Module 6: Purposeful Contacts - Florida's Center for … · Web viewThe new adult household member and the required checks must be documented in the Judicial Review Social Services

Module 6: Purposeful ContactsTime: 2 hours

Slide 6.01 Slide 6.0.2 Slide 6.0.3

Module Purpose: This module discusses how to conduct visits that are meaningful and purposeful. It further analyzes the exploration process and examines communication techniques and methods that assist in gathering information and developing relationships with parents and children.

Learning Objectives: 1. Determine how to prepare and conduct purposeful contacts with the parents.2. Determine how to prepare and conduct purposeful contacts with the child.3. Identify the required aspects of a home visit.4. FSFN- Demonstrate documenting a parent contact and child contact visit note.

Notes:

CM 6: Purposeful Contacts1

Unit 6.1 Purposeful VisitsTime: 2 Hours

Unit Purpose: In this unit participants examine communication techniques and methods that assist in developing relationships with parents and learn how to conduct visits that are meaningful and purposeful.

Learning Objectives:1. Recognize the relationship between caseworker, parent/caregiver and child visits and

placement stability and permanency.2. Identify the required aspects of a home visit.3. Provide examples of purposeful contacts.4. Describe the various types of visits and contacts.5. Determine how to prepare and conduct purposeful contacts with the parent and child.6. Discuss the relationship between visits, contacts and assessing change.7. Identify additional aspects of visits for Adolescents.8. Identify the needs of visiting a child in a Group Home Setting.9. FSFN- Demonstrate documenting a contact note.

Slide 6.1.4 Slide 6.1.5

Opening Activity Notes:


Slide 6.1.6 Notes:

Slide 6.1.7 Notes:

Home Visit Legal RequirementsVisitation and Contact

The child and caregiver must be seen every seven days while in shelter status and every seven days during the first thirty days after removal when the child is placed with a relative or non-relative.

Contact with the child and caregiver, regardless of the case goal, must occur at a minimum of every 30 days (without exceptions) or more often if needed.

If child is unable to communicate due to age or other condition, your contact must be made directly with the shelter parent or provider with the child present.

Face-to-face contacts shall occur more frequently than every thirty days when the child's situation dictates more frequent contact, as determined by the services worker's supervisor based on a review of the case and assessed safety and risk level or as determined by the court.

At least once every three months, the case manager shall make an unannounced visit to the child’s place of residence.

Case manager contacts with the parents and caregiver are to address case plan progress, child's progress, development, health and education.


Contacts by the case manager with the child shall be purposeful and focused on the reasons for supervision and progress with tasks and services in the case plan or safety plan.

Some visits with the child should be independent of the caregiver. Contact requirements are required even if a child is placed in a Department of Juvenile

Justice facility. The decision of the frequency of visits will be as often as necessary to effectively address

child safety, permanency, well-being and the achievement of case goals. When the goal is Reunification or Maintain and Strengthen face-to-face contacts with the

mother and the father should occurred at a minimum of every 30 days or more often if needed.

Contact with the child and caregiver, regardless of the case goal, must occur at a minimum of every 30 days or more often if needed.

An increased frequency of contacts is required for the first three months following reunification depending on the child’s age, special needs and assessed risk.

If we are supervising a child is in this state under ICPC or a child from our jurisdiction is in another state through ICPC, the visitation requirements remain the same. These were discussed in Core eLearning.

If the parent is incarcerated or resides out-of-state, the documentation shall support other forms of contact (e.g. telephone calls, letters, emails, etc.) by the case manager.

Initial Face-To-Face Contact Initial contact shall occur within two working days of the case being accepted for

supervision. The date accepted for supervision is the date of the ESI staffing or the date of the court order for supervision, whichever occurs first. 65C-30.007(1)(b).

You must consider the risk to the child when planning the initial visit: o age of the child o nature of the maltreatment o access of the perpetrator/parent to the child

Consider service needs of the child that might require immediate attention, i.e. young child with severe health problems.

Make sure the child is getting the necessary services for identified physical, mental health, and educational needs.

Assure completion and availability of required paperwork. Assure completion of every effort and task to achieve permanence.

Out-of-Home Care Provide necessary information to children about parents and siblings, if separated. Inquire about the child‘s visitation experiences. For age 13 and up, ask child about progress in learning identified life skills to prepare for

independent living. Age 13 and up, a written plan with age-appropriate life skills is required.

