2008 Joint Conference Shoulder to Shoulder: Strengthening Partnerships for Positive Outcomes

1. 2008 Joint Conference Shoulder to Shoulder: Strengthening Partnerships for Positive Outcomes Doubletree International Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre, Toronto, Ontario

2. “From Co-operation to Co-Location: The Experience of Integrating Child Protection Services in a Neighbourhood Based Organization” Tuesday, June 3, 2008 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

3. Presenters: Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region Henny Laurin, Senior Manager, Assessment and Service Delivery Julie Watts, Supervisor Special Services Langs Farm Village Association Bill Davidson, Executive Director Kerry-Lynn Wilkie, Director of Partnerships, Programs and Evaluation

4. Agenda

5. Overview of Langs Farm Village Association Mission Langs Farm Village Association enhances community participation and well-being by providing accessible programs and services for people of all ages. Vision Creating healthy and engaged communities where individuals are valued and supported.

6. Principles • A person’s health and well-being is impacted by income, housing, employment, education social support, food security and the environment. • Each person’s knowledge, skills and experience enrich our communities. • The health and well being of individuals is enhanced by involvement in their community. • Shared ownership and responsibility for their community is achieved through positive relationships among individuals, staff and volunteers. • Services are welcoming, flexible and responsive to the changing needs of communities. • Working together with volunteers, staff and community partners facilitates easier access to services in the community. www.langs.org

7. Overview of Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region A community where all children can grow up being safe, healthy and loved. Finding the way forward with our community to protect children, to support all children and strengthen families, and to develop a caring environment for children.

8. Family and Children's Services is the Children's Aid Society for the Region of Waterloo. We are incorporated as a charitable, non-profit social service agency working under the authority of Ontario child welfare legislation.

9. Overview of the History and Highlights of the Partnership Development FACS one of the organizations around the first planning and discussion tables regarding the need for services in the Langs Farm Community

10. Highlights of the Partnership Participation in joint planning days, including the strategic planning sessions and consultations Pilot activities, including a co-facilitated overnight camp In-service training or information sessions for staff

11. Strategic Directions • Well Connected Community • Responsive Services • Children, Youth and Families • Diversity • MCYS Directions • Permanence • Linked Communities • Differential Response • Alternative Dispute • Resolution • Other • Collaborative Inventions Model of Service Child Welfare Transformation Community Capacity Building Differential Response Permanence Legal Other Agency Initiatives CORE Services Comm. Dev. Adol. Team Family Violence Team FGC Kinship Care Family Based Care Outreach/ Going Beyond SAFE/ PRIDE OnLAC Adoption ADR/ Legal 40 Assets/ Supports Education Strategy Diversity Multi Year Funding Multi Year Results Business Plan Single Information System (SIS) Quality Assurance, Research and Accountability

12. Community Capacity Building Plan: The Purpose • Increasing community capacity to respond to the various needs of child welfare clients • Responding to local priorities which will improve the safety, permanency and well -being of children and youth at risk and their families. • Strengthening integration across the broader children’s services system • Promoting partnerships and collaboration

13. Community Capacity Building Plan: The Process Review child protection referral and client profiles and trends Review community needs and existing capacities Consult with key stakeholders Identify opportunities to adjust service delivery Develop plan and recommendations

14. Community Capacity Building Plan: The Child Welfare Goals • Prevention and Early Intervention approaches will reduce the need for protection services.   • Families will have increased access to community-based, outcome-focused services that aim to improve their parenting capacity and thus reduce the need for protection services. • Families will have an increased exposure/access to an array of resources and supports-increasing social support networks thus reducing the need for protection services. • Families will require shorter periods of involvement with FACS.

15. Community Capacity Building Plan: The Child Welfare Goals • Collaborative relationships with community partners will provide a more integrated service for families, develop stronger interagency networks and foster a collective responsibility and involvement in child protection. • Children will be more visible in the community. • Offering interventions based on program models that are grounded in research and have been evaluated with proven/known outcomes with similar populations; significantly improves our ability to achieve positive outcomes with families.

