erwin mcewen, director the future of il dcfs: supporting & strengthening families erwin mcewen,...
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Erwin McEwen, Director
The Future of IL DCFS: Supporting & Strengthening
Families
Erwin McEwen, Director
IDCFS Director, Erwin McEwen
Strengthening Families Illinois Leadership Team
Erwin McEwen, Director
Erwin McEwen, Director
Leading ChangeLeading Change• Establish a sense of urgencyEstablish a sense of urgency
• Form a powerful guiding coalitionForm a powerful guiding coalition
• Create a visionCreate a vision
• Communicate the visionCommunicate the vision
• Empower others to act on the visionEmpower others to act on the vision
• Plan for and create short-term winsPlan for and create short-term wins
• Consolidate improvements Consolidate improvements
• Institutionalize new approachesInstitutionalize new approaches
Kotter, Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts FailHarvard Business Review on The Tests of a Leader (2007)
Erwin McEwen, Director
Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) 2009
Erwin McEwen, Director
ViolenceTrauma• Home
• Community
Short-term Impacts
Children 0-5 • Brain development
Youth 6-18 • Behavior• School
performance
Families • Decrease in
Protective Factors
Outcomes
Individuals • Physical and
mental health problems
• Homelessness• Incarceration• Poverty
Society• Community safety• Health and well-
being• Productivity
Erwin McEwen, Director
System Integration in Illinois System Integration in Illinois • Strengthening Families IllinoisStrengthening Families Illinois established in 2006 with the overarching established in 2006 with the overarching
framework to build:framework to build:
1.1. Parental ResilienceParental Resilience
2.2. Social ConnectionsSocial Connections
3.3. Knowledge of Parenting and Child DevelopmentKnowledge of Parenting and Child Development
4.4. Concrete Support in Times of NeedConcrete Support in Times of Need
5.5. Social and Emotional Competence of ChildrenSocial and Emotional Competence of Children
6.6. Healthy Parent-Child RelationshipsHealthy Parent-Child Relationships
• Trauma Informed Practice ProgramTrauma Informed Practice Program infused throughout rules, infused throughout rules, assessments, services plans and case work practiceassessments, services plans and case work practice
Erwin McEwen, Director
Child Welfare Innovation in Illinois: Child Welfare Innovation in Illinois:
A Coordinated Effort to Address TraumaA Coordinated Effort to Address Trauma
Erwin McEwen, Director
Building Building Protective FactorsProtective Factors Supports SupportsQuality Practice and Helps Children HealQuality Practice and Helps Children Heal
““Mentors are most effective Mentors are most effective in helping to change in helping to change thinking if they give thinking if they give
specific, concrete advice on specific, concrete advice on how to change, not merely how to change, not merely
lectures about straightening lectures about straightening up. It helps when those up. It helps when those
mentors have walked down mentors have walked down the same road.” ~ James the same road.” ~ James
Garbarino, Ph.D.Garbarino, Ph.D.
Erwin McEwen, Director
If P
aren
ts …
• Permit violence in the home
• Use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol with their children
• Sleep with people who are not their spouse within the home
• Do not fight the good fight against poverty
• Do not model and provide moral instruction and spiritual guidance
• Have children with someone they have known for less than a year
Protective Factors
Decrease
• Juvenile detention / jail• Gangs / on the street• The child welfare system
Kids End Up In
:
Erwin McEwen, Director
Foundation of Strengthening Foundation of Strengthening Families Families
Choices & Actions of
Adult Family Members (Parents)
Well-Being of Children
& Youth
Health & Safety of
Community
SFI: • Initiative /activities• Partners• Collaborative
efforts
Erwin McEwen, Director
IL DCFS FY 2010-2012IL DCFS FY 2010-2012
• Continue training and workforce developmentContinue training and workforce development• Differential ResponseDifferential Response• Collaborate with Schools (beginning with CPS)Collaborate with Schools (beginning with CPS)• Develop Family Advocacy CentersDevelop Family Advocacy Centers• Early Learning and Family Strengthening Early Learning and Family Strengthening
