San Joaquin County

1. San Joaquin County Child Welfare Improvement

2. San Joaquin County Demographics Source: U.S. Census Bureau

3. Child Welfare Improvement • Differential Response • Team Decision-Meeting • Disproportionality

4. I. Differential Response

5. Differential Response Assessment • Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) with Federal Funding • Differential Response Program began in December 2002 • Contracted with the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) • Program entitled First Step Resource Response (FSRR) • $160,000 (2002/2003)

6. Child Abuse Prevention Council FSRR Sub-Contractors • Women’s Center of San Joaquin County • Domestic violence issues with children in the home • Council for Spanish Speaking • Families with Spanish as their primary language

7. First Step Resource Response Flowchart

8. First Step Resource Response • 35 Path 1 cases per week • CPS sends the family a letter • No confidentiality agreement is necessary when CPS sends referral to DR agencies, • They are an extension of the Agency by contract • CAPC assess family needs and refer to appropriate agencies for individualized information and resources • Family signs confidentiality agreement forms with CAPC or subcontractors

9. FSRR Statistical Data2002 - 2007

10. Promoting Safe and Stable Families Funding • $160,000 in 03/04 • $160,000 in 04/05 • $ 38,000 from 10/05–12/05 • $ 95,000 from 1/06–6/06 • $190,000 in 06/07 • $190,000 in 07/08

11. Additional Differential Response Services • Family Advocacy Support Team (FAST) • Differential Response Case Management • Domestic Violence Response Team • Differential Response Service Integration

12. Differential ResponseFlow Chart

13. Began in July 2004 $38,000 per year Path 1: 13 cases per week Path 2 & 3: 12 cases per week Domestic violence advocate out staffed at CPS Women’s Center- Family Advocacy Support Team (FAST)

14. Differential Response Case Management Program • San Joaquin County received CWSOIP funds • $378,418 (06/07) • $378,886 (07/08) • Provision of case management services for families who voluntarily accept services

15. Collaborating agencies: • Child Abuse Prevention Council • Community Partnership for Families • Council for Spanish Speaking • Women’s Center of San Joaquin County • Data Co-op of San Joaquin County

16. Referrals received from: • FSSR Program • FAST Program • Direct Referrals from CPS • Cross-referrals between agencies

17. CBO’s average per year: • 120 families • 240 children per year • Community Partnership for Families • Family Success Team (FST) meetings • Case management services provide: • Weekly contact with family and bi-weekly face-to-face contact • Written case plan • Manage case for a minimum of three months

18. Differential Response Case Management Subsequent Referral’s to CPS

19. Domestic Violence Response Team • Domestic Violence Response Team • CPS – out-stationed at Stockton Police Department • SPD • Women’s Center • Probation • Victim Witness

20. Differential ResponseService Integration • San Joaquin County received funding from California Department of Social Services • Child Welfare Services Outcome and Improvement Project (CWSOIP) • $200,000 05/06

21. Community Partnership for Families was contracted to enhance service delivery system and integrate services: • Plan • Coordinate • Facilitate • Train • Served as the hub of services for collaborating public and non-profit agencies

22. Differential Response Collaborative Monthly Meetings • Beginning in 2005, Child Welfare Services: • Coordinates and facilitates a monthly meeting of the partners • Approximately 25 - 30 individuals from various agencies attend • Focus on problem-solving strategies • Share resource information

23. Share outcome data • Arrange for CBO case managers to shadow CPS social workers • Funding updates • Case management software discussion • CPS sponsored training and CBO cross-training • CPS supervisor liaison: • Assist in case management issues

24. Differential Response Case Management Software Program • $50,000 in 05/06 in CWSOIP funds • Development and implementation of a software program for the CBO’s providing differential response • Utilized for case documentation, case management and outcome report information • $10,000 for 07/08 for software program support services

25. II. Team Decision Meetings (TDM)

26. Team Decision Meetings • CPS Emergency Response • Family Reunification • Families on Course Unite Successfully (FOCUS)

