C Commitment Service Community County of Orange Social Services Agency Differential Response in OC Ingrid Harita, Director Michael Riley PhD, Chief Deputy Director

2 Orange County Path II Differential Response Pilot  Workgroup formed February 2006 CFS staff, Contracts, and FACT Met with FRC Directors to determine interest and capacity  The DR Path II Pilot was initiated in the City of Santa Ana where a majority of Orange County ’ s child abuse referrals are generated.  In 2006, there were 3,994 children under the age of 18 who had an open child abuse referral in the City of Santa Ana. Of those 3,994 children: 1,450 were ages birth-under 6; 1,497 children were ages 6-under 13; 1,047 children were ages (Source: Orange County Child Abuse Registry)

3 Orange County Path II Differential Response Pilot  Collaboration between CFS and the FaCT Family Resource Centers (FRCs), FACT is a partnership between SSA and the Orangewood Children’s Foundation, supporting a network of FRCs since  FRCs are family-friendly, community-based and provide access to comprehensive integrated prevention and treatment services.  Each FRC offers services unique to its surrounding neighborhood.

4 Orange County Path II Differential Response Pilot  Developed MOU with two FRC’s in Santa Ana and funding for : One DR Advocate and one In Home Parent Educator at each FRC and Increasing capacity of existing counseling services

5 Orange County Path II Differential Response Pilot DR Path II Model:  Child abuse referrals where there is no imminent risk to the child General neglect Domestic Violence Historical reports of physical abuse  CFS DR Social Worker makes the initial response and assesses safety concerns  If family is agreeable to services a second visit is teamed with the FRC DR advocate  A CFS DR Social Worker and FRC DR Advocate complete the assessment and develop a case plan  FRC DR Advocate works with the family to identify needed services, locate resources, and provide ongoing support

6 FRC core services include, but are not limited to:  Counseling  Parent Education  Resource and Referral  Family Advocacy/Case Management  Case Management Team

7 CMTs are held weekly at the FRCs and may include:  CFS DR Worker  FRC DR Advocate  FRC DR Therapist  Public Health Nurse  Domestic Violence Specialist  FRC Coordinator  FaCT Program Coordinator

8 FRC’s FUNDING  Federal - 69% Promoting Safe & Stable Families (PSSF) Community Based Child Abuse (CBCAP)  State – 8% Supportive and Therapeutic Options (STOP) State Office of Emergency Services Child Abuse Treatment Grant(CHAT)  County – 23% Wraparound County Children’s Trust Fund

9 ADDITIONAL DR PILOT PARTNERNERSHIPS  CalWORKS  Truancy Court  Domestic Violence Safe Family Coordination Teams  Santa Ana School District

10CalWORKS  All DR referrals are screened to determine whether the family is currently involved with CalWORKs (i.e., mutual clients) or to assess for potential eligibility.  The CFS DR SSW and the FRC DR Advocate identify services available through CalWORKs and ensure that there is no duplication of services with the FRCs.

11 CalWORKs services include, but are not limited to: Counseling Homeless Assistance Emergency Needs Assistance with childcare and/or transportation Domestic Abuse Services Job Search and Training Child Abuse Prevention Services

12 Prevention Services Program Features  Client agrees to screening  SDM Risk level is scored at High or Very High  Service plan developed as a result of the MDT  Case plan includes child abuse prevention services  Involvement of Public Health nurse  Families not otherwise eligible for WTW can receive some of the services provided through prevention services

13 TRUANCY COURT  Truancy Court Team: Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court District Attorney Public Defender Probation SSA HCA CBO

14 TRUANCY COURT  Screens for open CFS or CalWORKs case  CFS social worker responsible for coordination of services  Access to CFS, CalWORKs,HCA and School District resources.

15 Domestic Violence Safe Family Coordination Teams  Central, Harbor, West and North Justice Center  Interdisciplinary team approach to identified cases involving defendants arrested for a charge of domestic violence.  Coordination Team Members: SSA, Probation, HCA, CSP/Victim Witness, DV Shelters,, Law Enforcement, the District Attorney and the Public Defender.

16 Healthy Tomorrows School Project  VFS social works out-stationed in 12 SAUSD Elementary and Middle schools. Workers carry a VFS reduced caseload Offer prevention services to students and families not currently open to CFS.  Healthy Tomorrows Parenting Program 78 week parenting/support group Use of community volunteers Community needs assessment done before each cycle Parents and siblings participate in classes with topics they have identified School readiness activities provided to children under 5 through a partnership between SSA, OC First Five Commission and SAUSD.

17 Present DR Model as it exists today Successes:  Model developed and pilot initiated  One third of DR referred families are engaged and accept services from the FRC’s  The DR Senior Social Workers team home visits regularly with our community partners  When safe to do so, the family case is closed in the child welfare system and “ handed-off ” to their community for continued support and services.

18Challenges  Referrals to DR are limited until funding can be secured to implement DR countywide.  Often times families dropout or lose interest if they are not successfully engaged and able to start services right away.  Confidentiality

19 Future Goals  CFS has chosen Reducing Recurrence of Maltreatment as new a SIP goal by: Promoting early family engagement Increasing prevention and early intervention services Improving family supports through linkages to community –based resources Strengthening services for successful reunification  DR is a key strategy to achieving these outcomes  Increase the number of DR workers to 7 by end of 2007  Expand to a third FRC by end of 2007  Explore additional funding sources to fully implement DR

Questions?