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Fostering Family Connections Grant

Fostering Family Connections Grant. Department of Human Services State of Hawai‘i EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc. May 11, 2010 – Page 1. Early ‘Ohana Intervention (FGDM). Enhanced ‘Ohana Connections (Family Connections). May 11, 2010 – Page 2. Early ‘Ohana Intervention (FGDM).

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Fostering Family Connections Grant

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  1. Fostering Family Connections Grant Department of Human Services State of Hawai‘i EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc. May 11, 2010 – Page 1

  2. Early ‘Ohana Intervention (FGDM) Enhanced ‘Ohana Connections(Family Connections) May 11, 2010 – Page 2

  3. Early ‘Ohana Intervention(FGDM) Early ‘Ohana Interventions provide immediate family finding and family connections work to prevent children from entering foster care and if removed, placement with relative/kin. Early ‘Ohana Interventions build upon Hawai‘i’s long-standing practice of family group decision making called ‘Ohana Conferencing, and upon Hawai‘i’s recent work in providing family connections for children in foster care. Hawai‘i’s Current Program Context May 11, 2010 – Page 3

  4. Early ‘Ohana Intervention (FGDM) Process • EPIC Facilitators & CWS Emergency Response Team / Crisis Workers have established an immediate On-Call response to randomly selected cases. • The Early ‘Ohana Intervention takes place in coordination with the SW, at first contact or as soon as possible within the next day or two, with family presenting to the SW: • A Safety Plan to avoid placement or; • Family members ready to take placement of the child(ren) with the SW’s approval. • Cases are followed up with a full ‘Ohana Conference (FGDM) within the next two weeks for a thorough decision making process. May 11, 2010 – Page 4

  5. EARLY ‘OHANA INTERVENTION TRACK • IMMEDIATE FAMILY FINDING • Process: • CPSS Intake • EPIC Database • Verbal List from SW & Parents • Preliminary Internet Search • EARLY ‘OHANA INTERVENTION • (Placement Prevention) • Process: • Safety Plan • Preliminary Service Plan • Licensing Information & Plan • Visitation Plan (if in placement) PROCESSES INTAKE / INVESTIGATION Placement? Early ‘Ohana Intervention (FGDM) NO REGULAR CASE MANAGEMENT TRACK (Comparison Group) YES Randomly Chosen? NO YES w/in 48-72 hours • ‘OHANA CONFERENCES • Process: • Review Safety Plan • Review/Create Service Plan • Discuss Legal Timelines • Visitation Plans w/in 15-30 days again in about 90 days for estimated 20% May 11, 2010 – Page 5

  6. EARLY ‘OHANA INTERVENTION TRACK • IMMEDIATE FAMILY FINDING • Outcomes: • Family located • Family not located • EARLY ‘OHANA INTERVENTION • (Placement Prevention) • Outcomes (In order of preference): • In home w/ Safety Plan • Placed with Kin • Placed with Non-Kin Early ‘Ohana Interventions (FGDM) PROJECTED OUTCOMES w/in 48-72 hours May 11, 2010 – Page 6 • ‘OHANA CONFERENCES • Outcomes (In order of preference): • Remain in home w/ Safety Plan • Returned home w/ Safety Plan • Placed with Kin • Placed with Non-Kin w/in 15-30 days again in about 90 days for estimated 20%

  7. Enhanced ‘Ohana Connections(Family Connections) Enhanced ‘Ohana Connections revisits family connections and permanency options for children ages 4 – 16 in foster care who do not currently have permanent legal and/or emotional family connections. ‘Ohana Connections re-weaves the fabric of ‘ohana for these foster children. Enhanced ‘Ohana Connections builds upon Hawai‘i’s long-established family group decision making process (‘Ohana Conferencing) and its three years of successful work in ‘Ohana Finding providing family connections for children in foster care. Current Program Context May 11, 2010 – Page 7

  8. Enhanced ‘Ohana Connections(Family Connections) • 4-16 year old children who have been in Foster Care over one year • EPIC ‘Ohana Connections Specialist (OCS) & CWS Social Workers are partnering to identify family and establish connections with the child(ren) • The OCS researches each case thoroughly by: • Case mining the DHS/CWS computer case logs; • EPIC’s ‘Ohana Conferencing (FGDM) database & case files; • In-depth meetings with the SW to discuss each case in detail • Cases are randomly selected by family, and then each child is treated as an individual case, so that all appropriate siblings in a family are treated equally • Cases are followed up with a full ‘Ohana Conference (FGDM) or Youth Circle as needed May 11, 2010 – Page 8

