Dates, Locations and Times for Work Groups

June 6, 2008 Work Groups will meet at the Woodward Park Regional Library, 944 E. Perrin Avenue.
Work Group 1 - 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Work Group 2 - 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Work Group 3 - 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

June 27, 2008 Work Groups will meet at the Fresno Unified Civic Center, 1833 E. Street.
Work Group 1 - 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Work Group 2 - 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Work Group 3 - 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

April 25, 2008 Work Group 3 Notes

Current Training and Needs
Concrete needs assessment for training
Training at different levels
- administration
- individuals
- foster parents
- biological parent
Mentoring programs for social workers, foster parents
Need link between department, foster parents, association and service providers (website) that is maintained and updated

Courts
- “baby courts” – IMH
- Training for judges, others on how decision making affects kids

Foster Parents
Therapeutic foster homes – interventions (Delaware training)
E.P.U. training matrix
Training for foster parents based on the needs of kids they’re caring for
Interagency support
- inform foster parents about resource in community
Specific training on how behaviors of abused/neglected kids are different from other kids
FFA v. county foster homes –all trainings must cover these issues
- same type of training
- same opportunity for training
Infant/toddler training and certification for foster parents
In-home services/training delivery
Teen foster youth with babies – training of foster parents of teens on how to care for baby together. SB 500 – targeted.

Social Workers
Basic information for young staff
- developmental information – pre-service
- baseline knowledge of normal stages for assessment
- how to remove kids
Training that is related to changes in how work is done
On-site technical assistance, follow-up on training so that it becomes applied to actual practice
Relevant, hands-on
Embedded as part of policy change
Infant-toddler treatment team – weekly inter-departmental meeting – staffing a couple of cases per week
Incorporate perspective of clients
Include foster parent trainers in case worker training
Foster parent trainings are open but not many social workers ever come
Specialized units for more in depth training
- liaison like R.C. liaison
- other specialists – early intervention
Turnover of social worker staff is an obstacle
Everyone needs basic understanding of development despite turnover
Embed training in supervision
- tools
- reflective supervision
- mentoring, one on one
Focus on kid as a child, not case
Social workers need a nurturing environment in order to nurture children and families

Side Issues
Needs more CASAs
Shortage of mental health services
Problem: as kid improves, s/he is moved out of specialized home

April 25, 2008 Work Group 2 Notes

Improving Foster Parent/Bio Parent Teaming
Informal icebreakers between foster and birth parents focused on child
- not required, should be?
PRIDE training – “new school” foster parents
Team meetings: now only occur when there’s a crisis
Have a foster parent more as a mentor to bio parent?
Should expect on-going relationship after reunification between foster parent and biological parent
Tell Foster parents at orientation training that they are expected to have these relationships
Line social worker role in promoting these relationships for the benefit of the child
County has foster parent resource social workers
Screening of foster parents up front about their expectations and department goals
Lifebooks, photos, mementos to ease transition
County sponsored social events for birth parents and foster parents

Mentoring of bio parent – start off with social worker there the first few times to allay concerns
Birth parents who have gone through experience serve as mentor to birth parents currently in system – parent partners
Get bio parents involved in medical appointments, hands on training in how to care for kid (especially with special needs)

Foster parent recruitment/expectations
- word of mouth
- specific child focused
Require participation in other events – Head Start,

Sibling relationships
Relationship between foster parents who have siblings placed among them
Some FFAs will not allow sibling visits in their foster homes

Challenges
Foster parents (especially who want to adopt kid) may not want bio parent relationship
Lack of uniform foster parent training on these bonding issues
No training/education support on how to handle conflict/tension in bio parent- foster parent relationship for good of child
Visits between bio parent and kid
- foster parents not always comfortable supervising
- Relatives more amenable to do this

Case Worker- Foster Parent Relationship and Others
Foster Parents don’t hear from social workers
FFA social worker can serve as the intermediary
FFA practices not consistent
Public Health Nurses need to be part of team with foster parent and social workers
Caseworker caseloads too high to properly do all of these things

Law enforcement – role?
- training in trauma of removal

Court/Attorneys
· not getting information from social workers, foster parents bio parents most foster parents don’t come
· Foster parents don’t know they can submit information to court
· Parents don’t get a copy of the court report before court and get in and are shocked to read report
· Have team meeting to go over report prior to court hearing

Training
More training for foster parents on early childhood development and traumatized children
DCFS social worker training to get line workers change mentality/attitude
Recruit birth parents to be part of foster parent training program
Learn about special discipline techniques for traumatized youth
Parking lot issue
Shelter “tea party”

FOR NEXT TIME… - Mental Health and Child Welfare – Start May agenda

April 25, 2008 Work Group 1 Notes

Assessment
Need comprehensive development screening of kids – ongoing
- Timing of assessment
Assessment is piecemeal and discombobulated – need a continuum of care/services and plan for future follow-up and assessment incorporating medical services
Decision tree or flow chart as child develops
Something like an IEP
SMART model of care
U.C. Davis clinic
Basic Programming through CASE
Can’t have this at just one location/resource site?
Talk to service providers about siting issues
CCFMG/UCSF Medical Clinic

Child Care
Public Health nurses link through child care
More child care and head start available for foster parents
Coordinating with foster parent’s day care
Head Start
- some sites have waiting lists
- some sites have no kids for open slots
- only half day
Child Care
- centralized eligibility list

Department
Social Workers – not enough knowledge on development of kids
Get caught between court and F.H.
Hard to get hold of social workers
Timely responses from social workers
Dedicated unit and workers focused on this population?
Caseloads at CPS level
Once kid starts getting services, no follow-through to make sure foster parents are taking kids and reports going to department and court

Foster Parents
Create more qualified or specialized foster parents
- Rates

Needs
Help foster parents with enrollment in child care services
Foster parents don’t know what resources are out there
Resource Guide
- County First 5 did one – Fresno to do
- 211 database linked to First 5 website
Wallet cards/wheels on development changes/levels
· Transportation problems
- driver and doctor appointments

Resources/Available
· No waiting list now at Regional Center

Resources/Development
Healthy steps program could be expanded/accessed
Warm-line

Resources - Need
Lack of occupational therapy, speech development
Lack of knowledge on child development among providers
Speech/hearing – kid must have significant delay – over 3 is through S.D.
Not enough CASAs for kids 0-5. Now recruiting
Backlog at infant mental health
MDs not trained in treatment A/N kids – special clinic at C.H.?
- Continuity of care
- Experience
- Transportation to doctor
Children’s hospital not taking Blue Cross Medi-Cal
-- eligibility unit could fix this
CCFMG/UCSF Medical Clinic

Trainings (for training group)
Educating decision makers about infant/mental health
CVRC/DCFS questionnaire and training on at-risk 0-3

Next Work Group Meetings - New Date and Place

The date for the May work groups has been changed from May 30th to June 6th.

The June 6th work groups will meet at the Woodward Park Regional Library, 944 E. Perrin Ave.

Infant Development Wheels

Thanks to all for attending last week's meetings. We got a lot of great ideas and insights. As always it's a pleasure to work with you.
Several of you asked to see the infant/toddler development wheels, we have several here that we can send as samples. Please let us know either by commenting on this post or by emailing Mamie or Iesha, if you want one sent to you.
See you on JUNE 6. (Note the change of date)