Linkages: CalWORKs and Child Welfare Collaboration To Improve Outcomes

1. Linkages: CalWORKs and Child Welfare Collaboration To Improve Outcomes Child Welfare Conference 2008 Monterey, California

2. Presenters Danna Fabella, CFPIC, Linkages Project Director Calaveras: Dave Godzina, Robin Bunting, and Mikey Habberstad Del Norte: Susan Wilson, Cathi Strait, and Kathy Murray Stanislaus: Jennifer Valencia, and Bergen Filgas

3. History of the Project • Genesis with Private Foundation • Learned of work in another state that provided cross-systems services • Engaged Public Sector at State and Local Level • Funded Trip to See and Learn About Other State’s Program • Facilitated Development of Shared Vision for Serving Families in California

4. History cont. • Vision Created in 1998, 1999 • Work began in 2000 • Planning Phase 2000-2002 • Three Stages of Implementation • Pilot Phase 2003 • Second Implementation Phase 2005 • Current Implementation Phase 2006-2011 • Steady Expansion to Include 40 of California’s 58 Counties, Representing over ¾ of state’s population

5. Foundation of Vision Poverty is a risk factor for child abuse and neglect: Families with annual incomes below $15,000, compared to families with annual incomes above $30,000, are over 22 times more likely to experience some form of maltreatment. (US Dept HHS)

6. Shared Vision • Child Welfare Services can serve as an anti-poverty program in helping families to achieve Self-Sufficiency • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families can serve as a child abuse prevention program by providing families the resources they need to promote safety and well-being for their children

7. Pioneer Counties • Alameda Stanislaus • Del Norte Tehama • Mendocino Yolo • Merced • Orange • San Francisco • San Luis Obispo • Santa Barbara • Sonoma

8. Phase II Counties: • Calaveras Sacramento • Contra Costa Siskiyou • Fresno Sutter • Humboldt Trinity • Kern Ventura • Los Angeles • Madera • Marin • Napa

9. Phase III Counties • El Dorado • Imperial • Nevada • San Bernardino • San Benito • Santa Clara • Sierra • Tulare

10. Who’s Being Served by Linkages? Information, Referral & Screening Community Based Family Services Risk Assessment & Prevention Linkages Focus: Child Welfare Families CalWORKs Families Mutual Families Ongoing Coordinated Services* *Assessment, Case Planning, Case Management, Direct/ Contracted Services

11. Target Populations & Key Strategies See Snapshot Handout Number of Counties (Total Counties Reporting = 29)

12. Other Innovative Populations & Strategies • Mutual homeless cases • Teen parents • Drug felons/drug court • FR aftercare • Relative caregivers • Truancy Court response See Snapshot Handout coordination

13. Most Common Outcomes Number of Counties (Total Counties Reporting = 29)

14. How Linkages Matters • CalWORKs can provide services to help prevent families from entering CWS. • Approaching families as a team provides stronger intervention to help families with complex needs. • Coordinating services for mutual families can increase safety & improve economic self-sufficiency. • Joint outreach to sanctioned families involved with child welfare removes barriers to participation. • CalWORKs families working to reunify can receive non-cash services to promote returning home safely and quickly.

15. How Linkages Matters • Family Maintenance mutual clients can access additional supports (e.g., cash assistance, employment services, MH, DV, SA, Medi-Cal or diversion services). • CalWORKs can provide post-reunification services, including child care & other safety plan services to reduce likelihood of recurrence. • Transition-age youth who are parents can routinely be assessed for and linked to CalWORKs supportive services to ensure economic self-sufficiency.

16. For More Information • Danna.Fabella@cfpic.org • 925-324-5258 • Website: cfpic.org

17. Questions?