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Working with DCFS: What Early Intervention Providers Need to Know

Working with DCFS: What Early Intervention Providers Need to Know. IECC Conference Tacoma, WA—5/06/16 Julie Fisher, MSW, LICSW Infant Mental Health Clinical Supervisor & Lead CHERISH Trainer Kindering — Bellevue, WA. Today’s Learning Objectives.

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Working with DCFS: What Early Intervention Providers Need to Know

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  1. Working with DCFS:What Early Intervention Providers Need to Know IECC Conference Tacoma, WA—5/06/16 Julie Fisher, MSW, LICSW Infant Mental Health Clinical Supervisor & Lead CHERISH Trainer Kindering—Bellevue, WA

  2. Today’s Learning Objectives • Show increased understanding of the child welfare system and its terminology • Explain the early intervention policies that apply to children in foster care • Create a plan for incorporating more relationship building into your work with child-welfare involved families

  3. Foster Children and Developmental Delays Foster children under age three experience developmental delays at TEN times the rate found in the general population --National Center for Children in Poverty, Sept. 2010

  4. Intersection of Systems Early Intervention Infant Mental Health Child Welfare—Well-Being, Safety, & Permanence

  5. Developmental ConsiderationsCAPTA & Title 1 • The Child Abuse & Prevention Treatment Act (CAPTA) of 2003 requires that infants and toddlers involved in substantiated cases of maltreatment be referred to EI services (renewed in 2010) • Title I - Extension of Child and Family Services Programs—Section 101 (9/30/11) Requires each state plan for oversight and coordination of health care services for any child in a foster care placement to include an outline of: (1) the monitoring and treatment of emotional trauma associated with a child's maltreatment and removal from homehttp://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2883#summary/libraryofcongress

  6. Child Welfare System--Who • DCFS/Children’s Administration (CA) • DSHS (larger umbrella) • CPS (Child Protective Services) • CWS (Child Welfare Services) • Foster Parent • Relative Caregiver/Kinship Caregiver • Fictive Kin • Suitable Adult Placement • Birth/Biological Parent & Other family members • CASA/GAL • CHET Screener • Visit Supervisor/Transporter

  7. Child Welfare System—some terms • FTDM • SPM • CPT • CHET Screen • FCAP Report • IFPS/FPS • FRS • FVS • DLR • ICWA • AA • Placement Desk • FAR • Court Report • ICPC

  8. Resources & Supports for out-of-home caregivers • Dependency 101 • Treehouse (King County) • Caregiver Report to the Court • Visitation Rules • Free memberships, etc. (state parks, aquarium, museums, some YMCAs) • Guidelines for foster child activities • PRIDE classes (to become a foster parent) • Respite Care • Fostering Well Being Care Coordination Unit • Ombudsoffice • Caregiver Connection (Newsletter)

  9. Foster Parent Supports • Foster Parent Liaisons • Fostering Together/Eastern WA University • Private Foster Licensing Agencies (ex: Amara, Olive Crest, Bethany, CCS, City Church…) • F.I.R.S.T—Foster Intervention Retention & Support Team • Western WA (Region 2 and 3): (253) 219-6782 • Eastern WA (Region1): (509) 928-6697 • FPAWS—Foster Parent Association of WA State • www.fpaws.org • Foster Parent & Caregiver Crisis & Support Line • 1-800-301-1868

  10. Foster Parent Consultation Team (1624 Team) A consultation team that enables foster parent representatives to bring issues before high-level Children’s Administration leaders was established through a provision in a 2007 state law. ----------------------------------------------------------------- That team, known as the Children’s Administration Foster Parent Consultation Team (1624 Team), includes four representatives from each of the state’s three regions. Team members were elected in late 2015. The statewide team meets quarterly.

  11. Kinship/Relative Caregiver supports A Resource Guide for Relative as Parents: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/publications/documents/22-996.pdf Services/Kinship Navigators: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-and-community-services-kinship-care/kinship-care https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/ALTSA/hcs/documents/kinship/WAStateKinshipNavigatorsContactList.pdf

  12. Birth Parent Education & Supports • Dependency 101 (& Dependency 201—6 week course) • Parents for Parents (P4P) • Parenting Coaches • Family Treatment Court • Navos’ SEC • Various mandated services: parenting classes, chemical dependency treatment, MH treatment, DV treatment, etc.

  13. Planning for relationship building in your work What to call the foster child? What to call the foster parents? Who has legal rights? Who is the ESIT parent? Who signs releases? (EI policies) Should I call the social worker? The CASA/GAL? When?

  14. ESIT Parent; Legal Guardian • ESIT Parent cannot be the state social worker, but the state social worker (legal guardian) determines who the ESIT parent is (usually the person child is living with): http://www.del.wa.gov/publications/esit/docs/ESIT_practice_guide_foster_care.pdf • Legal Guardian —the DCFS SW is the child’s legal guardian.

  15. How do I reach the social worker? The CASA/GAL? Children's Administration Staff Directories: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/foster-parenting/childrens-administration-staff-directories • CASA: • King County Superior Court Dependency CASA206.477.4245 • Pierce County Juvenile Court CASA/GAL Program253.798.7948 • Snohomish County Juvenile Court CASA/VGAL Program425.388.7854

  16. Where do I find the time?

  17. A moment for Reflection

  18. You will likely hear about… • Sleeping and eating concerns • Aggression, anxiety, withdrawal • Caregiver feeling incompetent re: how to help THIS child (feelings of rejection) • Symptoms related to Prenatal Substance Exposure (PSE)…dysregulation/sensory issues • Systems concerns/complaints • Stress regarding being in limbo • Visits and their effects on children in care

  19. Visits with Birth Parents • Mandated by court • We can make suggestions to Children’s Admin Social Worker/advocate for best practice • Issues that come up: • Nap time • Long time in car • Lack of education for visit supervisors • Environment for visits • Length of time in visits • Parenting coach? • Things said to children during visits

  20. Transitioning homes • Planning is key; slow it down • Transition attachment relationship—biological systems cued into primary caregiver • Replicating routines; sensory experiences • Pre and post placement contact considerations

  21. Another moment for Reflection

  22. DCFS Resources Parents Guide to CPS: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/publications/documents/22-484.pdf FTDM FAQ: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/publications/documents/22-1171.pdf Understanding the Dependency Court Process: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/publications/documents/22-1499.pdf Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds: http://ofco.wa.gov/contact/

  23. DCFS Resources Family Assessment Response (FAR) Brochure: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/publications/documents/22-1508.pdf Fostering Well Being (phone number to call—medical info): https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/publications/documents/22-1512.pdf Impact of Trauma (defines trauma/gives tips for caregivers): https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/publications/documents/22-1591.pdf Caregiver Connection (newsletter): https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/CA/fos/documents/CC-APRIL16.pdf

  24. DCFS Resources Life Story Book: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/publications/documents/22-485.pdf Guideline for Foster Child Activities: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/publications/documents/22-533.pdf ITEIP: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/publications/documents/22-645.pdf (Explains EI/how to access) • Rights of Children & Youth in Foster Care: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/publications/documents/22-1632.pdf

  25. Books for Foster & Adopted Children • Kids Need to Be Safe by J. Nelson • The Way I Feel by J. Cain • Maybe Days by J. Wilgocki & M. Wright • Hug by JezAlborough • Families Change: A Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights by J. Nelson • My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss • Calm-Down Time by Elizabeth Verdick

  26. child well-being resources • www.talaris.org • www.adoptmed.org • www.abcintervention.com • www.nccp.org • www.circleofsecurity.org • www.zerotothree.org • www.childtrauma.org • www.cpeip.fsu.edu

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