Bringing Back the Dads

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Bringing Back the Dads

Engaging Fathers in Child Welfare Cases

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Overview

1. Who we are

2. Why father involvement in child welfare cases is important

3. Barriers to father engagement

4. Resources from the QIC NRF

5. Key strategies to engage fathers

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Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers and Child Welfare

A project operated by:

American Humane

ABA Center on Children and the Law

National Fatherhood Initiative

A Project of the Children’s BureauAdministration on Children, Youth and Families

Administration on Children and FamiliesUS Department of Health and Human Services

2006-2011

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QIC-NRF Research Focus

“How is overall child well-being

impacted as a result of

increased father

and paternal relative

involvement in

the public child

welfare system?”

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QIC NRF-Funded Research Sites

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Tarrant County Collaborating Fathers Program:

Fatherhood Coalition of Tarrant County

Indiana Department of Child Services in Indianapolis Collaborating Fathers Program:

Indiana Fathers and Families Center

Division of Children and Family Services in King County, Washington Collaborating Fathers Programs: Divine Alternatives for Dads and

Fathers In Need

El Paso County Department of Human Services in Colorado Springs, CO Collaborating Fathers Program: Center on Fathering

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Facts About Father Involvement

Studies have found that:

63% of black children, 35% of Hispanic children and 28% of white children do not live with their biological father.

In 1997, 65% of poor children did not live with their biological fathers, compared to 25% of children who were not poor.

20% of all non-resident fathers are believed to earn less than $6,000 a year.

[From: Father Facts, National Fatherhood Initiative (2007)]

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Consequences of Father Absence

Youth from father-absent homes

are more likely to experience:

Poverty Emotional and behavioral problems Substance abuse issues Incarceration Problems at school (e.g., repeating a grade, dropping out,

poor performance)


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Benefits of Father Presence

A review of nearly 100 studies on parent-child relationships found that the child’s relationship with his/her father was equal or more important than the relationship with his/her mother for:

Happiness, well-being and social and academic success Predicting a child’s emotional instability, lack of self-esteem

depression, social withdrawal and level of aggression (based on parental withdrawal)

Delinquency, conduct problems, substance abuse and overall mental health and well-being


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Benefits of Father Presence

2008 Report: More about the Dads:Exploring Associations between Nonresident Father

Involvement and Child Welfare Case Outcomes

Involvement by nonresident fathers associated with more reunifications and less adoptions.

Higher levels of nonresident father involvement associated with substantially lower likelihood of later maltreatment allegations

Highly involved nonresident fathers’ children exited foster care more quickly

[Based on case file data for children discussed in What about the Dads study]

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Barriers to Father Engagement

2006 Report: What about the Dads? Data based on telephone interviews with 1,222 caseworkers in four states

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QIC NRF conducted “key informant interviews” asking groups to identify barriers. Their responses:

Courts Lack of training Individual biases/concepts of father engagement No ongoing oversight of agency location efforts No questioning of family regarding NRF whereabouts Failure to ensure NRF and paternal kin are notified of

FGDM/FTM No agency reporting on how visitation or other contact goes

between NRF and child

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Child Welfare Agencies Lack of training Unfriendly ‘father’ environment Lack of interagency collaboration to locate NRFs (e.g. child support

agency connections) Lack of policy/procedure to help identify, locate, contact NRFs Worker reluctance to contact NRF Feeling that it makes case management more difficult Mother as ‘gatekeeper’

At NRF’s request Protecting informal support arrangement DV issues Does not know his identity

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Child and Family Service Reviews

The CFSRs assess each child welfare agency on: whether they made concerted efforts to involve parents in

the case planning process on an ongoing process whether the caseworker had frequent and high quality

meetings with the parents whether the caseworker demonstrated concerted efforts

to provide visits of sufficient quantity and quality to promote continuity in the child’s relationship with the parents and siblings

The CFSR results from almost every state have been disappointing in all of these measures

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CFSR Final Reports: State Examples “A primary concern identified was an inconsistency with

regard to agency efforts to contact fathers, even in cases in which fathers had been caretakers and/or maintained connections with the children.” (Pennsylvania)

“A primary concern identified was the lack of consistency among workers in providing fathers with adequate attention with respect to their service needs.” (Oklahoma)

“There was a lack of attention to fathers in particular in case planning.” (Georgia)

