A familys journey in the child protection system

A family’s journey in the child protection system. . . MNPrairie County Alliance Child & Family Social Services Division All Commissioners Board, July 19, 2016

Child & Family Division Shari Kottke, Child & Family Social Services Manager Wendy Morton, Child & Family Social Services Supervisor Christie Bausman, Child & Family Social Services Supervisor Laura Menden, Child & Family Social Services Supervisor Katelin Swanson, Trauma-Informed Therapist, Fernbrook

Genogram Tom 25 Jenny 22 Kaley 4

When: Call received Monday, April 3 rd at 4: 20 pm Who: Mandated Reporter: Preschool staff Concerns: Today I was visiting at a home and noticed a little girl playing outside alone and she wandered into the street. I know the family from pre-school where I work. They are Tom and Jenny, and Kaley, age 4. No adult checked on Kaley for several minutes. Then Jenny came out of the house yelling at her, picked her up and carried her into the house. The people I was visiting with said this isn’t the first time Kaley has been unsupervised lately. They said Jenny is a good parent but seems really stressed lately. They visited the home yesterday and Jenny used what appeared to be meth right in front of them and Kaley was in the room. Jenny wasn’t acting “normal” and they took Kaley to their home until Tom came home around supper time. They didn’t share what they saw with him. Tom works long hours and the couple usually get along well. They generally take good care of Kaley until just recently when Jenny starting acting out of it.

Daily screening team convenes…

Family Investigation or Family Assessment?

Team Decision

Safe & Connected Child Welfare Model

Reason for Referral: § Jenny is lonely, sad, overwhelmed anxious § Jenny laid off from a job she enjoyed and unable to find new job § Jenny admits to “hanging” with 2 friends who use and partying when Tom or family have Kaley § Jenny used meth for past couple months, about 8 times § Jenny has used with Kaley present in past couple of weeks § Tom shares worries of Jenny’s depressive symptoms but unaware of “parties” & using meth § Jenny very emotional, expresses desire to stop using meth, doesn’t want to hurt Kaley § Jenny agrees to initial Urinalysis (UA), positive for meth—sent to lab for confirmation and “level” § Tom denies any use of substances other than occasional beer with friends

Strengths/Protective Factors § Tom & Jenny have completed high school, Tom is taking courses at a nearby college working towards an AA degree § Tom is employed full-time, uses his wages to financially support the family § Family owns their home, have a history of making timely payments § Tom & Jenny express deep love for child, observed to respond to Kaley’s cues well, affectionate and appropriately interact § Kaley on track developmentally (per pediatrician, pre-school staff, parents and observations). Parents bring her in for well being checks, immunizations § Tom/Jenny indicated a large support network (genogram expanded) who support them emotionally, with care of Kaley and some financial help at times § Extended family present at Rapid Response Case Planning Conference and developed initial safety plan § Jenny is open about her use of meth and wants help to get sober

Complicating Factors § Jenny has a history of depression-brief episode as a teen, six month episode post-partrum following Kaley’s birth § Jenny primary parent and hesitant to ask for help § Jenny enjoyed working outside of home, limited education/skills and no success in job search § Tom is working extended hours at work, attending classes/study most evenings-feels overwhelmed and worried about potential job loss with missed work time § Falling behind with financial obligations, hard to stretch budget for pre-school costs § Jenny worried about extended family members reaction to her use of meth, not watching Kaley well § Jenny feeling overwhelmed with parenting and few friends who are also mom’s § Jenny may be pregnant

Need for Immediate Safety Plan § Jenny is positive for meth, is primary caregiver for the child § Jenny is experiencing positive symptoms of depression

The child’s perspective…. thinking through a trauma lens…

Immediate Safety Plan § Assessment social worker requests Tom and Jenny gather their family together to develop a safety plan, they are hesitant but agree § A family conference (Rapid Response) scheduled to occur on Thursday later afternoon § Tom requested time off work for emergency leave, employer granted three days § Tom will have care of Kaley until conference occurs, no alone care with Jenny

Family Conference (Rapid Response)

Family Conference…. . Risk Statements § Kaley may be emotionally harmed when separated from her mother and father (primary caregivers) § Kaley may be accidentally physically hurt when she is in Jenny’s care alone and Jenny uses meth and her care, attention and judgement are impaired.

Next Steps…Safety Plan § No alone parenting time for Kaley with Jenny § Extra “eyes on” supervisors will be § Tom when not at work/school § Emma while Tom is at work (daytime) § Sally or Brian may back up daytime care when Emma unavailable § Becky & Sue can watch Kaley when Tom is at school (evening) § Allie/Rick available if unplanned situation occurs § Jenny will not use meth and will cooperate with random UA’s requested by agency § Tom and family/kin will share any concerns observed or noted around Jenny’s behaviors/interactions with the agency § Agency staff will stop by, sometimes unannounced, to § Check with the family that they are following the safety plan § Ensure they have the resources necessary to meet Kaley’s needs § If the safety plan gaps or breaks, the potential for child placement will increase/occur

Next Steps…Initial Case Planning § Continue Family Assessment § Jenny will complete pregnancy test (referral to Public Health? ) § Jenny to complete a Rule 25 chemical health assessment, follow up with any recommendations § Grandparents want to pay for pre-school for next 3 months, will send a check to the school § Next family meeting: 2 weeks

Conclude Family Assessment § Structured Decision Making Tools completed: § Risk Assessment: Moderate § Safety Assessment: Conditionally Safe § Determine need for Child Protective Services: YES § Complete documentation and prepare file for assignment § Supervisory review of file § Assign to Ongoing Child Protection Social Worker § Transition meeting with family (best practice)

Ongoing Child Protective Services Relationship building with the family Ongoing assessment via informal (worker visits, discussions with family members & collateral contacts) and formal utilizing required tools to identify family needs: • Family Strengths & Needs • CMH Screening • Risk re-assessments @ periodic intervals Developing a case plan that is unique to the family and addresses their needs

Case progess…. to case closure § Kaley may be emotionally harmed when separated from her mother and father (primary caregivers) § Kaley was in the care of her parents and family network throughout the life of this case and did not experience a separation given the safety plan enacted and followed. § Kaley may be accidentally physically harmed when in Jenny’s care and she uses meth and her care, attention and judgement are impaired § Jenny completed outpatient treatment and finds support in attending AA/NA meetings weekly § Jenny sober nine months, demonstrated through negative UA’s, no reports, observations or disclosures of meth use § Jenny observed/reported (family members, service providers, social worker) to be attending appropriately to the needs of Kaley (and new baby) § Jenny and Tom seek help from their family network and family is supportive via caring for children for needed breaks and time to attend meetings § Jenny did not experience post-partum following baby’s birth, is enjoying parenting

Questions?