3-5-7 Implementation Kern County 3-5-7 Model Originated By Darla Henry

1. 3-5-7 ImplementationKern County3-5-7 Model Originated By Darla Henry

2. Did you know? Average Statistics for youth entering Foster Care: * Over 20% of children in care will have at least 3 placements many with 7 or more (Hochman, Hochman & Miller 2004). * Of 235 children entering foster care, within the first 4 months, 123 had a placement change and 33% of the 123 had 5.7 placement changes in 4 months (Barber & Delfabbra 2003). Unresolved loss/grief = barriers to permanency for youth. Unresolved loss/grief = barriers to healthy relationships over span of a lifetime.

3. Basic Overview of Kern County Model • Collaborative effort between public and private entities • Kern County = Aspiranet and Kern County CPS • Pilot program identified 20 youth from FFA’s, WRAP and Group Homes • Year long commitment from Social Workers • Administrative Meetings • Monthly Implementation Community Meetings • Support Groups for peers and caregivers • Trickle up and down of information, concerns, barriers, etc.

4. Flexibility Flexibility within the 3-5-7 Model regarding WHO completes the Lifebook (i.e. County Social Worker, Foster Family Agency Social Worker, Foster/Adoptive Parent, Mental Health Worker, etc).

5. Getting Started in Kern County • Buy in! Known “buy in” from administrative leaders/”upper management” critical. • Invited administrators from CPS, Aspiranet, WRAP, CPS/DHS and Kern County MH. • Key players need to have decision making power, basic understanding of model and influence over staff. • Initial meetings with administrators to share 3-5-7 program, ideas, concerns, input with pilot program parameters. • Took meeting information to first Implementation Community Meeting to ask staff to provide us with youth who fit the parameters. • Took this back to administrators for further input and to get approval with tools of measurement (i.e. how we determine progress or not).

6. Determining Population • Interest list from 3-5-7 Training was a starting point for youth and staff. • Provided basic list to administrators and discussed further. • Parameters that were determined for youth in pilot program: • Minimum of 3 years in our of home care • Multiple placements/placement disruptions in last 6 months • Significant loss: • Biological parent/caretaker/sibling death • Siblings adopted by other families • Failed guardianship/adoption • Abuse while in care • Reunified and removed again • Siblings separated (placed apart) • Failed relative placement

7. Determining Measurements • Valid & Invalid: • ICD 10 – major depression inventory 10 questions, simple to complete, read and measure. • Relationships Inventory – not valid but tool specific to our attempts to increase relational ability. • Achenbach – much more complicated and requires teacher and caretaker involvement. • Thought behind this was including school as partner also youth often have issues at school. • Suggest using this on case by case basis. • Placement changes – easiest and most basic means of measurement. • Legal Status changes – Long Term Foster Care to Guardianship, etc. • Frequency of measurement: • Initial measurement • “Exit” measurement

8. RolesWho does what and how do we decide? • Flexible and county dependent • Kern County – CPS/DHS worker initially responsible for coordinating “team” members • Team members to decide along with input from child • Child driven

9. Now What? • Follow-up • Meetings • Roll Out

10. Where Kern County Is Today • All youth have Lifebooks in progress • Beginning roll out process • Resuming meetings with administrators

11. Roll Out Process • Kern County FFA Consortium • Sign up sheet to provide FFA staff with training • Training will be throughout the year (one time per quarter) • DHS/CPS Unit Training • New staff as coming in will be introduced to 3-5-7 Model

12. Questions?