Community Action Partnership Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County of San Luis Obispo County

Family Support Services Family Support Services DivisionDivision

Family Support Services Family Support Services Division StructureDivision Structure

Family Support Division

Direct Services and Parent Education

Positive Opportunities for

Parenting Success

(P.O.P.S.)

S.A.F.E.

Family Advocates

CAPSLOCAPSLO

Innovations Play Therapy

San Luis Obispo County Differential San Luis Obispo County Differential ResponseResponse● In 2001, SLO County implemented In 2001, SLO County implemented

Differential Response in an effort Differential Response in an effort to respond to referrals with a to respond to referrals with a greater variety of responses and greater variety of responses and services.services.

● Differential Response allows CWS Differential Response allows CWS to assess the needs, resources and to assess the needs, resources and circumstances of each unique circumstances of each unique family and focus on engaging and family and focus on engaging and assessing families by utilizing 3 assessing families by utilizing 3 initial “Response Paths”.initial “Response Paths”. 3310/11/1110/11/11

Differential Response Differential Response PrinciplesPrinciples

Identifying risk and stepping in early Identifying risk and stepping in early leads to better outcomes compared to leads to better outcomes compared to the prior CWS practice of waiting until the prior CWS practice of waiting until child abuse/neglect occurs.child abuse/neglect occurs.

Children are safer and families are Children are safer and families are stronger when communities work stronger when communities work together.together.

Families are more empowered when Families are more empowered when they voluntarily engage in services and they voluntarily engage in services and supports.supports.

4410/11/1110/11/11

Differential ResponseDifferential Response Differential ResponseDifferential Response

• Provides prevention/intervention services to at-Provides prevention/intervention services to at-risk familiesrisk families

• Reduces the number of children entering child Reduces the number of children entering child welfare services and the need for high-end welfare services and the need for high-end services laterservices later

● With Differential ResponseWith Differential Response• All referrals receive appropriate level of responseAll referrals receive appropriate level of response

Evaluated Out – No action takenEvaluated Out – No action taken Evaluated Out – Community Response (Path 1)Evaluated Out – Community Response (Path 1) 10-Day Response – Collaborative Response 10-Day Response – Collaborative Response

(Path 2)(Path 2) Immediate – CWS-only Response (Path 3)Immediate – CWS-only Response (Path 3) 5510/11/1110/11/11

Suspected Child Abuse ReportsSuspected Child Abuse ReportsQuestions asked by our Intake Social Questions asked by our Intake Social

WorkersWorkers……● What are the strengths of the family?What are the strengths of the family?● What are your concerns?What are your concerns?● What have you tried?What have you tried?● What would you like to see happen?What would you like to see happen?● What services can CWS offer?What services can CWS offer?● Is the family connected to other Is the family connected to other

services?services?● Would you like to be part of the Would you like to be part of the

assessment?assessment?● Can you describe the behavior, injury, Can you describe the behavior, injury,

neglect etc.neglect etc.6610/11/1110/11/11

Direct Services and Parent EducationDirect Services and Parent EducationParenting Education includes: Parenting Education includes: Case Management services / coordinated case Case Management services / coordinated case

plansplans 0-5 child developmental screens (ASQ’s),0-5 child developmental screens (ASQ’s), Active Parenting Curriculum for 1-18 year olds, Active Parenting Curriculum for 1-18 year olds, First Five for New Parents Kit, Exposure to First Five for New Parents Kit, Exposure to

Violence and Brain Development, Dental Hygiene Violence and Brain Development, Dental Hygiene Activities, Literacy Activities.Activities, Literacy Activities.

Pre & Post Parenting Skills Assessments,Pre & Post Parenting Skills Assessments, Certificates of Completion Certificates of Completion

Direct Services includes:Direct Services includes: Beds & bedding for children,Beds & bedding for children, refrigerators/stoves, refrigerators/stoves, utilities, utilities, infant/baby supplies, infant/baby supplies, safety& hygiene products, safety& hygiene products, minor household repairs, etc. minor household repairs, etc.