(ELFS) internal work group(ELFS) internal work group• Expand Strengthening FamiliesExpand Strengthening Families
Erwin McEwen, Director
Differential ResponseDifferential Response
• Alternative pathway to investigation -- family Alternative pathway to investigation -- family assessmentassessment
• Targeting “low-risk” familiesTargeting “low-risk” families
• Evidence-based practices embeddedEvidence-based practices embedded
• home visitinghome visiting• recovery coachrecovery coach• protective factorsprotective factors
Erwin McEwen, Director
In Illinois, very few families receive services In Illinois, very few families receive services following an investigation, even if maltreatment is following an investigation, even if maltreatment is substantiatedsubstantiated
Children withChildren withIndicatedIndicated
MaltreatmentMaltreatment
IllinoisIllinois
20.2%20.2%
NationallyNationally
62%62%
Children withChildren withUnsubstantiatedUnsubstantiated
MaltreatmentMaltreatment
IllinoisIllinois
6.4%6.4%
NationallyNationally
31.2%31.2%
Erwin McEwen, Director
Preliminary 2009 CFSR Findings and Trends Preliminary 2009 CFSR Findings and Trends Outcomes/Items – Outcomes/Items –
% Substantially Achieved% Substantially Achieved20032003 20092009 TrendTrend
Safety 1:Safety 1: Children protected from abuse/neglect Children protected from abuse/neglect
Item 2:Item 2: Repeat maltreatment Repeat maltreatment
91%91%
93%93%
86%86%
82%82%
DownDown
DownDown
Permanency 2:Permanency 2: Continuity of family relationships Continuity of family relationships
Item 14:Item 14: Preserving connections Preserving connectionsItem 16:Item 16: Relationship of child in care with parents Relationship of child in care with parents
76%76%
92%92%77%77%
55%55%
73%73%39%39%
DownDown
DownDownDownDown
Well-Being 1:Well-Being 1: Families have enhanced capacity Families have enhanced capacity
Item 18:Item 18: Family involvement in case plan Family involvement in case planItem 20:Item 20: Caseworker visits with parents Caseworker visits with parents
52%52%
57%57%55%55%
45%45%
47%47%44%44%
DownDown
DownDownDownDown
Erwin McEwen, Director
Legislation SupportingLegislation SupportingDifferential Response EnactedDifferential Response Enacted• Illinois enacted the “Differential Illinois enacted the “Differential
Response Program Act” (Public Response Program Act” (Public Act 096-0760) into law on August Act 096-0760) into law on August 25, 200925, 2009
• The Act gives the Department the The Act gives the Department the authority to proceed with a 5 year authority to proceed with a 5 year demonstration project effective demonstration project effective January 1, 2010January 1, 2010
• National Quality Improvement National Quality Improvement Center GranteeCenter Grantee
Erwin McEwen, Director
IL DCFS Pathways to IL DCFS Pathways to Strengthening and Supporting FamiliesStrengthening and Supporting Families
Erwin McEwen, Director
Families Meeting Criteria for Differential ResponseFamilies Meeting Criteria for Differential Response
Erwin McEwen, Director
50 Cases
PerSquare
Mile
Erwin McEwen, Director
DCFS Collaboration with DCFS Collaboration with Schools and EducationSchools and Education
• Short term – ameliorate the effects of community Short term – ameliorate the effects of community violence on children and families to: violence on children and families to:
• Improve school performanceImprove school performance• Decrease rates of school misconductDecrease rates of school misconduct• Decrease child welfare system involvementDecrease child welfare system involvement
• Long term - build safer communities and healthy Long term - build safer communities and healthy familiesfamilies
Erwin McEwen, Director
Community / Youth Violence and Child Welfare Cases Per MileCommunity / Youth Violence and Child Welfare Cases Per Mile
Erwin McEwen, Director
DCFS Offers Schools: DCFS Offers Schools: • Statewide Provider DatabaseStatewide Provider Database
• Parent Cafes–elementary and high Parent Cafes–elementary and high schoolsschools
• Psychological First AidPsychological First Aid
Erwin McEwen, Director
Family Advocacy CentersFamily Advocacy Centers
• Bloomington: Family Community Resource CenterBloomington: Family Community Resource Center• Champaign: Family Advocacy in Champaign CountyChampaign: Family Advocacy in Champaign County• Chicago: Chicago:
• Back of the Yards – Casa Tepeyac / Boys Town of Chicago, Back of the Yards – Casa Tepeyac / Boys Town of Chicago, Inc.Inc.
