Family Finding and Permanency

1. Family Finding and Permanency Los Angeles CASA June 7-8, 2016 National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)Seneca Family of Agencies National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

2. Introductions & Purpose National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

3. Introductory Activity The Story of Your Name National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

4. The FAMILY FINDING MODELStrives to: • Relentlessly locate and notify anyone related or connected to the child/youth via effective practices & tools in accordance with state and federal legislation and mandates. • Engages identified “family” to stay connected to youth in care to combat the “unintended social quarantine” often experienced by children/youth in the child welfare system. • Actively welcomes and involves family who can productively contribute via a prescribed process to plan for how the child/youth can safely achieve permanence and exit the child welfare system. • Promotes the “natural support network” to develop a plan that identifies the role of team members, potential challenges to safety and well-being, and strategies to attend to those challenges to ensure safety, permanency and well-being. National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

5. Toxicity of Loneliness and Isolation: • Associated with poorer physical and emotional outcomes from children through older adults • Erodes hope and the belief in possibilities • Emboldens the perspective that “I don’t need anybody” • Limits the development of social/human capital, which is necessary for successful adult interdependence National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

6. Center on the Developing ChildHarvard University • Healthy development exists within an environment of relationships that begins in their family and extends out to include other adults • What children need are their entire environment of relationships to be invested in their healthy development • Children at the greatest risk for the poorest outcomes of learning, health and negative behaviors are children who experience a pileup of cumulative burden of risk factors, ultimately more than any child could be expected to overcome • Active skill building, coaching and training, focus on the development of adults National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

7. Research re: Isolation and Limited Social Networks • Poor self esteem resulting in making unwise/potentially harmful choices about their bodies • Long-term dysfunction socially and physically • Impaired development of protective factors to improve functioning and resilience when meeting adversity • Facilitates the development and severity of childhood trauma associated with pathophysiology (e.g. hypertension leading to coronary artery disease) • Child Development and Successful Youth Transitions Committee (2015). Supporting Healthy Sexual Development of Youth in Foster Care. California Child Welfare Council. • Bruskas, D. (2010). “Developmental Health of Infants and Children Subsequent to Foster Care.” Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 23(4), 231-241. • California Department of Social Services. California Guidelines for the Use of Psychotropic Medication with Children and Youth in Foster Care. • Norman, G., Hawkley, L., Ball, A., Berntson, G., & Cacioppo. J. (2013). Perceived Social Isolation Moderates the Relationship between Early Childhood Trauma and Pulse Pressure in Older Adults. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 88, 334-38. National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

8. Research re: Social Networks and Isolation cont’d Higher levels of loneliness are associated with: • Dissatisfaction with living circumstances • Chronic social stress • Family conflict • Poor quality social relationships • “A person made to feel lonely not only feel unhappy but also feels unsafe, feelings that activate an anachronistic survival mechanism that heightens sensitivity to threats from all sides.” Cacioppo, J., & Cacioppo, S. (2014). Social Relationships and Health: The Toxic Effects of Perceived Social Isolation. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 8(2), 58-72. National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

9. Research re: Social Capital • “Youth who have access to large stores of family or school social capital can be taught norms about appropriate behavior that define or discourage delinquency; in addition they may feel obligations to the family, their teachers, or their schools that also inhibit delinquency.” Dufur, M., Hoffmann, J., Braudt, D., Parcel, T., & Spence, K. (2015). Examining the Effects of Family and School Social Capital on Delinquent Behavior. Deviant Behavior, 36(7), 511-526 National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

10. Research re: Grief and Loss Ambiguous loss, where losses are not “clear-cut and final” results in: • Unresolved grief, including outrage and inability to move on • Confusion, distress and ambivalence • Blocked coping processes • Experience of helplessness, and therefore depression, anxiety and relationship conflicts. • Rigidity of family roles, confusion in boundaries Lee, R., & Whiting, J. (2007). Foster Children's Expressions of Ambiguous Loss. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 35(5), 417-428. National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

11. The research also shows • Post traumatic stress rate double that of war veterans • Serious untreated health conditions • Less likely to be employed • Poverty level incomes • Higher rate of becoming victims of crime, or engaging in criminal activity National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

12. FAMILY CONNECTIONS “Re-establishing family connections for teens before they exit out of care, no matter what age they are, is the strongest and most positive youth development program the child welfare system can offer…” *Avery, Rosemary, Examination of theory and promising practice for achieving permanency for teens before they age out of foster care, 2010 National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

