Demonstrating Safety Within the Drug Epidemic

Garry Dorris (Training Tech)

Missouri Department of Social Services, Children’s Division

AreYouForgettingSomeone?

GainingPerspective

Genogram

Father1 Father2Mother

Child8months

X

TPR TPR

Father

CaseOverview• Motherwenttothehospitalanddeliversahealthybaby

girl.• Childisplacedinafostercareduetomother’sextensive

historyandhavingparentalrightsterminatedon5previouschildrenwiththemostrecentbeing25daysbeforethebirthofthischild.

• Fatherwastravelingconstructioncontractorandwasnotaroundwhenthechildwasborn.

• Fatherandmotherhadsomehistoryofbeingphysicallyviolentwitheachotherbutwerenolongertogether.

CaseOverview• Thecasehad3workersbeforemyselfduetostaffturnover.Iwasassignedthecase8monthsafteritopened.

• Teamwasconcernedwithmotherduetoherhistorywiththeagencyanddruguseandconcernedwithfatherduetohisnotreturningimmediatelytotakecareofthechild.

• PreviousworkerhaddifficultygettingtheteamtoworkwiththeparentsasdidIinthebeginning.

DangerStatement- Mother• Theagency,thefamilysupportteamandplacementareconcernedthatmother'scontinueddruguseandhomelessnesswillcausethechild'sneeds,suchasfood,shelterandemotionalneedstonotbemetcausingaconfusingrelationshipforthechildalongwithpossiblephysicalillness,injuryandthatshewillbeleftwithunsafeindividualsorinunsafeplaces.

DangerStatement-Father• Theagency,thefamilysupportteamandplacementareconcernedthatfatherwillbegivencustodyofhischildandthengivethechildtomotheroncethecaseclosessothathecangobacktohisjobandBellahwillbeexposedtotheconcernslistedaboutmother.

SafetyGoal- Mother• Theagencywillbeabletoclosethiscasewhenmotherisabletounderstandandtalkabouthowusingdrugseffectsherrelationshipwithherchild.Motherwilldemonstratehowtokeepherchildsafeevenwhensheisstrugglingwithusingdrugsandkeepherchildfrombeingexposedtounsafepeople,placesandsituations.

SafetyGoal-Father• Theagencywillbeabletoclosethiscasewhenfathercandemonstratethathecankeephischild’sneedsandsafetyfirst,especiallywhenheisbeingpressurebythemothertoreturnthechildorstrugglingwithwantingtoreturntoovertheroadconstruction.Thiswillmakesurethathischildiscaredforbyatrustedadultatalltimes.

MyFirstTeamMeeting• Fatherhadnotbeeninvolvedinthecaselong.• Fathertookasignificantpayreductiontomoveto

Springfieldtoworktowardreunificationwithhisdaughter.• Mothermissedavisitpriortothemeetingandwasasked

todrugscreeningandhadnotbeenheardfromsincethen• AfterdiscussingtheRiskAssessmentMapwithfather,we

decidedtoscaletheGuardianAdLitembecausehebelievedshewouldbethetoughestintheroomtoconvince.

Perspective1-GuardianAdLitem• ScalingQuestionaskedoftheGuardianAdLitem• Onascaleof0-10where0isthechildwouldbesounsafeplacedwithfatherthatyouwouldpreferthechildstayinfostercareand10isyouhavenodoubtthatthechildcanbeplacedwithfatherandhecankeephersafeenoughtocloseourcase,whatwouldyournumberbe?

0 102

Perspective1-GuardianAdLitem• Whatwouldbringyounumberuptoa3?• GuardianAdLitemwantedtoseethatthefatherwascommittedtotakingcareofthechildasasinglefatherbyhimparticipatinginparentingclassesandangermanagementtherapy.

• FatherwasupsetwiththenumberthattheGuardianAdLitemgave.

Perspective1- GuardianAdLitem• Fatherenrolledinandwasactiveintheservicesrequested,successfullycompletingboth.

• Atthenextmeeting2monthslaterwhentheGuardianAdLitemwasaskedthesamescalingquestion,thenumbershegavewasan8.

• Shereportedthatthiswasduetothefactthatfathertookownershipovertheissuesinthecaseandshowedhiscommitmenttocaringforthechildasasinglefather.

Takeaways• NooneeveraskedtheGuardianAdLitemwhatconcernedherandassumeditwastreatmentrelated.

• GuardianAdLitemwasabletovoiceherconcernsandherconcernsbeaddressedwithopendialoguewhichreducedherresistancetoworkingwithfatherandresolvedherconcerns.

• Honoringherconcernshelpeddevelopaworkingrelationshipbetweenfatherandtheteamtowhereforwardprogresscouldbemade.

Perspective2- SafetyNetwork• Fatheridentifiedhismother(child’sgrandmother)aspartofhissafetynetwork.

• Thefamilysupportteamwasnotwillingforhertobeapartofthenetworkduetoherhistoryofviolencetowardsthechild’smotherandheruseofalcohol.

• Grandmotherlivedinanapartmentacrossthecourtyardfromherson.

Perspective2- SafetyNetwork• Grandmother’scloseproximitytohersonandbeingnaturallyalignedwiththechildmadeheragoodfitforthesafetynetwork.

• Herviolenthistorywiththemotherandregularuseofalcoholwereconcernsaboutherbeingabletobeusedasasafetynetworkperson.

• Teamagreedtoherbeingsafetynetworkmemberwithclearlydefinedroles.

Perspective2- SafetyNetwork• Allowed

– Visitsupervisedbyfather– Ifnoticedmothercomingaround,notifysafetynetwork

• Notallowed

– Bealonewiththechild– Notallowedtodrive withthechild

– Notallowedtoconfrontmotherifsheisatfatherapartment

Takeaways• Neverdismisssomeonewhoisnaturallyconnectedtothefamilybecauseitisbettertofacilitateappropriaterolesbecauseinthiscasefatherwasgoingtouseheranyway.

• Clearlydefinedroleshelpsthenetworkestablishboundariesandhonorsthefamiliesrelationshipbybeinghonest,makingthesafetynetworkstronger.

Perspective3-Father• Lastteammeetingwasheldasawaytohonorthefather.

• AnAppreciativeInquirywascompletedwithfatherwithfamilysupportteammembersintheroom. Imetwithfatherpriortoexplaintheprocessandgethispermission.

• Fathergottodiscusswhatwasimportanttohimaboutwhathappenedinthecaseandexplaintheprogressthathemadetothem.

Takeaways• Teammembersandfamiliesoftenseeservicesasatodolistanddonotunderstandwhatwasactuallyaccomplished.Thismeetinggavetheteamachancetounderstandwhatfatheraccomplishedandwhatheactuallylearnedandhowitappliedtohissituation.

• Thisalsogavefatheramomenttobragandbeproudaboutwhatheaccomplishedandcommunicateitdirectlywiththeteam.

ContactInformationGarryDorris

1410S.KansasExpresswaySpringfield,MO65807

417-895-5983Garry.Dorris@dss.mo.gov

Demonstrating Safety Within the Drug Epidemic

Garry Dorris (Training Tech)

Missouri Department of Social Services, Children’s Division