Definitions and Examples of Practices vs. Services in Child Welfare

1. 1 Definitions and Examples of Practices vs. Services in Child Welfare The Service Array Process The National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement A Service of the Children�s Bureau, U.S.D.H.H.S. April 28, 2008

2. 2 Child Welfare Services What is a health or human service? A human service is something someone provides to another person to address a human need. For example, a doctor provides an annual physical examination to a patient. It can also be something provided in partnership with a client�for example, marriage and family therapy.

3. 3 Here are Several Examples ofChild Welfare Services Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT): A mandate in Medicaid that requires states to conduct regularly scheduled examinations (screens) of all Medicaid-eligible recipients under the age of 22 to identify physical and mental health needs or problems. If a problem is detected and diagnosed, treatment must include any federally authorized Medicaid service, whether or not the service is covered in the state plan. If problems are suspected, an �interperiodic� screen is also required so the child need not wait for the next regularly scheduled checkup.

4. 4 Here are Several Examples ofChild Welfare Services (continued) Home Visits to Parents with Newborns: An early intervention and prevention program for new parents. Its purpose is to promote positive parenting and child health and development, thereby preventing child abuse, neglect, and other poor childhood outcomes. The largest home visiting program in the United States, Health Families America, is sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America).

5. 5 Here are Several Examples ofChild Welfare Services (continued) Intensive Family Preservation: Intensive in-home clinical and other services offered to families. Services are designed to assist in the preservation of families�including adoptive and extended families whose children have either experienced or are at risk for parental abuse or neglect, or are in crisis and are at imminent risk for removal from their homes.

6. 6 Child Welfare Practices A child welfare practice is a bit harder to define. Practice is the philosophical approach to achievement of outcomes. A child welfare practice often has more to do with how you provide a service because a child welfare practice has a value or principle base. For example, family engagement is a practice. Family engagement has a value base: the best way to successfully provide a service to a client is to show respect for the client. Family engagement also has a principle base: the best way to ensure that the service provided to a client is effective is to genuinely engage the client as a partner in the selection, design, and implementation of the service.

7. 7 Child Welfare Practices (cont�d) A child welfare practice can also be considered a �semi-service.� It is a service because it is providing something to a client. But it is still very much driven by a value or principle. For example, �Wraparound� is often considered a service. Here�s a definition. Wraparound: providing flexible and �whatever is needed� services to a client or family to achieve the desired and defined outcome. But Wraparound is based on the principle of �individualizing services.� �One size fits all� doesn�t work in child welfare. Rather, the way to provide services is to tailor or individualize the service to the needs of the client and �do whatever it takes.�

8. 8 Here are Some Examples ofChild Welfare Practices Concurrent Case Planning with Families: When a child has been abused/neglected, the development of two plans with the family, usually one for reunification, and an alternative permanency plan if reunification does not prove feasible. The child welfare agency and the family team work on both goals at the same time.

9. 9 Here are Some Examples ofChild Welfare Practices (cont�d) Family Group Decision-Making: FGDM is a family-focused, culturally sensitive approach to developing permanency plans for children who are in foster care or who are at risk of entering foster care due to parental abuse or neglect. With FGDM, the child�s immediate and extended family begin work early with child welfare workers and a family group coordinator in developing a plan for the safety of the child, a plan for family reunification, or deciding on another permanency option such as relative care, guardianship, or adoption.

10. 10 Practices and Services Must Work Together The foundation is practice because of its value and principle base. Services must utilize effective practices. Services are effective only when they have a value and principle base drawn from practice.