family Engagement •Community Collaboration •Attitude-(Family, Worker, Community) •Partnerships •Promising Evidence Based Practice

26. Differential Response AND…… WE NEED PARTNERS…… AND… We can build on our existing partnerships… with… YOU! Your Organizations! And…. The Families We Serve!

27. QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION

28. Leslie Sebren-Acting DCFS Differential Response Coordinator Office :501-682-6659 Fax: 501-682-6968 Email: leslie.sebren@arkansas.gov CONTACT INFORMATION