13. Key Shifts to this work • Being relentlessly curious • Belief that families can solve their problems, and permanency is possible for every young person • Respect that families are the experts in their own matters • Engage in collaborative practice • Move from a role that determines and decides to one that facilitates and coaches • Increase the time and emphasis on getting to know people outside of their problems. Create a balance of stories. • Shift the focus from placement to permanency—eliminate “chase management” National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

14. Legal Obligations • Reasonable Efforts • Return Home • Permanent Plan • Guardianship • Adoption • Placement with Fit and Willing Relative • APPLA [16 and older] • Case Plan Involvement • 14 and older involved in case plan development • ICWA – Active Efforts • Customary Adoption • Current Placement • Necessary and Appropriate? • Ongoing Search • Connections/Family • Transitional Planning • Extended Foster Care National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

15. YOUTH 14 YRS & OLDER Case Plan Development • Shall be developed in consultation with the child; • Child may choose members of the case planning team • Not caseworker • Not foster parent Transition Plan Development • “Independent Living” Out • “Successful adulthood” In • Document describing rights: • Health • Education • Visitation • Court participation • Stay safe • Avoid exploitation National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

16. Family Finding History and Development • Introduced in 1999 by Kevin Campbell and Catholic Community Services of Western Washington • Based on the Red Cross’ family tracing strategies to help reunite families • Emphasized the urgency of attending to lonely and disconnected youth National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

17. Need vs. Right • Basic human need to know what’s happened to our family members • Geneva Convention provides a process to find missing family members National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

18. A Sense of Belonging “Without stability and continuity within relationships to secure attachment, it is difficult to achieve resolution of painful losses and to actualize a more secure sense of the future” - Darla Henry, PhD, MSW The 3-5-7 Model: A Practice Approach to Permanency National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

19. Family Finding Model Components do not necessarily occur in order or only once. National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

20. Family Growing up, family was important to me because… National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

21. The Loneliest People A segment from 60 Minuteswith Lesley Stahl

22. Developing a Permanency TeamPreparing for Success National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

23. Building the Permanency Team Strong Committed Working team National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

24. Permanency Team The Permanency Team is composed of the youth, family, professionals, and important others, that explores options and takes responsibility for finding permanency for the youth. National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

25. What are the Team’s Ultimate Goals? • Establish a shared understanding between youth, family and professional as to what permanency is • To begin or continue planning process that develops permanency objectives and adds committed adults • Understand the purpose and goals of the Permanency Team and how it can benefit youth • To build the Lifetime Family Support Network National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

26. Permanency Team Activities • Develop a plan for discovery • Assign tasks to members, sets timelines and monitors progress • Then will make decisions, like meeting a family member for the first time, a weekend trip, or moving in with a relative National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

27. Who is on Your Team? National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

28. Preparing Participants • Address safety concerns • Critical to spend preparing everyone • How would preparation be different for each participant? National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

29. What do we need? • Support • Understanding of the big picture goals • Shared agreement with other professionals • Understanding of what permanency means for this youth National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

30. Involving Children and Youth in Developing the Team • Ensure children and youth have support people and are included throughout the whole process • There might be people the youth wants that you wouldn’t think of inviting, like a teacher, boss, or friend’s mom National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

31. Always review and anticipate the youth’s safety plan and make any needed updates before, during and after. • Mental health concerns should be considered National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

32. Involving and Preparing Youth for Permanency Discussion • Explain what you hope for • That you can't guarantee the outcome • Plan to locate and involve people with whom the youth might connect and who may want to help in the youth's life At a minimum, you are helping determine how big his/her family really is! National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

33. Resistance? Or Protest?? Remember • Youth are dealing with normal rebellious behavior (older teens) • Youth have built up shields of protection • Unsure how to “have” a forever family • They know how to “blow out” of placements • They WILL have big feelings DON’T GIVE UP! National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

34. Remember… • Youth are also developing their identity, determining their values and learning to make their own decisions. • Start with a discussion with the youth about family, to learn how she sees herself connected. National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

35. What Does Permanency Mean for This Youth? National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

36. Stephen’s Scenario Finding connections National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

37. Kalani’s Story Rooted and reconnected to family National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

38. Alignment • Review the tool • Assess your alignment with the desired practice • What readiness work is necessary for the system to support permanence (not placement)? • What can you do to support the consistent achievement of emotional/relational permanence as a fundamental step towards the achievement of legal permanence. National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

39. Permanency Values discussion National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

40. Roles CASA can play National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)

41. Wrap-up, questions, reflections Bob Friend, Director NIPFC 510-677-0485 www.familyfinding.org bob_friend@senecacenter.org National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness (NIPFC)