• West side – Healthy Families Chicago / Westside Family West side – Healthy Families Chicago / Westside Family Advocacy CenterAdvocacy Center
• Humboldt Park, Ukrainian Village, Logan Square, + others – Humboldt Park, Ukrainian Village, Logan Square, + others – Family Growing Intentionally: A Family Advocacy Program / Family Growing Intentionally: A Family Advocacy Program / Christian Fellowship FlockChristian Fellowship Flock
• Lower west side - Mujeres Latinas en Accion / Parent Support Lower west side - Mujeres Latinas en Accion / Parent Support ProgramProgram
• Englewood – A Knock At MidnightEnglewood – A Knock At Midnight• East St. Louis: Family Advocacy HouseEast St. Louis: Family Advocacy House• Peoria: Lifeline Family Services Peoria: Lifeline Family Services • Springfield: Primed For LifeSpringfield: Primed For Life
Erwin McEwen, Director
Parent Cafe Evaluation Results Parent Cafe Evaluation Results
General / Overview General / Overview • 99% of attendees found participating in the 99% of attendees found participating in the
café helpful café helpful • 98% would recommend cafes to friends & 98% would recommend cafes to friends &
family members family members • 97% would attend a future café 97% would attend a future café • 74% fulfilled commitment from 74% fulfilled commitment from
previous café take away cardprevious café take away card
Erwin McEwen, Director
Parent Cafe Evaluation Results (cont)Parent Cafe Evaluation Results (cont)
Selective Questions Per Café: Selective Questions Per Café: • Taking Care Of Yourself – Cafe 1: Taking Care Of Yourself – Cafe 1:
• 98% plan to take better care of themselves 98% plan to take better care of themselves • 93% plan to try a different way/learned a new way to handle stress 93% plan to try a different way/learned a new way to handle stress
or challenges or challenges • Being a Strong Parent – Café 2:Being a Strong Parent – Café 2:
• 87% plan to change something about their parenting 87% plan to change something about their parenting • 88% plan to change how they listen to their children 88% plan to change how they listen to their children • 86% plan to change how they talk to their children 86% plan to change how they talk to their children
• Building Healthy Relationships With Your Children – Café 3Building Healthy Relationships With Your Children – Café 3• 91% plan to spend more time with their children 91% plan to spend more time with their children • 100% plan to make sure they understand their child(ren’s) feelings 100% plan to make sure they understand their child(ren’s) feelings
Erwin McEwen, Director
Parent Cafe Evaluation Results (cont.)Parent Cafe Evaluation Results (cont.)Comments From ParentsComments From Parents
• ““It opened my eyes to different situations that I’m in. I’m not alone.”It opened my eyes to different situations that I’m in. I’m not alone.”
• ““This café today has kept me from going to jail”This café today has kept me from going to jail”
• ““I love being able to express myself in a comfortable setting. I don’t I love being able to express myself in a comfortable setting. I don’t feel judged or pressured.”feel judged or pressured.”
• ““It’s very helpful to me to come out and hear everyone else’s It’s very helpful to me to come out and hear everyone else’s experiences on their parenting and to learn new ideas about my experiences on their parenting and to learn new ideas about my parenting and how I teach my kids.parenting and how I teach my kids.
• ““I’m growing as a person.”I’m growing as a person.”
Erwin McEwen, Director
Strengthening Families IllinoisStrengthening Families Illinois
• Launch 6 New SFI Early Childhood Learning Networks Launch 6 New SFI Early Childhood Learning Networks • Expand team of parents leaders regionally to serve Chicago Public Expand team of parents leaders regionally to serve Chicago Public
Schools and Differential Response with cafes and leadership training – Schools and Differential Response with cafes and leadership training – adapt resources for Foster Parents, Birth Parents, teens (through the adapt resources for Foster Parents, Birth Parents, teens (through the pregnant and parenting teens program) and the Youth Advisory Boardpregnant and parenting teens program) and the Youth Advisory Board
• Develop new questions and train parents to develop questions to Develop new questions and train parents to develop questions to sustain cafes in communitiessustain cafes in communities
• Collaborate to develop home visiting / parent training in Differential Collaborate to develop home visiting / parent training in Differential ResponseResponse
• Identify parent leaders to serve on Differential Response Advisory Identify parent leaders to serve on Differential Response Advisory CouncilCouncil
• Continue working with internal DCFS workgroup and Clinical and Continue working with internal DCFS workgroup and Clinical and Service Intervention staff to embed Strengthening Families and early Service Intervention staff to embed Strengthening Families and early childhood collaboration practicechildhood collaboration practice
Erwin McEwen, Director
Identified Challenges for IllinoisIdentified Challenges for Illinois• Overcoming stakeholders’ fears about the safety of children using Overcoming stakeholders’ fears about the safety of children using
Differential ResponseDifferential Response• Dealing with entrenched organizational culture which does not Dealing with entrenched organizational culture which does not
prioritize engaging familiesprioritize engaging families• Shifting the paradigm from compliance with case plan tasks to the Shifting the paradigm from compliance with case plan tasks to the
needs of families and empowers the families with “how” to meet needs of families and empowers the families with “how” to meet those needsthose needs
• Budgetary crisis of 2009 had an impact on the morale of the Budgetary crisis of 2009 had an impact on the morale of the human service system as a wholehuman service system as a whole
Erwin McEwen, Director
Long Term VisionLong Term Vision
• Child welfare – continuously define and refine child Child welfare – continuously define and refine child welfare so that it becomes more closely aligned to child welfare so that it becomes more closely aligned to child well-being (Don’t always achieve child well-being using well-being (Don’t always achieve child well-being using best child welfare tools.) best child welfare tools.)
• Broad-based community impact around: Broad-based community impact around: • school performanceschool performance• school misconductschool misconduct• youth violenceyouth violence• community violencecommunity violence• family well-beingfamily well-being
• Requires all of us! Requires all of us!
Erwin McEwen, Director
“ “ Even if you are on the Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there” over if you just sit there”
~ Will Rogers, Jr.~ Will Rogers, Jr.