Direct Services & Parent Direct Services & Parent Education Educators / Education Educators /

AdvocatesAdvocates B.S. and/or M.S. Degree in Social Work, B.S. and/or M.S. Degree in Social Work,

Child Development or related fieldChild Development or related field Case Management caseload max. is 20 Case Management caseload max. is 20 Bilingual / Bi-literateBilingual / Bi-literate Housed in CWS offices and/or Housed in CWS offices and/or

Community Based OrganizationsCommunity Based Organizations Assigned to specific regionsAssigned to specific regions Participates in community outreach Participates in community outreach

activitiesactivities

CAPSLO Community Response PartnerCAPSLO Community Response Partner

Direct Services and Parent EducationDirect Services and Parent Education

Referral ProcessReferral Process

1. CWS intake evaluates the referral for 1. CWS intake evaluates the referral for differential response level.differential response level.

2. CWS sends the Path 1 referral to CAPSLO for 2. CWS sends the Path 1 referral to CAPSLO for Parent Education needs. This is considered Parent Education needs. This is considered “evaluated out”. “evaluated out”.

3. CWS Social Worker sends the Path 2 referral 3. CWS Social Worker sends the Path 2 referral to CAPSLO for Parent Education or Direct to CAPSLO for Parent Education or Direct Services. This is considered a “collaborative Services. This is considered a “collaborative response”. response”.

Path 1 SCAR REPORTPath 1 SCAR REPORT

Suspected Child Abuse Report Suspected Child Abuse Report called into Child Welfare Servicescalled into Child Welfare Services

Social Worker assesses risk levelSocial Worker assesses risk level Low to No RiskLow to No Risk: referred to CAPSLO : referred to CAPSLO

Community Response PartnerCommunity Response Partner

Some Case ExamplesSome Case Examples (victim) hasn't been in school since middle of

February. SARB hearing was done. (victim) possibly staying with older sister. Older sister is providing alcohol to (victim). (other victim)has not been attending school either.

Mom is smoking pot in front of the kids. Last night ---(victim) called dad to say mom was smoking and drinking. Victim doesn't like the drugs and alcohol use by mom and all her friends. Mom always has a lot of friend over partying. Victim found a metal pipe in the house. Victim calls dad and says, "She's drunk again."

SomeSome more case examplesmore case examples R/P concerned about neglect. (victim) comes to school filthy

dirty. He has terrible body odor. He wears filthy clothes. He doesn't complete any school work. (victim) seems depressed. Mom hasn't returned -- phone calls, and does not show up for any school conference.

On ---- mom and dad were arguing over their daughter, (victim). Dad became angry and upset. He grabbed mom and slapped her on the head. -- was present. Mom called police and dad was arrested. Mom declined services from RP, but asked when dad was going to be released from jail. RP unsure if mom was going to return to dad.

R/P states -- (victim) was present during a domestic violence incident.

R/P said Mom’s house is messy. There are piles of clothes throughout the house. There are 7-8 cats in the garage. Mom is possibly depressed. Mom sleeps during the day. Mom has diagnosis of Bi-Polar. House is "unsanitary."

COMMUNITY RESPONSE COMMUNITY RESPONSE PARTNER PARTNER

Letter/brochures mailed Letter/brochures mailed to parent(s) to parent(s)

Referred to Educator/Advocate (EA): Referred to Educator/Advocate (EA): EA calls to review concerns & offers EA calls to review concerns & offers

services services including parenting support, including parenting support, referrals community resources, etc.referrals community resources, etc.

Voluntary programVoluntary program

FAMILY ACCEPTS SERVICESFAMILY ACCEPTS SERVICES

Educator/Advocate schedules home Educator/Advocate schedules home visit:visit:

Conducts the following: Conducts the following: Basic needs & parenting skills assessment, Basic needs & parenting skills assessment, Child Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Child Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Provides community resource information.Provides community resource information.

