Place Matters Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

1. Place MattersNothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

2. Why Does Place Matter?

3. Place Matters because:All Children Deserve a Family All families should provide a safe, permanent home for children, where their well-being is paramount.

4. SafetyChildren must be safe and need to be protected. Children must be protected from abuse and neglect. Services must be provided to ensure that children, when possible remain in their homes.When children are no longer able to remain in their homes they must be protected in the least restrictive environment.

5. Examples include:reunification, custody/ guardianship to relatives, adoption PermanencyChildren need to be with families. Permanence occurs when a child has a lasting, nurturing relationship with at least one adult. That relationship should demonstrate mutual commitment and be legally secure.

6. Children are entitled to live in an environment where they are nurtured and can thrive. Well-being • This includes meeting their needs: • Educational • Health care • Social/relationship

7. Maryland’s Placement Statistics • 10,164 children in out-of-home care • 60 % of caseload in Baltimore City • 40% of caseload in 23 other counties • 61% in family foster care • 20% in group homes • Average length of stay: 3.5 - 4 years *July 2007 Statistics Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

8. Barriers to Success • Lack of family foster homes • Over reliance on group care • Jurisdiction of origin vs. Jurisdiction of placement • Gaps in the placement continuum statewide • Insufficient mental health, educational and community supports for foster children and their families Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

9. Goals • Keep children in their communities • Place children in families first • Reduce reliance on out of home care • Minimize the length of stay • Manage with data and redirect resources Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

10. Place Matters Framework • Family-Centered Practice • Alternative Response • Integrated In-Home/Family Preservation Services • Targeted Child Well-Being Practices • Foster/Adoptive Family Recruitment and Retention • Kinship Care • Placement and Community Resource Development • Focused Permanency Policy and Practice Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

11. Place Matters Strategy Place Matters Action Team Purpose: Plan, develop and provide oversight to Maryland’s Place Matters Initiative Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

12. Place Matters Strategy Key Information Sources • The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Strategic Consulting Group • MD Foster Parent Association • Foster Care Provider Council • Maryland Association of Resources for Families and Youth • StateStat • Case Reviews: Permanency, Levels of Care, Proximity • GOC Resource Development Plan • Group Home Census • Treatment Foster Home Inventory • Quality Assurance/CFSR Reviews Nothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home

13. Major Initiatives 2007-2008 • 1000 by 2010: Foster Parent Recruitment/Retention • Family Centered Practice • Service Array/Resource Development • Provider Accountability • Focus on Permanency & Wellbeing • Contract Monitoring/Quality of Care • Geographic Proximity • Practice Improvement • Family Centered/Community Based/Child Focused • Placement Protocols • Level of Care Assessment • Placement Decision Making Criteria

14. Place MattersNothing Matters More to a Child Than a Place to Call Home Cathy F. Mols, LCSW-C Executive Director, Social Services Administration Maryland Department of Human Resources cmols@dhr.state.md.us 410-767-7216