Family Search &

Engagement

Trainers Kimberly Mineard Steiner

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids RecruiterNortheast Ohio Adoption Services

Nikaeda L. Griffie, MSSA, LSW Adoption Resource Manager

Summit County Children Services

Mike Kenneyco-Director

Waiting Child Fund

Our Agenda for TodayIntroduction to 6-steps of Family Search & Engagement (FSE)

Step 1 - Setting the Stage Step 2 - DiscoveryCase Study

Step 3 - Engagement & ExplorationStep 4 - PlanningCase Study

Step 5 - Decision MakingStep 6 - Sustaining the RelationshipCase Study

Taking FSE to your Organization

Introduction

History o Created by Kevin Campbell when

working at Catholic Charities in Washington State

o Grew from research about Red Cross efforts to locate family members affected by natural disasters

o Being implemented successfully across the country on both the public and private level

IntroductionGoal

The goal is to identify members of the child’s extended biological (and non-related) family and other caring adults from the child’s past who

• Will commit to an ongoing, meaningful presence in the child’s life

• Can offer support and love throughout the child’s lifetime

• Will help the youth to find permanence

• and/or commit to being a permanent placement plan for the youth.

IntroductionOverview of 6 Steps

Want Find Hook Meet Encourage Remember Them Them Them Them Them Them

Setting The Stage &

Discovery

Children in Permanent Custodyo Determine the decision makerso Present FSE to themo Team meeting to clarify roles

o File mining• Find 40 relatives

o Interview child• Mobility mapping

Setting The Stage &

Discovery

Children in Temporary Custodyo Referral Processo Where to start?

• Family Team Meeting• Meeting w/ case manager

o At this level, we have access to bio parent(s)o Relative notification letter

Setting The Stage &

Discovery

Toolso Background checkso Releases of informationo Ecomapso Genogramso Internet search engineso ACCURINTo CRIS-Eo Gen-Proo Meetings, reports, and lots of

communication!

Setting The Stage &

Discovery

Barrierso Procedural issues (case plan amendment)o Lack of role clarityo Buy-in (courts, foster care agency)o Access to recordso Unorganized fileso Child-related issues (when to introduce new

worker & engage in process)

Case Study

Engagement, Exploration, &

Planning

Children in Permanent Custodyo Contact relatives, other important connections

• Let them know truth of what child has endured• Restoration of dignity

o Gauge their interest in & appropriateness for teamo Hold “Network for Life” meeting

• Share child’s mobility mapping drawings• Fill in calendar• Begin permanency planning conversation

Engagement, Exploration, &

Planning

Children in Temporary Custodyo Helping relatives to understand that they are not

"interfering" by getting involvedo Relationship does not have to lead to placemento Defining the goal for the teamo True concurrent planning

Engagement, Exploration, &

Planning

Toolso Supervision checklisto Kinship notification letterso Phone call scriptso Communication!!!o Monthly logs and reports

Engagement, Exploration, &

Planning

Barrierso Agency history with familyo Location of relativeso Balancing acto Handling inappropriate family memberso Coordinating visits

Case Study

Decision Making &

Sustaining the Relationship

Children in Permanent Custodyo Hold follow-up meeting to note progress & address

challenges• Celebrate successes!!

o Engage in more in-depth discussion of permanency planning• Develop Plans A Z & decide next steps• Are necessary supports in place?• “Plans fail, but our children do not.”

o Choose team member to facilitate future meetings

Decision Making &

Sustaining the Relationship

Children in Temporary Custodyo Different outcome goals (Legal Custody)o Connections can serve as support if child is reunified o Helping connections to keep the relationship open with

biological parentso Dealing with family conflict

Decision Making &

Sustaining the Relationship

Toolso Permanency Pacto Diligenceo Communication!!!o Success Stories (celebrate success)

Decision Making &

Sustaining the Relationship

Barrierso Engaging too late (children bonding to foster

parents while FSE is being explored)o Agency policies and procedureso Keeping continued buy-ino Family follow-througho Red tape (home studies)

Case Study

Taking FSE to Your Organization

1. Identify those who “buy in” first2. Assemble a team

o Task Forceo Work Groupo Management Team

3. Develop goals and objectives4. Develop/attend FSE training5. Identify needs for overcoming barriers

o Policy & procedureo Supervision checklisto Accountability measures

6. Measure & celebrate success7. Adapt & adjust