27. CPS Emergency Response TDM’s • Began on July 1, 06 • One TDM Coordinator • Intake & Assessment Units • Low to moderate risk cases • Team strategies how to best help family/child • Connect with community-based organizations • Prevent detention, if possible and safe • Court Units • Placement Issues

28. TDM and Case Management for Family Reunification Cases • Goal:To reduce the rate of re-entry into foster care • PSSF funding provided for TDM’s and post-reunification case management services: • 05/06 $60,000 (six months) • 06/07 $114,000 • 07/08 $114,000

29. Awarded a contract to the Center for Positive Prevention Alternatives (CPPA) • Families on Course Unite Successfully (FOCUS) • Referrals come through the Family Social Work Program of CWS when families appear close to reunification • Since October ’06, TDM’s have averaged nine cases per month (initial and follow-up TDM’s)

30. How FOCUS TDM’s Work • CWS referred to FOCUS families who are within two to three months of reunification • FOCUS coordinates and facilitates TDM • TDM held at Community Partnership for Families, Family Resource Centers, if possible • Goal of TDM: • Address case plan process • Develop a safety net for family

31. Post Reunification Services • Provide services for a minimum of three months or until the family appears to be stabilized • In addition to Family Social Worker, FOCUS provides case management services • Weekly contact and a minimum of one face-to-face visit per month • Goal is to serve up to 120 families per year

32. Community Resources Available Through FOCUS Program • Center for Positive Prevention Alternatives • Individual & family therapy • Anger management classes • Youth decision group • Art-based therapy group • Parent support group • Council for Spanish Speaking • Case Management issues • Services for Spanish speaking people

33. Community Partnership for Families - Family Resource Centers • Housing • Financial planning • School related issues • Child care • Family safety • Case management services • Child Abuse Prevention Council • Crisis nursery services • Structured child care • Case management services

34. Women’s Center of San Joaquin County • Domestic violence counseling/support groups • Domestic violence shelter • Sexual assault counseling • Case management services

35. III. Disproportionality

36. Over-Representation of African-American Children in the CWS • Disproportionate amount of African-American children in the Child Welfare System • Federal • State • County • 2005/2006 San Joaquin County convened a workgroup to determine how to approach this issue. Group consisting of: • Line Staff • Supervisors • Administrators • Facilitator

37. Disproportionality in Referrals Source: University of California at Berkeley Center for Social Services Research

38. Disproportionality in Foster Care Source: University of California at Berkeley Center for Social Services Research

39. 05/06 Disproportionality Workgroup Activities • Organize the “Closing the Gap” Conference • Developed CWS specific training approach on the issue of bias • Regular meetings to move disproportionality efforts forward

40. “Closing the Gap” Conference • April 19, 2006 • Approximately 300 participants • Social workers • Community-based agency representatives • Community members • Presenters: • Antwone Fisher • Dr. Rita Cameron Wedding

41. Presentation on County child welfare data • Community input on the issue of disproportionality • Models from other counties • Facilitated group discussions • Communicating about cultural issues • Improving work place practice • Societal issues

42. Recommendations from Conference • Increase cultural competency training for CWS staff • Bring families, community, public & private agencies together to identify best practice • Increase prevention & intervention services for families • Increase educational opportunities for parents • Invest resources to support reunification and/or kin placements • Hire more African-American’s in all positions • CWS • CBO’s

43. Disproportionality Activities 2006 - 2007 • “One worker One solution at a Time” trainings for all administration, supervisory, and line staff as provided by Dr. Rita Cameron-Wedding • System Partner Conferences • “Understanding CPS” presentation • Two community forums • “Understanding CPS” presentation • Approximately 130 participants

44. Disproportionality Activities 2007 - 2008 • 2008 Children’s Services Coordinating Committee - Annual Child Abuse Workshop Presentation • Peer-to-Peer disproportionality training for administrators and supervisors • Identify additional staff trainings for practice strategies around disproportionality • Development of cultural considerations policy • Mobilization of community engagement activities