Connecticut Department of Connecticut Department of Children and FamiliesChildren and Families

Agency OverviewAgency Overview

The mission of the Department of Children The mission of the Department of Children and Families is to protect children, and Families is to protect children, improve child and family well-being and improve child and family well-being and support and preserve families. support and preserve families.

These efforts are accomplished by These efforts are accomplished by respecting and working within individual respecting and working within individual cultures and communities in cultures and communities in Connecticut, and in partnership with Connecticut, and in partnership with others.others.

MissionMission

Juvenile Justice

Prevention

Behavioral Health

DCF MandatesDCF Mandates

Child Welfare

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Budget: Budget: $851 million FY11 General Fund$851 million FY11 General Fund

Staffing: Staffing: 3456 Authorized full-time General 3456 Authorized full-time General Fund positionsFund positions

Structure: Structure: Central Office, 6 Regions, 14 Area Central Office, 6 Regions, 14 Area Offices, USDII School District, 3 Facilities –Offices, USDII School District, 3 Facilities –Connecticut Juvenile Training School, Solnit Connecticut Juvenile Training School, Solnit Children’s Psychiatric Center (North and South Children’s Psychiatric Center (North and South Campuses) – and the Wilderness SchoolCampuses) – and the Wilderness School

Current Profile Current Profile

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36,000 children served (approx.) 36,000 children served (approx.) (16,000 families)(16,000 families)

•250 Total Careline Calls Received 250 Total Careline Calls Received (91,000 annually)(91,000 annually)

•113 Abuse/Neglect Reports Received 113 Abuse/Neglect Reports Received (41,000 annually)(41,000 annually)

•4,500 children in DCF care and 4,500 children in DCF care and custody (placements)custody (placements)

On any Given DayOn any Given Day

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DCF Organization ChartDCF Organization Chart

DCF RegionsDCF Regions

ReportReport

CarelineCareline

Area Office Area Office Intake UnitIntake Unit

Area Office Area Office On-Going ServicesOn-Going Services

Permanency PlanningPermanency Planning

Closure

The Life Span of a DCF CaseThe Life Span of a DCF Case

DCF 101—FundamentalsTake Aways

General Understanding of what occurs in a DCF Case

General Understanding the various types of cases

Intake / Assessment

Family with Service Needs

Probate

Interstate Compacts

Voluntary

On Going Services

Reunification

Permanency

Transfer of Guardianship, Adoption, Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement

DCF Careline receives and accepts a Report of Abuse of Neglect.

Assignment is made to Area Office Intake Unit

Assessment of Safety and Risk is completed

Case is closed with services

Case is closed without services

Case is Transferred to appropriate ongoing services social worker.

How a DCF Case is Opened for ServiceA Referral is received from:

• Superior Court/Juvenile Matters,

• Probate Court

• Interstate Compacts Office

• Parents, as a Behavioral Health, Voluntary Services Application

Assignment is made to appropriate social worker

Ongoing ServicesOngoing Services

In Home Case Services2 x month visitationOngoing Assessment (FSNA)

Out of Home Case ServicesChild ParentsWellbeing Services Placement stability → Domestic ViolencePermanency → Mental HealthEducation → Substance Abuse

Legal

Superior Court /Juvenile MattersGoal →Reunification

Status1. Custody 2. Guardianship (committed)

Probate Court Study is Completed

Report of Assessment with recommendations submitted to court.

The Courts and the Department share the responsibility for the protection of children when parents are unwilling and/or unable to provide for the children’s well being. The ultimate goal is the welfare and best interests of the child.

The goal of the Practice Model is to provide a The goal of the Practice Model is to provide a framework for how the agency as a whole will work framework for how the agency as a whole will work internally and partner with families, service internally and partner with families, service providers, and others to put our mission and providers, and others to put our mission and guiding principles into action. At its core, the guiding principles into action. At its core, the model is the description of what we do, how we do model is the description of what we do, how we do it, why we do it and what outcomes we hope to it, why we do it and what outcomes we hope to achieve for children and families.achieve for children and families.

Based upon engagement and assessment, the Based upon engagement and assessment, the DCF Practice Model emphasizes case supervision DCF Practice Model emphasizes case supervision with administrative, educational and supportive with administrative, educational and supportive components as primary strategies.components as primary strategies.

Strengthening Families— DCF Strengthening Families— DCF Practice Model Practice Model

Practice Model StrategiesPractice Model Strategies

Phase 1

strategies-

orange

Phase 2

strategies-

green

Family Engagement

PurposefulVisitation

Family CenteredAssessments

Supervision&

Management

Initial &OngoingAssessments

of Safety and Risk

Effective Case

Planning

IndividualizingServices

Strengthening Families—Practice ModelStrengthening Families—Practice Model

Principles of Partnership- Principles of Partnership- A new perspective on Child WelfareA new perspective on Child Welfare

1.1. Everyone desires respectEveryone desires respect

2.2. Everyone needs to be heardEveryone needs to be heard

3.3. Everyone has strengths Everyone has strengths

4.4. Judgments can waitJudgments can wait

5.5. Partners share powerPartners share power

6.6. Partnership is a processPartnership is a process

Practice Principles

1.1. Family EngagementFamily Engagement

2.2. Purposeful VisitationPurposeful Visitation

3.3. Family Centered AssessmentsFamily Centered Assessments

4.4. Supervision and ManagementSupervision and Management

5.5. Initial and Ongoing Assessments of Initial and Ongoing Assessments of Safety and RiskSafety and Risk

6.6. Effective Case PlanningEffective Case Planning

7.7. Individualizing ServicesIndividualizing Services

PRACTICE MODEL-The Differential Response

SystemFamily Engagement: The Family Engagement: The

Common ThreadCommon Thread

Practice Model–DRS diagramPractice Model–DRS diagram

Supervision

•Administrative •Case

•Educational•Supportive

Practice ModelPhase 1

Family Assessment Purposeful VisitsFamily Centered

Assessment

Improved Outcomes

For ChildrenAnd Families

Practice SettingDRS

Family Engagement

“Forensic” AssessmentTrack Track

Life ofa Case

Coaching

Family EngagementPurposeful Visits

Family Cent.Assessments to

“Partners inChange

Differential Response SystemDifferential Response System

A philosophical shift in the way we do our work

Moving from a single response system to a dual response system- both with emphasis on safety, risk and engagement but with different policy and procedural approaches

“Forensic”/Traditional Assessment Track Track Response Response

Finding No Finding

“Families are most commonly a child's greatest source of strength and therefore our most important Partner in promoting the well-being of the child.[…] Our relationship with families is the result of how we communicate and show our respect for families”

(Joette Katz, DCF Commissioner, Memorandum 'New Department Administration', January 6, 2011)