1. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development1 Unit 4F: Working with Older Caregivers

2. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development2 Job Competencies 1.Assess caregiver’s ability to meet child’s needs for safety, well-being and permanency 2.Describe the need for attention and resource delivery to child welfare cases involving older caregivers 3.Describe the child welfare case process (flow chart) as it also relates to work with older caregiver families 4.Involve caregivers, family members and other resources in determining and developing viable long term care plans for the child(ren) in care (continued on next slide)

3. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development3 Competencies (cont’d.) 5.Demonstrate ability to make referrals and access services for caregivers and/or other adults for whom they provide care (e.g. spouses, parents, siblings) through the statewide aging network 6.Identify and utilize tools available to assist working with older caregiver families 7.Describe the purpose of the 60+ checklist and demonstrate the ability to fully complete it 8.Make referrals to the Extended Family Support Program as appropriate

4. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development4 Emerging Trends Destabilization of initial placements. Failure to use a life–span approach by involved professionals. Increased number of older caregiver families in the child welfare system. Emergence of new resources and cross- departmental collaborations.

5. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development5 Emerging Trends Destabilization of initial placements. Failure to use a life–span approach by involved professionals Increased number of older caregiver families in the child welfare system Emergence of new resources and cross- departmental collaborations

6. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development6 Famous “GrandFamilies”

7. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development7 Grandchildren Raised By Grandparents

8. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development8 Grandchildren…… Ray LiottaAretha Franklin Samuel L. JacksonJosephine Baker Carol BurnettElla Fitzgerald Richard PryorPierce Brosnan Sir Isaac NewtonLou Rawls Leo TolstoyEric Clapton Bobby Darin Jerry Lewis 50 CentLucille Ball Frederick DouglassFaith Hill Melissa GilbertJohn Lennon LL Cool JClarence Thomas Tipper GoreMaya Angelou

9. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development9 Older Caregivers Big Mama Video

10. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development10 Should Walter have been placed in this home in the first place? What clinical or licensing issues could have been identified prior to Walter’s placement with his grandmother?

11. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development11 What community-based services could have been put into place prior to the crisis with Mrs. Dees’ heart attack and the fire …to strengthen Walter? …to strengthen Mrs. Dees? How could extended family have been used to fill in professional and social service gaps?

12. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development12 How would you respond to these statements from the film? “Age has nothing to do with love.” “I’m not young, but I’m going to take care of you Walter.” “What I had to give was love, and that’s what Walter needed.”

13. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development13 Permanency is a family relationship that extends for a lifetime Placements affect children and caregivers Plans and circumstances change Change is common with older adults Life-Span Approach

14. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development14 Grid Exercise Mrs. Dees Walter 4910111518 84899091 Age deceased

15. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development15 Older Caregiver Process

16. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development16 Assessment: WHY Practices that acknowledge older caregiver issues Tools and measures that allow for evidence based permanency planning Resources and services to support older caregiver families Assess permanency options within a child’s sense of time. Lasting permanency for children

17. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development17 Assessing the Older Caregiver Health –Medical reports, Observations, Self reports? Parenting skills/history Capability to perform everyday tasks Extended support Long term care plan for child and caregiver Back-up plan

18. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development18 Things to Discuss with the Caregiver

19. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development19 Assessment : How Secure the consent of the caregiver Contact the regional Area Agency on Aging or Department on Aging Senior HelpLine 1-800- 252-8966 Request either –Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Assistance, or –“Comprehensive Case Management Assessment” Review results of the assessment in light of the permanency plan

20. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development20 Assessment: HOW Use of interdisciplinary collaborations and tools DCFS Tools: - ecomap - Home Safety Checklist CFS 2025 - genogram - licensing report Department on Aging Tools: - financial assessment - transportation assessment - Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) - Determination of Need (DON) Tools are aids to finding out more about issues that affect permanency and the well-being of the child and caregiver

21. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development21 Assessment: WHEN Assess on an ongoing basis. Assess at the point of critical decisions: –Prior to placement –Prior to permanency hearings or when goal is changed from reunification –When licenses are renewed or changed Assess when an issue emerges

22. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development22 Assessment: WHO Illinois Department on Aging (IDOA) 800- 252-8966 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) and contracted providers Grandparents and other relatives raising children program

23. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development23 What services are available to Older Caregivers in Illinois? (regardless of DCFS involvement)

24. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development24 Aging Network

25. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development25 The Illinois Department on Aging  Older Adult Services  Community Care Program  Financial Assistance  Bureau of Elder Rights: Elder Abuse  1-800-252-8966

26. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development26 Area Agencies on Aging Area Agencies have the primary task of planning and coordinating services and programs for older people in their respective areas.. Work in partnership with IDoA to provide services to persons age 60 and over Have specialized support and services for Grandparents and other relatives raising children Each AAA has designated Caregiver Specialist Reciprocally train with DCFS on older caregiver issues and services –Attached: map of Area Agencies on Aging

27. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development27 Chicago Department of Family and Support Services: Senior Services Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Program Caregiver Counseling (of children and older adults) Support Groups and Community Services Advocacy Legal Assistance: Help with custody, guardianship and back-up planning issues Jaime Hersh-White Director of Comprehensive Services 312-746-6867

28. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development28 Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland Debbie Deopere: Caregiver Specialist –217-787- 9234 Cass, Christian, Greene, Jersey, Logan, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, and Scott Counties

29. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development29 Illinois Department on Aging: Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Barbara Schwartz – Statewide Coordinator 217-524-5327 Barbara.schwartz@illinois.gov

30. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development30

31. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development31 The Older Caregiver: Resources and Services

32. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development32 The Older Caregiver: Resources and Services Mrs. Dees & Walter Family Support Residential program Therapy for Walter Grandparents Support Group Heart Attack Psychiatric Hospitalization House burned down After School Sports No back-up for Walter Walter’s behavior Mentoring program Walter in Mrs. Dees’ will After School programs YMCAAging Services

33. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development33 Long-term Care Plan Identifies permanency goal for the child Contains services and supports needed for the child’s safety now & in the future Considers “life span approach” Identifies viable and reliable back-up caregiver and contingency care plans

34. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development34 Back-up Planning - 1 of 2 Guiding Principles of Process Purpose: To enhance extended family’s ability to problem solve Goals: –Build family skills –Strengthen family network –Prepare family for when DCFS is no longer involved

35. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development35 Back-up Planning - 2 of 2  Outlines a plan for each child; who will assume the caregiver’s responsibilities, and under what circumstances?  Is there a well-conceived back-up plan for the child?  Is the plan in writing?  Do all members of the plan know the plan, and are they in agreement with the plan?  Is the child’s back-up caregiver aware of any special needs, and can the back-up caregiver manage those needs?  Who will care for the children for extended periods of time if the OCG is hospitalized or in rehabilitative services?

36. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development36 Cook County Only: Family Matters Program Center for Law and Social Work Develop secure legal care and custody plans for children and their families Short-term Guardianships (CFS 444-2) Standby Guardianships and Adoptions Successor Guardianships and Adoptions Powers of Attorney for property or health care Simple wills Centerforlawandsocialwork.com 312-786-6000

37. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development37 60+ Process Pre-adoptive parents, ages 60 and older, and their back-up caregiver are required to meet with the DCFS Adoption Coordinator for the purpose of: – providing them with an overview of the child and the adoption subsidy; – to review the back-up plan; – and to discuss the back-up caregiver’s role and responsibilities for the child. If the Adoption Coordinator identifies concerns regarding the living arrangement or back-up plan, the Coordinator should refer the family to the Child Protection Mediation Program (Cook County only) and to Child and Family Team Meeting (outside of Cook).

38. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development38 60+ Checklist Required for Adoption and Subsidized Guardianship Provides continuity region to region

39. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development39 Additional Child Welfare Resources Child and Family Team Meetings Mediation/Family Conferences Cook County Juvenile court Metropolitan Family Services Universities & law schools Circuit courts Senior HelpLine: IL. Dept on Aging Area Agencies on Aging Prairie State Legal Services Land of Lincoln Legal Services SIU Legal Clinic

40. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development40 Extended Family Support Program Under-utilized A deflection program Accessed through the DCFS Hotline or by DCP referral

41. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development41 EFSP Services Short term program 90–120 days Assessment Factor Worksheet completed (CFS 1447) Home study completed File for private Guardianship through Probate Court Linkage to community services Provision of “Hard” services as necessary –This is VERY limited: beds, food, clothing, legal fees, (e.g. essential ONE-TIME expenses)

42. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development42 EFSP Eligibility Caregiver is a relative Child has been in the home for 15 consecutive days Relative is willing & able to continue in caregiving role No protective issues with the children Not currently an open case & no guardianship Available to children in the home who do not currently have an open case EVEN IF there are other children in the home who do have an open case

43. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development43 Kinship care/older caregiver, no open case When the older relative caregiver agrees to take the children, we have to see that the plan is realistic.  EXPLAIN that DCFS will not have an open case - no services - no financial support  ASSESS the caregiver’s current status (health, financial, environment) + the child’s current status (i.e. health, special needs) ability to care for each child + the changing needs of both as caregiver and child age (continued...)

44. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development44 Kinship care/older caregiver, no open case (Cont’d)  INFORM about services available to both caregiver and child through referrals and community supports including: - Child Welfare Services (CWS) - Aging Network - Extended Family Support Program  PROVIDE written material including: - Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Brochure (CFS 1050-86) - A Helpful Guide for Parents and Caregivers (CFS 1050-69) - Safe Sleep for My Grandbaby Brochure (infants )

45. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development45 Extended Family Support Program John Egan - Statewide Administrator 312-814-1878 john.J.egan@illinois.gov Debra Melin – Cook County only EFSP Program Director Youth Outreach Services 773-777-7112 debbie.melin@illinois.gov

46. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development46 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Grants for state and local activities for the education of homeless children and youth –Educational services –Transportation –Programs in vocational and technical education –Programs for gifted and talented students –School nutrition programs

47. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development47

48. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development48 Cook County Only: Older Caregiver Project Metropolitan Family Services –773-884-3310 Problem solving pilot Using “Life-Span” approach - work directly with older caregivers and extended family Developed by Office of the Inspector General and DCFS Initiated in 2001

49. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development49 Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Conduct investigations into misfeasance, malfeasance and death and serious physical injuries of DCFS involved children Make recommendations to the Director of DCFS The OIG supports the accepted recommendations through practice implementation and trainings As the OIG trains they see new trends which leads to –Feedback to the Department. –Development of new resources –Enhanced practices through training and resources

50. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development50 OIG “Older Caregiver” Assistance Office of the Inspector General 312-433-3000

51. 6/24/10Office of Training and Professional Development51 LET’S REVIEW! Unit 4