  9. ENHANCED ‘OHANA CONNECTIONS TRACK • ENHANCED FAMILY FINDING • Process: • DHS & Epic case mining • CPSS research • Internet searches • Outreach to family, former foster parent, kin, etc. • Prison searches • Documentation • ENHANCED ‘OHANA CONNECTIONS • Process: • Family contact & engagement • Ongoing Assessment • Team building • Development of committed emotional connections with family/kin • Provide support for the child/youth, kin, & foster parents regarding family connections PROCESSES DHS Foster Care List Ages 4-16 For Children & Youth (4-16) in Foster Care for 1 year or more REGULAR CASE MANAGEMENT TRACK (Comparison Group) Could get ‘Ohana Conference, Family Finding, or nothing. Enhanced ‘Ohana Connections(Family Connections) Randomly Chosen? NO YES • ‘OHANA CONFERENCES (FGDM) • Pulling everyone together at key decision points through ‘Ohana Conferencing is always an option. • Process: • Identify permanent legal home with family/kin • Commitment for an ongoing relationship with family/kin • Visitation with family/kin May 11, 2010 – Page 9

  10. ENHANCED ‘OHANA CONNECTIONS TRACK • ENHANCED FAMILY FINDING • Outcomes: • Family found • Family not found • Maternal & Paternal family documented • ENHANCED ‘OHANA CONNECTIONS • Outcomes: • Family connections established • Family commitment • (adoption or legal guardianship) • Non-kin commitment • (adoption or legal guardianship) • Foster Placement is stable Enhanced ‘Ohana Connections(Family Connections) PROJECTED OUTCOMES May 11, 2010 – Page 10

  11. Under Act 199, approved by the 2008 Hawaii State Legislature, the Department of Human Services must demonstrate a preference for placing children needing protective services with an appropriate relative pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 587, the Child Protective Act. • Builds upon Family Group Decision Making already in place in Hawai‘i (‘Ohana Conferencing) • Facilitators are trained and a rigorous quality assurance process is already in place • Good partnership and collaboration with the Department of Human Services, the community, Native Hawaiian organizations and Family Court Family Connections Grant Hawai‘i’s Strengths & Successes May 11, 2010 – Page 11

  12. Family Connections Grant Family Finding Process already in place, with successful Family Finding for three years Case randomization process options were piloted and evaluated, and a case randomization process was finalized Forms, procedures, training and outreach have been put into place Hired staff, moved into new office space. Office space is operational and equipped Case referral process modified and refined Kevin Campbell provided one and a half day trainings for EPIC staff, CWS staff, community partners and GALs. Hawai‘i’s Strengths & Successes

  13. Early ‘Ohana Intervention (FGDM) Strengths and Successes • Early ‘Ohana Intervention piloted in February • As of March 30, 2010, 14 cases have been randomized into the study • Eight Early ‘Ohana meetings were scheduled and • Six Follow-Up ‘Ohana Conferences were held May 11, 2010 – Page 13

  14. Enhanced ‘Ohana Connections(Family Connections) • Builds on a Family Finding process already in place • Good relationship/Partnership with DHS and community • Staff in place • Case assignments began in February • As of March 30, 23 cases with 76 children were assigned to the intervention group • As of March 30, eleven families and 26 children had case files completed and contact established Hawai‘i’s Strengths & Successes May 11, 2010 – Page 14

  15. Hawai‘i’s Challenges • Pilot referral process needed to be refined to make abstract plans from the proposal fit realities of practice in the trenches • The process required a refocus in practice and coordination with CWS first responders and EPIC to prevent removal from home whenever possible • Definitions of target populations needed refinement to assure a large enough population for the program • Unforeseeable delays in training State and EPIC workers • Limited availability of qualified personnel in the Islands to appropriately staff EPIC • Develop a consistent operational measurement for the quality of “family connections.” May 11, 2010 – Page 15

  16. Lessons Learned Difficulties will arise from adapting abstract proposals to the realities of practice Be pragmatic & flexible while maintaining fidelity to the spirit of the model Don’t give up – it will be hard work but the goal & the outcomes are worth the effort May 11, 2010 – Page 16

  17. Mahalo from the Department of Human Services State of Hawai‘i EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc. May 11, 2010 – Page 17

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