Your Child’s “Eco-Map” Nearly all young children develop close bonds to at least two or more people. We call these “heart connections”. Please put your child’s

name in the circle below. Think about the different adults in your child’s life with whom he or she has a close bond or “heart” connection.

Draw circles that represent each of those people, putting each person’s circle either close to, or if you wish a little farther away from, your

child’s circle so each one reflects how close your child feels to that person. Then connect each circle to your child’s circle with a line.

Remember: include everyone who supports or interacts with your child on a regular basis. To see a sample “Eco-map”, turn the page over.

Example

Parent2Parent ‘About My Child’ - April 2014 Revised: September 2015

About My Child

Instructions: This tool has been adapted for use as part of the information shared during the Parent to Parent Meeting (P2P). This tool is designed to help you and the Partnership Parents caring for your child share important information about your child’s growth and development. Information to be completed by the parent / guardian.

Fill in identifying information. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ My Child (Child’s First Name) -Please also list name that the child wishes to be called. Birth Date _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Home Phone (or Cell Phone) Work Phone _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Address City ZIP Code The information contained is considered CONFIDENTIAL.

Daily Routine: Tell me about your child’s daytime and nighttime routines:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Any comfort objects (binky, blanket, noise) that helps him/her sleep? _____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

School/Daycare:

What school/daycare does your child(ren) attend? What times? Bus? Grade? Performance? Favorite/least favorite subjects?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Parent2Parent ‘About My Child’ - April 2014 Revised: September 2015

Things my child does well:

My child is really good at: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

What my child’s favorite things:

My child’s favorite toy: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

My child likes to play: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

My child’s favorite foods/drinks are: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

My child’s feelings: My child is afraid of: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ My child feels sad/anxious when: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ My child is happiest when: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Things I am working on with my child:

My child is learning/Please help my child with: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ My child struggles/gets frustrated when he/she can’t: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Parent2Parent ‘About My Child’ - April 2014 Revised: September 2015

Medical Information Pediatrician: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Dentist: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Other Specialist (s): _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Any Allergies (food or medication): _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Tell me about your child’s medical/dental history:(Does your child need eye glasses, a wheelchair, braces, crutches or

other walking aids, a hearing aid, a helmet,a communication board, a nebulizer, special feeding utensils, and/or other adaptive devices? Does your child require any procedures or treatments?) _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Additional information you may need to know about my child (including hair care): _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Discuss the Eco- Map this will help is identify other family or extended family members that your child

might miss or talk or be concerned about:

Please see the attached Eco-Map________________________________________________________

The information shared is the beginning of ongoing communication between you, the child’s parent or guardian, and the Partnership Parents. This and other child specific information shared during the Parent to Parent Meeting (P2P) will be helpful as the partnership relationship is established.

Coparenting Icebreaker Meeting

Court Ordered Visitation

Plan:

Communication Plan After

Icebreaker:

Any Additional Comments:

Attachments: About My Child, Eco-Map

FSFSN Case Name:

FSFN ID Number:

Child(ren):

Biological Parent(s):

Foster Parent(s)/Caregiver(s):

Attendees:

Date/Time/Location:

Description of meeting

(Parent’s level of

engagement, temperament,

timeliness, etc.)

FISCAL YEAR 2015 - 2016 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15 Nov-15 Dec-15 Jan-16 Feb-16 Mar-16 Apr-16 May-16 Jun-16YTD

TOTAL

NUMBER OF CASES N/A 33 38 35 23 38 31 22 23 28 39 38 348

NUMBER OF CHILDREN N/A 44 61 57 34 63 51 32 31 41 61 53 528

NUMBER OF FOSTER HOMES N/A 36 42 39 26 47 40 22 24 31 47 43 397

REASONS ICEBREAKER DID NOT OCCUR:

Foster Home Already Coparenting 7 8 6 5 8 4 0 0 0 7 4 49

FP Not Willing 6 5 5 5 7 1 2 0 4 7 5 47

Bio Parent Not Willing 1 3 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 9

Pursuing Expedited TPR (CPI) 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 12

Goal is Adoption (CM) 0 1 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 5 1 12

Severe Mental Health or No Contact Order 1 2 0 2 3 7 1 2 2 1 1 22

Unable to Reach/Locate Parent or Parent Incarcerated 2 6 7 3 6 7 5 8 4 7 5 60

Temporary Placement (FP not willing or not scheduled before move) 0 3 2 1 7 3 2 2 6 4 7 37

