LA CROSSE AREA FAMILY COLLABORATIVE

Presentation for Wisconsin Legislative Children’s Caucus

March 10th, 2017

A.Why Our Community Created LAFC

THE URGENCY TO ACT:

A rise in child safety issues

1,000

1,100

1,200

1,300

1,400

1,500

1,600

1,700

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Number of CPS Referrals: 2010-2015

FAMILY STABILITY

1,000

1,100

1,200

1,300

1,400

1,500

1,600

1,700

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Number of CPS Referrals: 2010-2015

Overall, 35% increase in referrals

since 2010

45% Increase in Out of Placements 2009 - 2015

A rise in child safety issues

FAMILY STABILITY THE URGENCY TO ACT:

0

10

20

30

40

50

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

“Caretaker Drug Abuse” as Removal Reason

THE URGENCY TO ACT:

A rise in child safety issues

FAMILY STABILITY

“Hot Spots”

Juvenile Justice & Child Protective Services

Placement Cases

City of La Crosse

System at a Crossroads

B. What is LAFC?

County Human Services

Schools

City Planning &

Law Enforcement

Agencies & Neighborhood

Supports

The LAFC Model

Neighborhood Social Worker

• Embedded in neighborhoods & schools of focus • Focused on building trust & relationships • Working in a way that’s flexible and unencumbered by bureaucracy • Highly integrated with agencies and grassroots partners

GOAL: STABILIZE FAMILIES

Our Neighborhood Offices

Washburn Corner

Trinity Lutheran Church

Northside Elementary Hamilton Elementary A. Schools where Neighborhood Social Workers are “Embedded”

Our Schools of Focus

B. Other Schools that may Refer Families of Concern to LAFC Emerson Elementary North Woods Elementary

Office Space:

- Mayo Clinic Health System - Trinity Lutheran Church - School District of La Crosse

Resource Pool for LAFC Clients:

Direct Service Donations:

- La Crosse County - Gundersen Health System - First Presbyterian Church - Health Science Consortium

Community Building:

- La Crosse Community Foundation, June Kjome Justice & Peace Fund

Neighborhood Social Workers & Administration:

- La Crosse County - City of La Crosse - School District of La Crosse

Partners Providing Funding & In-Kind Support

- La Crosse Community Foundation - Great Rivers United Way - Neighborhood City Church - Trinity Lutheran Church - African American Mutual Assistance Network - CouleeCap - Many Others…

- Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration - Landlords - Churches

Assistance with Planning:

C. Early Experience

Common Issues Addressed

179 Families Served in Year One (2016) Referral Sources

Schools (36%)

Self (34%)

Other Agencies (30%)

• Behavioral Health • Housing

• Transportation

• Employment

• Domestic Violence

CPS Referrals: 2010-2015

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

1500

1600

1700

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Changes in CPS Referrals

Changes in CPS Referrals

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

1500

1600

1700

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

CPS Referrals: 2010-2015

D. What Explains LAFC’s Early Success?

• Taking time to build trust & relationships

Current Barriers within Wisconsin’s Child Welfare System

Achieving Success with Families

Vs.

LAFC’s Approach to Family Intervention

• One on one help in addressing basic needs

• Timely & flexible approach

Ability to holistically Leverage Social Work Skills

• High caseloads • Burdensome paperwork demands • Less time to address basic needs Often only time to focus on control of safety factors

See TED Talks: Hilary Cottam, “Social services are broken. How we can fix them.” https://www.ted.com/talks/hilary_cottam_social_services_are_broken_how_we_can_fix_them

E. Partner Testimonials

• Schools • Law Enforcement

“At the [neighborhood] level, we can better define and solve our problems. String together enough neighborhoods and you move a county”

- “A Declaration of Hope” Casey Family Programs

Familes Served:

La Crosse Area Family Collaborative Empowered Families. Thriving Neighborhoods.

THANK FOR YOUR INTEREST! ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LAFC, INCLUDING LINKS TO MEDIA COVERAGE & HOW TO DONATE, CAN BE FOUND AT THE

LA CROSSE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WEBSITE

HTTP://WWW.CO.LA-CROSSE.WI.US/HUMANSERVICES/