Contact with Children


During contacts, you must pay attention to: o condition of the home or facility o licensed capacity of the home and the number of children in the home o how the caregiver, parent or provider treats the children o any other factors which effect the child o physical, mental health, and educational needs of child o informing children about parents/siblings, if separated

Activity #1: Home Visit Legal Requirements

Directions: With your table group, prepare 5 quiz questions based on the Home Visit legal Requirements

Write the question on the front of the index card provided and the answer on the back. Questions should be legible, accurate, and valid. When we are finished, we will be having a contest to see which group answers the most

questions correctly

Notes:


Slide 6.1.8 Notes:

65C-30.007(2) Contacts with Parent or Caregiver Living in Florida.(a) The Services Worker with case responsibility shall establish and maintain regular face-to-face contact a minimum of every thirty days with the custodial parents of any child under in-home supervision.(b) The Services Worker shall make a face-to-face contact a minimum of every thirty days if the case plan goal is reunification with the parent who is a party to the case. If the parent lives in a county other than the county of jurisdiction, this shall be accomplished as provided in Rule 65C-30.018, F.A.C.(c) The Services Worker shall make a face-to-face contact a minimum of every thirty days with the child’s caregiver if the child is in an out-of-home placement.(d) During these contacts Services Workers shall discuss with parents and caregiver the case plan progress and the child’s progress, development, health, and education.(e) If the Services Worker learns that a new adult has moved into the child’s home, a state and local criminal, juvenile and abuse/neglect history check shall be performed as part of the family assessment. When a new adult moves into the home of a child’s relative or non-relative out-of-home caregiver, the requirements of subsection 65C-28.001(7), F.A.C., shall be met. The new adult household member and the required checks must be documented in the Judicial Review Social Services Report and the six month family assessment.

*[See also, FS 39.402 (9)]

65C-30.008 Services Worker Responsibilities to Parents.(1) For children remaining in the home, the Services Worker shall assist the parents in order to:

(a) Resolve and help prevent the situation that resulted in in-home supervision;(b) Understand and meet their child’s needs, including the child’s need for safety;(c) Maintain contact with the children’s service providers, including medical and educational providers;(d) Work toward a realistic and timely case goal.

(2) For children in an out-of-home placement, the Services Worker shall assist the parents to maintain continuing contact with the child through visitation, letters, phone calls, and any other


reasonable and appropriate methods to maintain contact, when in the best interest of the child. All contact shall be in accordance with any order of the court.(3) For children in an out-of-home placement with a case plan goal of reunification, the Services Worker shall ensure the parents are provided with reunification services. Reunification services shall:

(a) Identify and remedy the problems that have resulted in the removal of the child.(b) Assist the parents in making changes that will permit a safe reunification of the family whenever possible and as quickly as possible and recommend services to ameliorate such problems.(c) Focus on the specific problem areas that make it unsafe to return the child home.(d) Understand the possibility of permanent separation from the child if that becomes necessary.

(4) The Services Worker shall document services offered, services utilized and the effects of these services, and shall communicate at least once every thirty days with the parents on progress made or lack of progress. This information shall provide the basis for casework decisions and recommendations to the court.(5) If the court-approved goal of the case plan for a child in an out-of-home placement is not reunification, the Services Worker has no obligation to offer or provide reunification services to the parents, unless it is necessary for the child’s well-being or is otherwise court ordered.

Specific Authority 39.012, 39.0121(13) FS. Law Implemented 39.01(21), 39.01(61), 39.601(1)(c), (5), 39.701(6)(a), (7)(a), (8)(e), 39.521(1)(d)9., (1)(f)1., 4., (2), 39.601(5), 39.621 FS. History–New 5-4-06.

Activity #2: Parent Visit Quiz

Directions: With your table group, prepare 2 quiz questions based on the 65C-30.007(2) Contacts with

Parent or Caregiver Living in Florida and 65C-30.008 Services Worker Responsibilities to Parents.

Write the question on the front of the index card provided and the answer on the back. Questions should be legible, accurate, and valid. Review with group to see which group answers the most questions correctly

Notes:


Parent’s Expectations of Caseworkers

Prioritize and plan visits with parents by which cases require more frequent contact, which cases have upcoming family meetings or court hearings, or which cases pose the greatest potential for crisis.

Emphasize the importance of parent’s involvement by asking parents about services they are receiving and encouraging them to evaluate their own progress in achieving goals.

Frequency of visitsFrequency of worker/parent visits is based on many factors such as level of risk to the children, presenting issues in the case, or current circumstances of the family.

Frequency of visits and type of contacts between the worker and parents should be included in the case plan.

Visits should occur at a time and place that is favorable for the parents. In some cases, multiple staff and service providers are involved with families. The case

plan may delegate some face-to-face contacts to other staff or to providers with a contractual relationship with the agency to augment worker visits. However, these visits are not a substitute for worker visits with parents.

Workers should make concerted efforts to conduct frequent face-to-face visits with both mothers and fathers who are involved in their children’s lives, including non-custodial parents. In some cases this may require development of separate plans.

