SDM® Assessments in Practice

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SDM® Assessments in Practice

Reunification reassessment• Purpose and structure• Talking with clients about reunification• Importance of contact with parents• What progress looks like• Court reports and the reunification reassessment

Supervising and the SDM reunification reassessment

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Reunification Reassessment: Purpose

1. Routinely monitor critical case factors that affect permanency goal achievement;

2. Help structure the case review process; and

3. Expedite permanency for children in care.

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Reunification Reassessment: Structure

1. Riska) Initial risk levelb) New substantiated incidentc) Case plan progress

2. Visitation plan evaluationa) Supervised or notb) Consistency in attending scheduled visitsc) Interaction with child during visits

Remember to use definitions!

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Reunification Reassessment: Structure

3. Safety

a)Identification of any new/current safety threatsb)Document resolution of safety threats that led to removalc)Safety decision

• Safe (no current safety threats)

• Conditionally safe (current safety threats are controlled with interventions)

• Unsafe

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4. Permanency plan recommendation guidelines• Reunification to parent (removal or non-removal)• Maintain in care• Change permanency goal

» Adoption» Long-term foster care» Care, custody, and control to relative

Reunification Reassessment: Structure

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Permanency Goal Recommendation

• Answer yes or no until reaching a permanency goal

• If an override to the recommended goal is warranted, indicate the final goal recommendation and provide justification for the override.

» Case documentation must support risk, visitation, safety, and final permanency goal recommendation.

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Reunification Assessment Starts on

DAY 1

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Family Perception of the Reunification Decision

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Talking About the Reunification Decision

• Start as soon as possible• Lay out the components of the reunification decision

» Risk» Visitation» Safety» Length of time in care

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Talking About Risk at Reunification

New substantiated investigationRefuse services/no progress

Progress toward case plan goals

Improve chance of

reunification

Reduce chance of

reunification

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Talking About Visitation

• Maintain connection

• Stay involved

• Opportunity to demonstrate change

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Talking About Visits: Visitation Plan

• How often• How long• Where• Other contact options (phone calls, email)• What worker is looking for

» Connect to case plan goals» If supervised, what needs to happen for unsupervised

Hess & Proch. (1988). Family visiting in out-of-home care: A guide to practice. CWLA; Rose Wendt.

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Talking About Visits

Missing visitsLimited or destructive parent-child interactions

Keep scheduled visitsConsistently demonstrate positive parent-child interactions

Improve chance of

reunification

Reduce chance of

reunification

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Talking About Safety

Original safety threat not resolved

New safety threats

Original safety threat resolved

Create a safe home environment

Improvechance of

reunification

Reduce chance of

reunification

Importance of Contact With Parents

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Relationship Between Social Worker Visits and Improved Federal Reporting Outcomes

CFSR

Item 4

• Assessment of safety and risk to children

CFSR

Item 17

• Assessment of the needs of children, parents, and foster parents and provision of the appropriate services

CFSR

Item 18

• Child and parent involvement in case planning

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. (2004). Findings from the Initial 2001–2004 Child and Family Services Reviews. Retrieved December 13, 2005, from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/results/index.htm

CFSR Items 19 and 20: Caseworker visits with children and parents

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Other Significant Associations Between Visits and CFSR Indicators

Caseworker visits with parents and children were also strongly associated with the following:

• Services to protect children at home• Timely permanency goals• Timely reunification• Child’s visits with parents and siblings• Relative placements

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. (2004). Findings from the Initial 2001–2004 Child and Family Services Reviews. Retrieved December 13, 2005, from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/results/index.htm

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Contact Content

1. Assess progress toward case plan objectives:» Participation in services» Demonstration of change

2. Assess change in needs (identification of new needs/needs reduction)

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Assessing for Demonstration of Change

• Ask client to describe any change• Look for evidence of observable change• Change is a process; recognize small steps• Recognize sustained improvement

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Visits Between Parents and Children

• Involvement is more than just showing up» Verbal and nonverbal engagement» Age-appropriate activities

• When possible, include parents in school meetings, doctor appointments, and other parenting activities

• Be creative with visit setting and activities

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Negotiating Connections With SDM® Assessments

• What needs does this family have?• What strengths can we use to address those needs?

Assessment of Family Functioning Reassessment

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Court Report

• Progress toward case plan goals• Current risk• Visitation results• Status of initial safety threat• Current safety/safety plan

Using SDM® Assessments in Case Conferences

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Types of Case Conferences

• Informal» “Have you got a minute?”» In the hallway or on the phone

• Formal» 1:1 case specific» 1:1 supervision» Internal group» Multidisciplinary group

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Supervisory Leadership

• Keep focus on central question.

• If there are disagreements in final decision, review relevant SDM tool completion.» Which items have agreement? (move on)» Which items have disagreement?

Look at facts and definition FOCUS discussion here!

• If everyone agrees, STILL review tool completion!

Your name is on it!Approving Assessments

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How extensively do you review?

How often? What?

ALWAYS• Overall consistency with what you know• Obvious item inconsistency• Overrides• Bottom line compared to action planned/taken

Spot check • Initial risk level score • Random item scores vs. narrative

Small random sample Case review for timeliness and accuracy

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How extensively do you spot check?

Worker Status Spot Check Level

• In training• Has not demonstrated competency• Struggling with workload, personal issues

Weekly

Most workers Monthly

• Demonstrated competency through previous and current spot checks and supervisory case reading• No extenuating pressures

Quarterly

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When You Spot a Problem

• Meet with worker to discuss» Explain issue» Ask for worker’s perspective» Use SDM policy and/or definition

• Change together, if needed

• Use opportunity to build competence

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Building Toward the SDM® Model’s Goal

Completing the tools

Completing tools accurately, supported by narrative evidence

Using tools to guide decisions

Reduced harm

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For more information, please contact:

Deirdre O’Connor, Senior ResearcherChildren’s Research Center

doconnor@mw.nccd-crc.org