Child No Longer in a Licensed Foster Home (Moved to Relative, Nonrelative, Group Home) 8 5 5 1 6 3 4 4 2 6 5 49

TOTAL NUMBER OF FOSTER HOMES WITHOUT ICEBREAKER = N/A 30 34 26 19 38 26 18 17 20 38 31 297

TOTAL FOSTER HOMES REMAINING = N/A 6 8 13 7 9 14 4 7 11 9 12 100

Icebreakers Held in Person 4 7 6 3 5 9 3 3 3 2 2 47

Icebreakers Held via Phone 2 0 5 3 1 3 1 2 5 3 4 29

TOTAL NUMBER OF ICEBREAKERS HELD = N/A 6 7 11 6 6 12 4 5 8 5 6 76

Icebreakers Cancelled/No-Showed 0 1 2 1 3 2 0 2 3 4 5 23

Icebreakers Scheduled, but Not Yet Held 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Foster Homes Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

PERCENTAGE OF ICEBREAKERS HELD = N/A 100.00% 87.50% 84.62% 85.71% 66.67% 85.71% 100.00% 71.43% 72.73% 55.56% 50.00% 78.17%

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Icebreaker Process Flow

As Biehle and Goodman have eloquently stated, “The purpose of the Icebreaker meeting is twofold: To share important information about a child and to be the first step in building a relationship between the child’s birth parents and the new caregivers. Both of these purposes are critical in reducing the trauma the child has experienced as a result of placement. Icebreakers open the door for communication.” * Process: When a child enters licensed foster care homes, the Placement team will send notification the next business day to designated ECA Operations Specialist with child’s name, parent’s name and current placement information. (Please note if a child is being served through ECC some timeframes may be expedited or eligibility for an icebreaker may be expanded)

Once information has been received, the ECA Operations Specialist will copy and paste the needed information into the Icebreaker Tracking log. The ECA Operations Specialist will research the case in FSFN to obtain the parent’s contact information, case ID number, and review the appropriateness of parent-to-parent contact. The CPI or CM may need to be contacted for further assessment and information.

An Icebreaker Meeting will not be held if: 1. The goal is expedited TPR or adoption 2. There is a No Contact order between parent and child

3. The parent(s) is/are incarcerated 4. The child is placed with a relative/non-relative 5. The child is placed in a group home 6. The foster parent and biological parent have already initiated communication and do not desire a formal meeting

Within one- five business days of being notified of the child being placed into foster care, the ECA Operations Specialist will make the first contact with the foster parent(s) and then the birth parent(s). The ECA Operations Specialist will introduce his or herself, discuss the goal of the co-parenting initiative, and attempt to coordinate a face-to-face Icebreaker meeting as soon as possible.

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The ECA Operations Specialist will find a mutually agreed upon time and date for the Icebreaker Meeting with the foster parent(s) and birth parent(s). (The location of the meeting is TBD, it could take place in the community based care office or possibly off sight (such as the family visitation center, a church or the court house.) A conference call may be considered as a last resort to overcome transportation/schedule/discomfort concerns. The Icebreaker Meeting should be held no later than 14 days from date of placement. The child(ren) may attend, but it is preferable if they do not. If the child(ren) attend, it is imperative to ensure the parent is authorized visitation and that the foster parent is approved to supervise. The ECA Operations Specialist will facilitate the Icebreaker Meeting;

The ECA Operations Specialist will explain the purpose/goal of the meeting, as

well as the agenda. It is imperative that an introduction of the participants

occurs and roles and responsibilities are addressed.

The foster parent(s) should initiate the conversation to relieve the birth parent’s

anxiety of not knowing where or who the child is with. (How the child is doing,

description of home, rules, family, expectations, etc.)

The birth parent will share information about their child using the “About My

Child” questionnaire as guide (the ECA Operations Specialist completes the

forms as information is discussed).

The birth parent(s) will also complete the “Eco-Map” for each child with the

assistance of the ECA Operations Specialist.

If the child is present (and age appropriate), he/she will share information about

his/herself and express any desires or ask questions they may have.

The ECA Operations Specialist will facilitate a discussion on the plan for

communication going forward. The court ordered visitation plan will be

discussed and the biological parent will be asked to provide a contact number to

the foster parent. (A conversation with the foster parent(s) should occur prior to

the meeting to determine his/her level of comfort providing contact information

to the biological parent, as well as his/her willingness to supervise visitation.)