Quality of visits Visits between workers and parents should be focused on issues pertinent to case

planning, service delivery and goal attainment. Quality visits with parents are the foundation for engaging the family in an effective

casework relationship. Visits provide a venue for parent participation in case planning and decision-making. Clear

communication and information sharing between workers and parents during visits contribute to strong parent-worker relationships and help achieve positive outcomes for children (“Parent’s Expectations of Caseworkers” Poertner, 2000)


Home Visit Expectations

Use engagement skills to establish rapport and build trust. Expect that trust building will take time. Be patient. Speak with children by themselves and also in the presence of parents and caregivers to

observe interactions. Know Chapter 39 and Administrative Code guidelines for visits and follow the laws for

required visits and announced and unannounced visits. In any visit, be respectful and considerate. Remember that the purpose of visits is to establish a connection and gather information as

it relates to the safety of the children and the progress of the family. Courtesy is paramount.

o Recognize that the unannounced visit may be inconvenient.o Schedule announced visits at a time that is convenient to the parent and caretaker

if the visit is in the caretaker’s home. o If you are running late, call and see if the visit will still be convenient. If it is not,

reschedule. Use positive communication methods such as solution focused techniques and active

listening when asking questions. Be sure to notice whether there are any new people in the home. If someone has moved

in without your knowledge, let your supervisor know. Appropriate background checks would be required.

It is generally good practice to see all the areas of the home so you can determine if someone new is living there, or if there might be unsafe practices occurring, such as drug activity or evidence of restraints that may be used on children. Use your judgment; but, be aware of any situations that might need additional observation.

Observe for physical safety concerns; such as:o The child’s appearance – clothing, general state of being, cleanlinesso Injuries or marks – this is critical. You are the primary person who can determine

the safety of the child. Checking for marks or bruises requires that you see the child’s body. Be observant of how the child is dressed in regard to what you can see. For instance, if a child is wearing a jacket in summertime, you might suggest that the child take the jacket off to be more comfortable. This way, you can observe if there are any bruises on the child’s arms. Try to see the child’s whole body without being too intrusive.

Talk with parents about the permanency goal, separate from the children. Discuss progress on case plan goals with everyone who is a party to the case plan and is

present. Discuss the child’s well-being, including medical, dental, and mental health needs. Find

out:o Medical services received since the last visito Any medical services presently needed


o Mental health services rendered since last visito Any mental health services neededo Recommendations from CBHA

Discuss the child’s school experiences.o Gradeso Level of functioningo Supports needso Supports that are in placeo If the child’s educational needs are being met

Address any outstanding issues from the last home visit. If you are making a home visit for a co-worker, speak to the co-worker if possible and what

has transpired previous to your visit During the visit, remember to focus on strengths and to provide positive role modeling and

support. Close the visit and thank the family for their time and participation.

Slide 6.1.9 Notes:

Slide 6.1.10 Notes:


Planning for Visits with Children and Caregivers : Visitation Checklist

Step One: Preparation Schedule visits with children, youth and caregivers in advance* Review the case plan Identify your areas of concern or barriers to progress Prepare an agenda

Step Two: Exploration Discuss immediate needs and concerns Review the agenda to establish the visit’s purpose and time frame Review progress and challenges since the last visit

Step Three: Direction Use developmentally appropriate questions to assess safety and well-being Use the case plan as a basis for discussion Discus the caregiver’s ability to promote permanence and meet the child’s safety and well-

being needs Identify supports and services needed by the caregiver to meet the child’s needs Confirm a safe environment

Step Four: Wrapping Up Review the information discussed with the child/youth and caregiver Summarize the strengths and challenges towards achieving the goals addressed in the

service plan and any new strategies discussed during the visit Make arrangements for the next visit Document

*Unless conducting an unannounced or unscheduled visit


Activity #3: Hall family visit

Directions: Use the checklist as a guide. You have just completed your Case Transfer Meeting and the Hall family has been assigned

to you. You are planning to see the children for the first time. Prepare a plan

o How will you approach the family? o How would you introduce yourself? o What would you say about the purpose of the home visit? o What would you say about seeing people individually? o What you would want to ask and observe specifically about the child?o How would you document information while still engaging?

Activity Notes:


Slide 6.1.11 Notes:

Activity #4: Assessing for Change

Hall Case Notes:12/14./xx CPI completed visit to the family home and completed a room to room

walkthrough in addition to another more detailed discussion and interview with Mother who had just been released from hospital and was home. Home is a large trailer with ample food, clean flooring and counters, somewhat cluttered with clothing in laundry area, appropriate furnishings such as couches and sleeping areas. No crib for baby, mother indicated she was planning to sleep with the child in room with her and her husband, said she would use a bassinet or child would sleep in their bed. CPI discussed dangers associated with co-sleeping, and heightened risk associated given the parents’ drug abuse; discussed safe sleeping practices with Mom to include ‘back to sleep’ and stressed the importance of allowing the baby to sleep in her own bed without excessive covering or extraneous items such as toys, thick blankets, pillows, etc on the bassinet or crib.