“A particular concern identified in some cases was the lack of effort to incorporate fathers into any aspect of the case process.” (Washington)

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Resources from the QIC NRF

Research 4 Child Welfare Agency Sites Assignment Criteria Initial Male Caseworker contact Peer-Led Support group

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Resources from the QIC NRF

Research Father Friendly Check Up for Child Welfare Agencies

and Social Marketing Tools Curriculum for Social Workers Curriculum for Parents’ Attorneys & Article Series Speaking engagements, presentations at state and

national conferences

Available at: www.fatherhoodqic.org

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The Father Friendly Check-Upfor Child Welfare Agencies

Diagnostic tool Helps assess the degree to which your organization’s

operations encourage father involvement in the activities and programs you offer.

Identifies areas for improvement in the father friendliness of your child

welfare agency or organization.

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Father Friendly Assessment Categories

Leadership & organizational philosophy Program management policies and procedures Parent-involvement program Program physical environment Staff training and professional development Collaboration and organizational networking Community outreach

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Curriculum for Social Workers

Developed by American Humane Currently being pilot tested by AH and NFI Topics Covered:

Focus and goals of the QIC NRF FFCU areas of assessment Importance and value of father involvement Importance of culture in understanding male

socialization, perceptions and behavior Challenges to engaging NRFs Strategies to involve non-resident fathers in child welfare

cases

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Curriculum for Fathers’ Attorneys Developed by ABA, based on article series Pilot testing in DC, CA, MD To be released by September 30th

Four Modules: Constitutional rights and responsibilities of NRFs Strategies for effective advocacy inside the courtroom Strategies for effective advocacy outside the courtroom Special ethical considerations involved with representing

NRFs

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Article Series/Book on Representing Non-Resident Fathers

Nonresident Fathers’ Constitutional Rights Representing Nonresident Fathers In the Courtroom Understanding Male Help-Seeking Behavior Involving Nonresident Fathers: Tips for Judges Representing Incarcerated Fathers Child Support Issues for NRFs Ethical Considerations in Representing NRFs Out of Court Advocacy for NRFs Special Issues: Substance Abuse, DV, Immigration

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Taking strategies from the classroom into the community.

How to Better Engage NRFs: Lessons from Tarrant County, TX

www.newdayservices.org www.tarrantfatherhood.org

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REACH OUT—Beyond case management to child welfare

“You were persistent. I finally answered on about the 5th call.” - Mihn

“I about cried when I got the letter in the mail.” - Edward

BE RELEVANT—“How is this going to help my child?”

“I’m using this information at visits with my child.” - Jerry

BE RELATIONAL—Knowing and being known is transformational.

“It’s a good culmination of classes and I loved seeing everyone’s faces each week.”-Donnie

“I’ve shared things with the men in this room that the friends I’ve had for thirty years don’t know, and I’m a better man for it.”

-Homer

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BE REALISTIC– How he has been does not have to define Who he wants to be and CAN be.

“My experience in this class is like a demolished building being rebuilt from the foundation up. I gained a lot of knowledge from everyone. You have a good method of dealing with us fathers. Lot’s of us didn’t know what a father is and the class helps us see what we’ve never dreamt or been told.”

- Patrick

BE RESPECTFUL—He is somebody’s daddy.

“Thank you for treating us like men.” - Anthony

“I wish the caseworker would treat me like a man- not just a client.” - Alex


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BE OPTIMISTIC–There is more to a man than meets the eye.

“Ya’ll came in and broke it down to build us up with actions, attitudes, game plan, framework—I was afraid to open up and ya’ll touched on the issues I wouldn’t talk about. I have more to teach my daughter now. Thank you.”

-Isaiah

BUILD on STRENTGHS—We know we are inadequate, but we often aren’t aware that our presence is our greatest strength for our children.

“I was the fastest kids in my high school, but the first time my father couldn’t be at my track meet I quit. I wonder what my absence in my child’s life is keeping him from accomplishing.”

-Terrence


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High value placed on family connections for children should determine policy and practice in investigations, court

proceedings, service planning, case management, and permanency planning.

