COURAGE & VULNERABILITY: LEARNING AND LEADING … · COURAGE & VULNERABILITY: LEARNING AND...

Priscilla MulacJaime Pinney

COURAGE & VULNERABILITY: LEARNING AND LEADING

TOGETHER

NORTH OF THE RIVER

¡ Doubtful¡ Aligns well with social work¡ Surprise – As a trainer, you get to be a catalyst!¡ Learned it all in theory, studied and researched¡ Practitioner’s model¡ A giant leap

COURAGEOUS PRACTICE

¡Scaling ourselves¡First family assessment ¡3 Houses = Major Flop!¡Staying on the onion

CHALLENGES

¡Coaching/Mentoring Staff

¡Miracle Questions & Reality TV

¡No more eye rolls

VULNERABILITY IN THE FIELD

“FAILURE” = LEARNING

CHILDRENS WORDS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

¡Energy Building¡Meeting facilitation¡Scaling community members

“The difference was that I could actually see what was being said because you were writing it up there. Social workers are always coming out and writing stuff down but I don’t know what they are saying about me. I felt like I was actually being heard for the first time in my case.”- A mom, about the dif ference she saw in a meeting with SoS approach being used

SWEET SUCCESS

UP AND DOWN THE SCALE

¡ What is your favorite thing about (Child)?§ I love how creative she is. During my visits with her she is always making or

coloring something. She is also incredibly smart.

¡ What about your relationship with (child) makes you happy/makes you smile?§ The way her eyes light up when she is telling me a story about something she did

or accomplishment.

¡ How do you see your role as a mother to (child)? In 2 years when she is a pre-teen, how does that look? When she is a teenager?§ (child) is an easy going child and goes with the flow. She responds well to being

redirected. I think being a mom to her would be simple due to (child’s) demeanor. However, she can be stubborn, if her stubborn streak is out, then it would be a long road ahead. As a teen, (child) would have long hair and be very beautiful.

¡ If we were to ask (child) what she loves best about you, what would you hope that she would say?§ (child) loves it when I tell her she is the best and I give her a hug.

1ST ATTEMPT – QUESTIONING APPROACH

¡ If we were to ask (child) about how she feels being separated from you, what do you think she might say?§ Depends on the situation. I know she feels safe with me around. She requested we do the

family therapy at the office so I would be there for her. If I were leaving her somewhere alone, she would be fearful for me to leave.

¡ What are your best hopes for (child’s) future?§ I want her to continue to grow and learn as a person. I would like her to use her creativity to

invent new items the world needs in the future!

¡ What are your best hopes for this case?§ I hope (mom) and (child) are able to continue to work on their relationship in the long term.

WHY IS THIS CHILD EVEN IN CARE?

¡How long is long enough?

¡Safety Planning around staying with the offender

WHAT ABOUT THE DV HISTORY

Goal #1:(Dad) agrees to cooperate with the Children’s Division, Court, Juvenile Office, and the Family Support Team for the time period of March 3, 2017- July 31, 2017.

Tasks for Goal #1:¡ (Dad) agrees to allow the Children’s Division to complete announced and/or

unannounced visits to his home.¡ (Dad) agrees to participate in all Family Support Team meetings for the time period.¡ (Dad) agrees to notify his Children’s Division worker within 24 hours of any change

to his phone number, change of address and/or changes to the household.¡ (Dad) agrees to sign and execute releases of information as needed.

ANOTHER TRY – WRITTEN SERVICE AGREEMENT

Goal #3:(Dad) agrees to complete services as ordered, recommended, or needed, in order to assist in the case goal of reunification for the time period of March 3, 2017-July 31, 2017.

Tasks for Goal #3¡ (Dad) agrees to complete a parenting assessment per the Court’s Orders and to follow

the recommendations of such.¡ (Dad) agrees to attend and participate in co-parenting therapy and mediation with

(therapist).¡ (Dad) agrees to utilize and engage in parent aide services for (child’s) visitation. ¡ (Dad) agrees to attend and complete individual therapy with an anger management

component. ¡ (Dad) agrees to submit to random drug and alcohol testing upon request by the

Children’s Division, Guardian ad Litem and Juvenile Officer.

WRITTEN SERVICE AGREEMENT

“Just thought I would let you know that the WSA was fabulous and went over super well at court! Judge stated that she had to pause and think about some of the answers to the questions and felt that this type of WSA would be beneficial on some other cases. So, perhaps the groundwork has been laid a little bit for the buy in you were talking about in our mini introduction.”

Thank you!

FINALLY SUCCESS?

“That is amazing news!! I’d like to talk more with you about that if you have an opportunity? I think I told you that I also have to present in October the struggles and success of this implementation – if this could perhaps be the start of a success I’d like to talk more about it. Can you send me an available time that we could maybe meet- and Ann and Shannon too if possible (if even just by phone would work too)?”

“Can you also send me his replies (if it is already written – if it’s not already written, don’t worry about it). This email excites me – thank you!!”

“He has not answered the questions yet as he wanted to process them with his therapist and was supposed to be making an appointment to discuss them with the therapist.”

ALMOST THERE

LEADING AND LEARNING

¡ Jaime Pinney, Missouri Children’s Division Jamie.r.pinney@dss.mo.gov

¡ Priscilla Mulac, Missouri Children’s Division Priscilla.m.mulac@dss.mo.gov

CONTACT INFORMATION

Priscilla MulacJaime Pinney

COURAGE & VULNERABILITY: LEARNING AND LEADING

TOGETHER