CPI observed a baby bath, newborn diapers, bottles, a car seat and baby clothing. Mother indicated they do not have a stroller. Mother discussed daily care of child, was able to describe cues to child needs; understood the importance of routines, monitoring, schedules.

CPI met and interviewed father of newborn, Walter Hall. He works at a local building company and he stated he suffers from chronic back pain due to a high school football accident, so he has been taking Lortabs for years. He says he has a print out for the scripts he uses because he has to show this to his employer regularly. He admitted that he has abused his prescriptions to get high vs to control his pain.

Mother indicated she has a sister, Sandra Farrell who lives a few miles away and is helpful to the family. She babysits the kids now and then and likes spending time with them.


Mother currently employed as a paralegal for Bell and Franklin Law Firm, salary is approximately $45,000 per year.

12/14/xx CPI returned to home at 5:10 pm to complete interviews with LeeAnn and Alexis. LeeAnn Turner: 12 year old who was friendly, open and responsive. Tall girl, very well dressed and groomed. She attends Arcadia Christian in 7th grade, likes to spend time with friends, enjoys math and wants to be an astronaut. She is not currently involved in any sports or school activities, she used to be a cheerleader and played soccer. Does not take any medication. She says that she and her Mom play board games or Wii together when her mom is not sick. Her father is deceased (drug overdose).

Alexis Parker; 8 year old who is in 2nd grade. She enjoys math, wants to be a cheerleader. She is friendly and soft spoken like her mother, quite open when interviewed. Enjoys watching TV at home. She is taking some medication for a cough. She has chronic ear infections and is treated for asthma with a liquid steroid and an inhaler. She visits with her Dad every other weekend. Alexis does well in school maintaining all As and Bs.

Both girls indicate that they spend a good amount of time at the Walter’s parent’s home which is in the same trailer park. They think of them as grandparents and they treat the girls as if they were family. They celebrate birthdays and holidays together as well and the girls both talked about watching movies over there and spending the night sometimes.


Slide 6.1.12 Notes:

Slide 6.1.13 Notes:

Key PointsDocument:

Purpose of contact. Outcomes of the contact with child, parents, caregiver. Interview/observation of child interactions w/family members/caregiver. Verification of parent’s‘ accomplished tasks and effectiveness of services. Identification of additional services needed. Outcomes of provider communication/reports. Evidence of child’s safety, permanence, and well-being.

Slide 6.1.14 Notes:


eLearning link:http://centervideo.forest.usf.edu/transformfunction/fsfn/intro/casenote.html


Create a Case Note page from Desktop Tips & Guidelines

From Desktop, click Case Work on Banner.

On Create Case Work page, select category from Narrative drop down.

In Cases group box, select case.

In Case Participants group box, select participant(s).

Click Create.

On Case Notes page, enter Contact Begin Date/Time.

From Type group box, select all appropriate check boxes.

In Participants group box, select appropriate Applies To check box(es).

In Narrative field, enter text.

Enter other data as needed.

Click Save.

Click Close.

Create Case Notes three (3) ways from Desktop:

Click Case Work on Desktop Banner

Click Create > Case Work menu on Desktop

Click Actions hyperlink next to a Case or Participant, select Create Case Note on Actions pop-up page

Hold down ‘Ctrl’ key to select multiple participants.

A single Case Note can have many “types” assigned to it. Although you may select several “types” for a note, it is still just one (1) Case Note.

Only the worker who creates the Case Note or the supervisor of the worker who creates the Case Note can update a Case Note.


Create a Case Note page from Case Book Tips & Guidelines

From Case Actions List Box, click Case Notes hyperlink.


From Category group box, select appropriate category.





Click Save.

Click Close.

You can also click the Create Case Work hyperlink at the top-center of Case Book to create a Case Notes page.

Types change depending on Category selected.

Case Notes cannot be created from Case Book if it is launched from Search.


Create a Case Note page from Search (Utility) Tips & Guidelines

From Desktop, click Search on Banner.

Conduct search on Case, Person, or

Worker tabs.

Click Actions hyperlink next to Case or Participant in search results.

On Actions pop-up page, select Create Case Notes check box.

Click Continue.


From Category group box, select appropriate category.





Click Save.

Case Notes can be created for ‘open’ and ‘closed’ Cases from Search.

Case Notes cannot be edited (including by the creator) when created from Search.


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Documents

Module 6: Purposeful Contacts - Florida's Center for … · Web viewThe new adult household member and the required checks must be documented in the Judicial Review Social Services