•Shapes new attitudes toward the children we serve AND the parents directly responsible for them

•Allows us to do casework within the context of relationship building

•Determines the nature of services we offer parents

•Reshapes client and community perceptions of child welfare service

•Reframes how we perceive the strengths in struggling families


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Eric & Ariel

Communicating VALUE in Engagement


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How to Better Engage NRFs:Court Perspective

#1: Know NRFs’ Basic Legal Rights

#2 Identify/Locate NRFs Early

#3 Address & Understand NRFs’ Right to Visit

#4 Engage NRF in Case Planning

#5 Be Aware of NRFs’ Other Legal Issues

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#1: Know NRFs’ basic legal rights

Why? Failure to understand these rights may lead to a court’s reversal of agency decisions and actions that may ultimately delay permanency and harm children

Constitutional Rights* Notice of proceedings Visitation Request Custody Hearing before TPR

Clear & Convincing Standard

*in order for the non-resident father to be entitled to notice, he must: (1) have established a relationship with his child, or (2) have seized the opportunity to establish such a relationship.

How to perfect these rights depends on state law and practice:

Putative father registry Name on birth certificate File an affidavit of paternity or

begin paternity proceedings Married to mother at time of

conception or birth (Michael H. v. Gerald D).

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#1: Know NRFs’ basic legal rights

Even assuming the NRF has ‘perfected’ his legal right to his child, he still might not be afforded the full compliment of constitutional protections custodial parents receive.

Different State Approaches Court can assume jurisdiction based on conduct of one parent; can

compel NRF to comply with services (e.g. Michigan, Ohio) Court can assume jurisdiction based on conduct of one parent, but must

award physical custody to NRF absent a finding of unfitness; can compel NRF to comply with services (e.g. California, Florida)

Court cannot assume jurisdiction if there is one fit parent, regardless of the conduct of the other; before dismissal, can award custody to NRF and enter findings against custodial parent. (e.g. Maryland, Pennsylvania)

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Why? Failure to properly notify the NRF may violate his constitutional rights. This may:

Delay court proceedings Result in a reversal of judicial findings regarding the

father at hearings to which he was not properly notified Deprive the child of important paternal resources

(including paternal relatives) before a permanency decision is made

Delay permanency

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How? In addition to procedures outlined by your

child welfare agency’s policy or practice, contemplate:

Asking father’s counsel to examine the mother and family under oath to get identifying information about the NRF

Request that the mother and her counsel file an affidavit concerning paternity

Request that the judge inquire at each hearing about the NRFs whereabouts until he is found

See if the NRF has other legal cases that will help you locate him (e.g. domestic relations, child support, criminal)

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#3 Address & Understand NRFs’ Rights to Visit

Why? To ensure the child maintains or establishes important family connections or is not harmed by improper contact with the NRF.

Biological parents have a legal right to visit their children. This right may be limited if it may or will harm the child or is not in their best interest (depending on state law).

If the NRF is not the perpetrator and there are no safety concerns, the NRF has the right to request liberal unsupervised visitation with his child. (although this is not always allowed by courts wary of previously uninvolved NRFs)

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#4 Engage NRFs in Case PlanningWhy?

To provide him with appropriate supportive services to maintain or establish a relationship with his child

To avoid ‘no reasonable efforts’ findings To expedite permanency either with NRF or another

placement option

How? Solicit NRF’s and his counsel’s input on elements of a

successful case plan Identify supportive services that are gender-responsive Avoid service overload Coordinate services that are accessible and can be completed

within a reasonable timeframe

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#5 Be Aware of NRFs’ Other Legal Issues

Why? To better assess his service needs and capacity to engage in the child welfare process.

Child Support Criminal Domestic Relations Immigration

How? Search publicly available court and criminal records Contact child support agency (depending on confidentiality

rules) Ask NRF or his counsel in the course of case planning

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Father Engagement: What CIP Programs Can Do

Offer training on father’s rights and advocacy for/engagement of fathers

Develop forms and resource lists Gender-specific services in your jurisdiction Affidavit for mother to provide info about father

Advocate for court rules and policies Questioning of parties regarding whereabouts of NRFs Continued efforts to identify, locate and contact father

(beyond just detention hearing and TPR) Accommodations for out-of-state or incarcerated fathers to

be able to participate in hearings in person or by phone Early appointment of attorneys for fathers

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Contact Ron [email protected] Karen [email protected]

Tommy [email protected]

Lisa [email protected]

QIC NRF www.fatherhoodqic.org

Documents

Bringing Back the Dads