16. Community Capacity Plan:The Local Goals • Supports services that match with our identified service priorities • Enhances existing service • Increases service availability • Targets under-serviced areas and service gaps • Supports services that are evidence-based (proven/expected to be effective based on research) • Supports cost-effective services (i.e. services that can be leveraged through the provision of in kind services such as space, program materials, staffing, reduced fees etc.) • Builds on existing partnerships

17. Neighbourhood Level Involvement with the Community Plan • Langs Farm Village Association (LFVA) identified as one of the higher needs neighbourhoods in Cambridge and we were approached by Family and Children’s Services to be a pilot site for one of the Incredible Years programs • Program began in September 2004 • Very well received by the community and families – introduced additional programs, and LFVA co-facilitates and provides child care • Funding through the Community Capacity (MCSS) secured in 2006 to further support the project

18. Key Features of Co-Delivery Model of Service • Interactive parent/child group early intervention and prevention programs which include parent/child activities, parent discussion, personalized video feedback and developmentally stimulating activities for children (as applicable per program) • Personalized intake process by group facilitators will help to engage hard to reach/isolated clients and provide an opportunity to identify each client’s unique barriers to accessing service and offer appropriate support as needed. • Co-delivery of programs by neighbourhood organization staff and FACS staff. • LFVA neighbourhood residents hired to provide childcare

19. Key Features of Co-Delivery Model of Service • Access to community supports including children’s mental health services, children’s developmental services, including speech and language. • Children and families will have access to a broad range of services and supports offered at Neighbourhood Organizations, which is particularly important when working with families who present with more chronic and multi-layered problems associated with neglect and socio-economic advantage.

20. Benefits for Families

21. Parent Comments from Make the Connection Program “I loved the program because you spent an hour talking about a topic and then you went to your babe and spent the next hour applying it. It felt reassuring to be observed and being told that you are doing something amazing. It was nice because as women (mothers) I don’t believe we hear that enough. Just the taping itself was awesome because you do something and the "Magic Moment" happens and I don’t think you actually really see it until you see it on tape. It’s a wonderful feeling.” “There was no stress or strain on the conversation or fun. I think that by joining forces, Langs Farm and Family and Children’s Services have created an environment of understanding and sharing. No one questioned who was there for children services and no one cared – we all shared and bonded over our children.”

22. Benefits for the Community • Introduced programming to the community by planning workshops in existing programs • Within a few months, community residents were recognizing FACS staff, talking with them after programs and were asking when they would return again. The community context provided a comfortable environment for introducing FACS staff and co-delivered programming • Participants accept each other – not a sense of where they are from/referred from • Many requests continue for the co-delivered programming • Opportunities for community residents to connect with resources of partner organizations

23. What is the Impact?Statistics

24. Benefits for Community “Having been trained in Make the Connection 1 and 2, I find it so useful in all programs in which I am involved. Being able to observe Mums and their children and look for the bonding and attachment cues that I learned about has enabled me to respond to and direct Mums who would benefit from Make the Connection, as well as use the tools I have learned in leading other groups. I have had the opportunity to speak with my supervisor about concerns regarding Mum-baby interaction and see that person get involved with Make the Connection. Observing the Mums interacting with their babies and making suggestions for eye contact, gentle touch, singing, rhymes, soothing voices, etc. has made my program so much more meaningful for the Mums and for myself.” A story from a Peer Worker trained and co-facilitating Make the Connection Program

25. Benefits for the Staff Involved

26. Benefits for the Organization • increased staff knowledge of and access to the Children’s Aid system and supports • increased opportunities to support at-risk families, including those that are open files • increased awareness of our programs and services – more referrals to programs/services; opportunities to work with other teams at FACS (ie Christmas Family Sponsorship)

27. Benefits for the Organization • intentional opportunities for staff to interact (ie Open House; lunches/social activities) • increase in families accessing programs and services (Resource Centre example) • increase in families’ comfort level in asking FACS staff questions on an informal basis (ie coming by their office)

28. Benefits for the Organization • Joint training with staff • Shared resources • Enhanced opportunities for service coordination

29. The Transition from Co-operation to Co-Location • opportunity for Langs Farm to acquire additional space • invitation to current partners • response/planning process • “no wrong door” • implementation – ie signage

30. Shared Values, Vision and Philosophy Values • Collaboration • Effective communication • Accessible • Inclusive • Safety of participants and staff • Flexibility in response to community needs • High quality of service • Accountability

31. Vision Strengthening individuals, families and community through a collaborative approach respecting the diversity and assets of all staff, participants, volunteers and the broader community. Principles Partners will provide and share resources, services, and expertise consistent with their respective missions and purposes in accordance with the following principles: A diverse range of services will be offered in a co-ordinated and integrated fashion to prevent duplication of service. All programs and services will be offered to the residents in the Langs catchment area as well as the greater Cambridge community. The partner organization will share the cost of the program supplies, refreshments, advertising and equipment where it is economically and practically feasible to meet program requirements.

32. Family Visiting Centre

33. What’s Next? • Continued work with co-delivered programs and services • Further integration of participants • Links with Family Visiting program • Increased work with other teams at FACS (ie Adolescent team, etc) • Exploring ways to co-sponsor/supervise students • Plan for new building • Integration with other partners • Joint training with organizational staff

34. Lessons Learned/Tips