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Content What information is acquired? |
Process How is information gathered? |
Comprehensive Information about all domains important to development and functioning across all household and family members Strength-based Knowing the child and family's "stories," their accomplishments, attributes, skills, goals, values and gifts, how they care for others and who supports them Identification of needs Specification of unmet needs across a matrix of specific life domains (basic needs) Include transition content for all adolescents, not just older adolescents |
Family involvement Information from the child and family is sought, valued and incorporated Early Occurring prior to a detention hearing Culturally competent Bilingual, multicultural staff and training, hiring personnel prepared to talk with and appreciate cultural and ethnic qualities among all children and family in care, who understand differences in power and oppression and is prepared to share decision making Training An instructional activity to promote competencies Collocation When personnel from two or more agencies are located in the same facility and work in a coordinated manner in the service of mutual children and families Cross agency information Deliberate process of seeking out, gaining and incorporating information from one or more agencies Screening in Gathering information that is inherently beneficial to the child and family to reduce risk and promote stability independent of other eligibility and custody decisions Parent partners A consumer peer who supports, assists, guides and engages the family to be active and effective participants in assessment Interagency team meeting A meeting of two or more representatives of stakeholder agencies to share information about mutual children and families Family conference A meeting in which multiple family members and stakeholder agencies (as selected by the family) gather together in the home or other natural environment to present pertinent information |
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Content What form does the case plan take? |
Process How is the case plan developed? |
Use family friendly strength-based case plan documents
Individualize case plans to the unique strengths and needs of each family Consider the feasibility of case plans with respect to current family obligations and risks (i.e., prioritize the need domains) Incorporate nationwide supports and connections Consider a variety of placement alternatives and identify (describe) optimal placements Specify objectives with attention to timelines and milestones Identify long-term goals, such as reducing the level of care and/or obtaining family reunification Specify short-term objectives or goals that can be measured so that all parties know if and when, and to what degree, they have been achieved |
Develop case plans with full participation of the family
Ensure that families have primary influence on the case plan within the parameters of health and safety Utilize paperwork workarounds to make the process more compatible with the family-friendly goals of the new assessment procedures Develop and use family-friendly, strength-based case plan documents (e.g., use the family's words) Employ negotiation and consensus on task-sharing and make sure that all members have clear responsibilities Develop a feedback process to maintain the integrity of decisions Communicate with out-of-home providers (foster care or residential) regarding objectives |
Content What is monitored? |
Process How are case plans monitored? |
Be vigilant for over- and under-placement (i.e., placements not utilizing strengths or meeting needs)
Evaluate fidelity to commitments Evaluate achievements in the context of family functioning and identified domain goals Employ objective evaluation of whether the family is making progress toward reunification |
Employ periodic family meetings
Employ interagency staffing (which may include family partners) Conduct whole-team visits to placement sites every month Add event-driven reappraisals Amend case plans with family endorsement Provide honest feedback to families about their successes and failures in progressing toward reunification |
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Content What services are chosen? |
Process How are services chosen? |
Services should be individualized. (Fit services to the child and family, not vice versa)
Services should reflect the voice, choice and preferences of the family Services should target objectives or goals that can be measured so that all parties know if and when, and to what degree, the services are beneficial When necessary, create services Services should be community-based, accessible, accommodating and meet the child's and family's needs |
Always ask if strengths are being used and if needs are being met. Work as a team to customize services to fit the family's needs Monitor satisfaction of families throughout the process |
* With thanks to the best practices work group
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Copyright UC Davis Extension - The Resource Center for Family-Focused Practice |
