Radical Change through Solution-Based Casework

1. “Sometimes the simple things are the most radical.” Dana N. Christensen, PhD Model Developer SBC Professor Emeritus Family Therapy Program Kent School of Social Work University of Louisville www.solutionbasedcasework.com

2. There were no practice models, agency “Values and Principals” weren’t operationalized for the field Investigations/assessments focused primarily on identifying problems versus understanding how those problems actually occurred in everyday life Problem labeling led to measuring service compliance versus actual behavioral change to ensure safety Focusing primarily on family deficit tended to underestimate family fears of being unfairly judged, thus hampering engagement and partnership Families, Caseworkers and Providers didn’t share a common road map on skill development to create safety Why was Solution-Based Casework Developed ? Problem - Based

3. ? Can those skills be learned and practiced by all our staff, with each family? What are staff already doing that build skills in Everyday Life Situations

4. Research on SBC in Child Welfare? • SUMMARY of OUTCOMES • 30% reduction in removal of children • Over a 100% increase in goal attainment • 27% more workers contacted referral sources directly • 64% increase in identified client strengths • Families with chronic CPS involvement more likely to be successful • Clients with Co-morbidity also achieved more goals. • 35% reduction in recidivism referrals over 6 months • Full implementation of SBC met all 23 CFSR review items and the 7 outcomes of safety, permanency, and well-being (As measured by the CQI tool on 4500 cases over a 4 year period) ( 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014 ) (Antle et al, Child Abuse and Neglect, 2012) More information on other studies at www.solutionbasedcasework.com

5. Summary of Study 5 Solution-Based Casework is associated with significantly better scores on all 23 CFSR review items and the 7 outcomes of safety, permanency, and well-being Permanency 1 & 2 Well-being 1, 2, & 3 Safety 1 & 2 (Antle et al, Child Abuse and Neglect, 2012)

6. We anchor our work and our supervision in the: 4 How does SBC help us stay focused and organized in our work with challenging families and over a number of cases? Milestones of Solution Based Casework

7. 1 Milestone Building a partnership for Change: It Changes the Meaning of Assessment Interviewing

8. Stages of Family Life

9. When & Where? We begin by defining problems as difficult situations in everyday life. What Happens? Then we try to understand how these situations “go down”, how they actually happen in everyday life, and how they’ve evolved over time. Are there Exceptions? Then we explore “exceptions”, i.e. situations when they are doing something similar but it goes better (safely) So, how is SBC Assessment Different ?

10. How does SBC organize assessment ? Family Plan What developmental stage are they in? What everyday situations does the family struggle when it comes to caring for their children? How does that situation actually happen when it works, and when it doesn’t. 1 IndividualPlan What personal issue(s) does one or more parent have that makes caring for the children difficult? What is their Pattern of unwanted behavior? What skills do they have about managing their personal behavior issue? 2

11. Milestone 2 Planning is: Getting Organized. First Generally, then Specifically.

12. Why Safety Outcomes versus compliance with services? From the voice of our clients: “During treatment I worked diligently to get my life in order. I finished all my services on the case plan: parenting, substance abuse treatment, a domestic violence program. But the story kept changing…..even when I had succeeded in finding employment and housing, they still didn’t return my kids to me.” (with permission from Ashley B., Rise parent)

13. Phrasing an Outcome in SBC

14. 3 Milestone Getting Specific: Developing Specific ACTION Plans “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit.” ― Conrad Hilton

15. Mental Health: MH Clinic Work Issues: Family & Child Support Supervision: Family Members School Attendance: School Substance Use: AA Counselor Home & Child Cleanliness: FPP Protection issues: Courts and P & P A Family-Friendly Interface that Helps to Organize Complex Issues and Multiple Partners

17. What Skills are We Talking About ? Able to: • Identify high risk or difficult situations • Identify early warning signals • P revent high risk situations • I nterrupt risk situations not avoided • E scape situations not interrupted

18. 4 Milestone Documenting and Celebrating: Noticing and Anchoring Real Change

20. Implementation Activities • Training Phase • Leadership overview and readiness activities • SBC Initial Training Rollout (Workers, Supervisors, Managers) 3-days • SBC Supervisors Training (Supervisors, Managers) 2- days • Case Consultation Phase (4-6 weeks post initial training) • Concept Building at Team Level (led by Supervisors) • Field Practice / Proficiency Phase • SBC Skills are then practiced on the next new case • Initial proficiency established through the SBC Certification Process • SBC Certification uses selected work products and practice observation • Supervisors use the SBC Implementation Website to register progress • Case File Reviews (QA) will help establish model fidelity long term • 4. Ongoing Agency Support • SBC Collaboration of NYC Agencies (calendar of shared training) • SBC eLearning Course

22. Practice Policy Specific to New York City • Casework Contacts • Population Served (birth to aging out) • Outcomes Measured and How • Staffing Requirements • Supervision • Individual (weekly) • Case Record Review (monthly) • Average length of Service (6-12 months)

23. “Sometimes the simple things are the most radical.” Dana N. Christensen, PhD Model Developer SBC Professor Emeritus Family Therapy Program Kent School of Social Work University of Louisville www.solutionbasedcasework.com