Reflecting on a child protection Reflecting on a child protection experience:experience:

Two parents and a caseworker Two parents and a caseworker tell their storytell their story

Where are we from? Where are we from? Hibbing, MinnesotaHibbing, Minnesota

Hibbing

Presenters:Presenters: Matthias Norenberg, BSWMatthias Norenberg, BSW

St. Louis County Public Health and Human ServicesSt. Louis County Public Health and Human Services

Child Protection Social WorkerChild Protection Social Worker

Concurrent Permanency Planning Concurrent Permanency Planning

Scott and Diana AbernatheyScott and Diana Abernathey

Parents of two children placed in foster care and quickly returned Parents of two children placed in foster care and quickly returned to their care after they helped create and then followed their to their care after they helped create and then followed their safety plan.safety plan.

Timeline of eventsTimeline of events:: Parents house busted by the Boundary Water Drug Task Force for Parents house busted by the Boundary Water Drug Task Force for

involvement with methamphetamine and cultivation of pot. January involvement with methamphetamine and cultivation of pot. January 2009 was the bust.2009 was the bust.

The children were initially placed at the local shelter for two days The children were initially placed at the local shelter for two days until family member located and they were placed there.until family member located and they were placed there.

Stayed with Grandma from 1/23/09-2/4/09. They left when she was Stayed with Grandma from 1/23/09-2/4/09. They left when she was caught driving under the influence of alcohol with the two children in caught driving under the influence of alcohol with the two children in the back seat. They stayed at shelter for one week after this event.the back seat. They stayed at shelter for one week after this event.

Parents served 20 days in jail.Parents served 20 days in jail. Intake worker and SW met and interviewed multiple family members Intake worker and SW met and interviewed multiple family members

who had relationships with the children.who had relationships with the children. All extended family members lived outside of Hibbing and out of All extended family members lived outside of Hibbing and out of

county.county.

Timeline of events (continued):Timeline of events (continued):

Parents not allowed to travel outside of the county due to probation Parents not allowed to travel outside of the county due to probation and Drug Court (court program for people arrested on drug charges and Drug Court (court program for people arrested on drug charges that lasts one year and charges can be taken off your record if you that lasts one year and charges can be taken off your record if you complete the program)complete the program)

Parents agreed it was best for kids to stay in town where reunification Parents agreed it was best for kids to stay in town where reunification would take place, since visits would be a big part of reunifying.would take place, since visits would be a big part of reunifying.

SW completed Words and Pictures book with explanation from the SW completed Words and Pictures book with explanation from the parents to the children of why they could not live together. Pictures parents to the children of why they could not live together. Pictures were on CD from wedding, poem from father in jail.were on CD from wedding, poem from father in jail.

Visits at foster home supervised by foster parents, then unsupervised Visits at foster home supervised by foster parents, then unsupervised for a few hours at a time for church and swimming lessons, then for a few hours at a time for church and swimming lessons, then unsupervised at the family home for full days on the weekend, then unsupervised at the family home for full days on the weekend, then over nights, and finally home for good.over nights, and finally home for good.

Timeline of events (continued):Timeline of events (continued):

Process of reunification took about four months; kids lived Process of reunification took about four months; kids lived with foster parents for three months.with foster parents for three months.

Parents completed Out Patient treatment and aftercare, Parents completed Out Patient treatment and aftercare, attended NA meetings (which they continue to attend) got attended NA meetings (which they continue to attend) got involved in church, had random UA’s through Probation and involved in church, had random UA’s through Probation and Drug Court throughout CPS involvement, mother got Drug Court throughout CPS involvement, mother got teaching job at day care center.teaching job at day care center.

Parents presented their story with SW at the 2009 St. Louis Parents presented their story with SW at the 2009 St. Louis County Health and Human Services conferenceCounty Health and Human Services conference

Parents told their story of “success” to the local newspaper Parents told their story of “success” to the local newspaper for a two part storyfor a two part story

The culmination of their collaboration with CPS with this The culmination of their collaboration with CPS with this presentation in front of 300 peoplepresentation in front of 300 people

What are the reasons for this “success?”

• Motivation!!

• Parents saw the kids suffering and changed their behaviors for the children's’ sake

• Parents wanted to change

• Parents used the services offered for them to change

• Parents had a role in making their own safety plan with their own goals and by identifying their safety network.

• Parents regularly talk with other parents involved with CPS and children out of the home

On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 meaning your On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 meaning your involvement with CPS was the worst experience in involvement with CPS was the worst experience in your life and 10 is that your time spent working with your life and 10 is that your time spent working with CPS was out of this world, how would you rate your CPS was out of this world, how would you rate your experience?experience?

Thank you:Thank you:

Scott and Diana for their willingness to showcase their Scott and Diana for their willingness to showcase their experience with St. Louis County CPS and to drive four experience with St. Louis County CPS and to drive four

hours to Chaska for a 30 minute presentation to 300 hours to Chaska for a 30 minute presentation to 300 practitioners.practitioners.

Andrew Turnell, Carver County CPS, and Connected Andrew Turnell, Carver County CPS, and Connected Families for allowing Scott and Diana to share their Families for allowing Scott and Diana to share their story and for helping out with their travel expenses.story and for helping out with their travel expenses.

To everyone at the conference for working to keep To everyone at the conference for working to keep children safe.children safe.