The communication plan will be documented on the Icebreaker Meeting

template.

The ECA Operations Specialist will clarify any outstanding questions and wrap up

the meeting. (Total time 45-60 minutes)

For documentation purposes; the ECA Operations Specialist will create a meeting in FSFN under “other meeting”. The ECA Operations Specialist will upload the meeting template, the “About My Child” or “All About Me” (if applicable and the child attends the meeting) forms, the “Eco-Map,” and any other applicable documentation into the meeting icon. The ECA Operations Specialist will also document that an Icebreaker Meeting has occurred in a note to file-general

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in the FSFN case. The note should reference that the meeting and attachments are located in the meeting tab. All Icebreaker information is tracked through an extensive tracking log which encompasses child specific information as to every child that has been placed into a foster care home with the date of the meeting held or reason why meeting was not held. The Icebreaker data is tracked and calculated on a daily basis. Each month, the data collected is presented to community partners (for example; at the Foster Parent Task Force Meetings, Co-parenting Initiative Calls and Early Childhood Court Meetings). The self-imposed goal is to facilitate an Icebreaker meeting on at minimum 75% of qualifying foster homes entered for the given timeframe (month, quarter, year, ongoing). This is calculated using the formula:

Icebreakers Held_________________ (Total FH entered - # of Homes Not Qualified – Already Co-parenting)

Additional Information: Already Co-parenting: If it is determined that the foster parent(s) is already communicating with the birth parent(s), and the foster parent(s) does not feel a formal Icebreaker Meeting is necessary, ECA Operations Specialist will ask the foster parent(s) to fill out the “About My Child” form with the parent(s) as soon as possible and return it to the ECA Operations Specialist. The form will be uploaded into the Meeting tab of FSFN. Unable to be Reached: If the birth parent(s) cannot be reached during the tracking process, a letter will be sent to the last known address asking for the parent to call the ECA Operations Specialist. Foster Parent Unwilling: If the foster parent(s) is unwilling to meet the birth parent, the ECA Operations Specialist will contact the ECA Licensing Supervisor or ECA Director of Licensing to explain the reason why the foster parent reported they are not comfortable participating. Beforehand, the ECA Operations Specialist will attempt to educate the foster parent on the importance of co-parenting, the structure of the Icebreaker Meeting, and offer to conduct the meeting via phone instead of face to face in effort to assist them at feeling more at ease.

For additional information please visit The Annie E. Casey Foundation: http://www.aecf.org/resources/icebreaker-meetings/

* http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-IcebreakerMeetingsToolkit-2012.pdf#page=9)

Icebreaker Survey Questions

How did the Icebreaker go?

Did you continue to communicate with the family after the Icebreaker?

Did you supervise any visits after the Icebreaker?

Would you like to see the Icebreaker process continue?

What feedback can you provide to help improve the Icebreaker process in the future?

Icebreaker Survey Data Tracking

Have the children been reunified?

If so, what date? (Calculate days based on date of Icebreaker)

Calculation of phone vs face-to-face Icebreaker (days until reunification)

MONTH YEAR NUMBER OF CASES 0

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 0

NUMBER OF FOSTER HOMES 0

REASONS ICEBREAKER DID NOT OCCUR

Foster Home Already Coparenting 0

FP Not Willing 0

Bio Parent Not Willing 0

Pursuing Expedited TPR (CPI) 0

Goal is Adoption (CM) 0

Severe Mental Health or No Contact Order 0

Unable to Reach/Locate Parent or Parent Incarcerated 0

Temporary Placement (Sibling splits, moved to new home together) 0

Child No Longer in a Licensed Foster Home (Moved to Relative, Nonrelative, Group

Home) 0

TOTAL NUMBER OF FOSTER HOMES WITHOUT ICEBREAKER = 0

TOTAL FOSTER HOMES REMAINING = 0

Icebreakers Held in Person 0

Icebreakers Held via Phone 0

TOTAL NUMBER OF ICEBREAKERS HELD = 0

Icebreakers Cancelled/No-Showed 0

Icebreakers Scheduled, but Not Yet Held 0

Foster Homes Pending 0

PERCENTAGE OF ICEBREAKERS HELD = #DIV/0!

*Updated as of (DATE/TIME)