Parent Education is provided:Parent Education is provided: in the home or other location in the home or other location one to one, parents together or separateone to one, parents together or separate developmentally appropriate activitiesdevelopmentally appropriate activities 6 sessions or more as needed6 sessions or more as needed

While working with the family:While working with the family: If the EA suspects the child at riskIf the EA suspects the child at risk

Suspected Child Abuse Report (SCAR) Suspected Child Abuse Report (SCAR) Risk is substantiated: Risk is substantiated:

CWS assigns case to social worker CWS assigns case to social worker CRP may close referralCRP may close referral

-OR--OR- Case remains open up to 3 monthsCase remains open up to 3 months

ensuring services in place & concerns eliminated

E/A re-visits family (additional resources) E/A re-visits family (additional resources) Case closed; E/A visits or contacts family in Case closed; E/A visits or contacts family in 90 days for follow up90 days for follow up

OROR Parent(s) do not accept, do not respondParent(s) do not accept, do not respond

E/A closes referral after several E/A closes referral after several attempts to engageattempts to engage

CWS notifiedCWS notified Approximately 95% of referrals:Approximately 95% of referrals:

in need of parenting skills with children in need of parenting skills with children 0-17 years old, to address concerns0-17 years old, to address concerns

Approximately 25% of referrals:Approximately 25% of referrals: need resources, need resources,

items to ensure safe, items to ensure safe, healthy environments healthy environments for their child(ren) for their child(ren)

ACTIVE PARENTING CurriculumACTIVE PARENTING Curriculum Evidence based, comprehensive Evidence based, comprehensive In English & Spanish:In English & Spanish:

age appropriate discipline methodsage appropriate discipline methods communication skills communication skills family cohesion, self-esteemfamily cohesion, self-esteem school & peer attachmentschool & peer attachment family substance abuse preventionfamily substance abuse prevention Blended families, divorce, step Blended families, divorce, step

parentingparenting Activities and guidesActivities and guides Activities from Positive Discipline Activities from Positive Discipline

and Nurturing Families and Nurturing Families

Current Trends 2012Current Trends 2012 CRP referrals: 94.5% of those who complete CRP referrals: 94.5% of those who complete

services do not have another referral within 6 services do not have another referral within 6 monthsmonths

61% of referrals are for children 0-5 years of 61% of referrals are for children 0-5 years of age.age.

Domestic Violence related reports have Domestic Violence related reports have increased since 2009. increased since 2009.

Receiving an average of 45 referrals per month, Receiving an average of 45 referrals per month, 52% accept services for parent education. 52% accept services for parent education.

Referrals for homeless families have increased Referrals for homeless families have increased since July 2010. since July 2010.

More families are in transition due to lack of More families are in transition due to lack of housing and employment .housing and employment .

2010 Contributing Factors2010 Contributing Factors

What happens after CRP services end? What happens after CRP services end?

All Families are provided with referrals and support All Families are provided with referrals and support to stay connected with local services. to stay connected with local services.

Services Affirming Family Empowerment Services Affirming Family Empowerment (S.A.F.E.)(S.A.F.E.)

Collaboration between: Collaboration between: CAPSLOCAPSLO County Mental HealthCounty Mental Health Public HealthPublic Health ProbationProbation School DistrictsSchool Districts Department of Social ServicesDepartment of Social Services Non profit organizations (Transitions Mental Health Non profit organizations (Transitions Mental Health

Association, ALPHA Pregnancy Services, Women’s Association, ALPHA Pregnancy Services, Women’s Shelter, etc.)Shelter, etc.)

A warm hand off to a family resource center within the A warm hand off to a family resource center within the community where the family residescommunity where the family resides

POPS-Positive POPS-Positive Opportunities for Parenting Opportunities for Parenting

SuccessSuccess Supporting Father Involvement Supports families by offering 13-week

discussion groups for fathers and mothers Goals: Strengthen families by

giving parents skills to improve communication

Deepen emotional connections with fathers and children

Contact InformationContact InformationMelinda SokolowskiMelinda Sokolowski

Division DirectorDivision DirectorFamily Support ServicesFamily Support Services805-541-4122 ext. 25805-541-4122 ext. 25

msokolowski@capslo.org msokolowski@capslo.org

One Person Can Make a DifferenceOne Person Can Make a Difference