Outcomes Based Service Delivery Alberta Children and Youth Services October 2014

Outcomes Based Service Delivery Initiative – a system evolution Part of the evolution of service delivery of Child Intervention in Alberta {ARM (philosophy)– CYFEA (legislation)– CWPM (policy and practice)- OBSD (policy and practice) – Signs of Safety} Creates alignment between our legislated and programmatic responsibilities and what agencies understand their role and contribution to be to services to children, youth and family

Building on the philosophy of the Casework Practice Model, of Assessment, Collaboration and Engagement, the Outcomes Based Service Delivery supports the system wide evolution of our services from thorough assessment to how the case plan and services will achieve desired child and family ‘outcomes’.

National Outcomes Matrix ( NOM) The National Child Welfare Outcome Matrix (NOM) was developed in consultation with provincial, territorial, and First Nations service providers as an initiative of the provincial and territorial Directors of Child Welfare (DCW) and Human Resources Development Canada. The NOM provides a framework for tracking outcomes for children and families receiving child welfare services that can be used as a common set of indicators across jurisdictions. It is designed to reflect the complex balance that child welfare authorities maintain between a child’s immediate need for protection; a child’s long-term requirement for a nurturing and stable home; a family’s potential for growth, and; the community’s capacity to meet a child’s needs. The NOM includes four nested domains: child safety, child well-being, permanence, and family and community support. 4

Outcomes Based Service Delivery Initiative Building on the philosophy of the Casework Practice Model, of Assessment, Collaboration and Engagement, the Outcomes Based Service Delivery Initiative will support the system wide evolution of our services from thorough assessment to how the collaborative plan will achieve desired child and family ‘outcomes’.

OBSD A collective focus on client centered outcomes for vulnerable children and their families between contracted agencies and ACYS Staff A collective shift in practice towards a collaborative way of engaging and working with families Funding flexibility for service delivery agencies to allow them to address service delivery and environmental pressures

WHY? We have data available to begin to use our own evidence to guide decisions in the areas of policy, practice and resource allocation We then have the opportunity to use our data/information to better engage our staff, foster parents and agencies in the results of their work vs. the processes of their work.

Goals of OBSD To improve the effectiveness of services that children and families receive and experience as they move in and out of the child intervention system To provide agencies, communities and caregivers with more flexibility to respond to the unique needs of children and families while focusing on intended outcomes and better supporting innovative practice To use outcomes data to align the work between the formal child intervention system, community agencies and caregivers

Goals To develop a community quality improvement and learning process that will continue to guide joint practice and identify opportunities for improvement using evidence to guide practice To develop a service delivery system that has the capacity to measure and focus on achievement of agreed upon client centered outcomes as the central driver for both casework and resource allocation decisions and To establish joint accountability for outcomes for vulnerable children, youth and families (We all want the same thing)

Outcomes Based Service Delivery Initiative Region 4 CFSA South Zone Leads: Toni Kazmir Livia Larin-Young Sheila Verwey Janice Haddow Lead Agency – McMan Youth, Family & Community Services Association Sherri McAllister Bart Haddow Bruce Rafuse Jen Phillips

What are ‘Outcomes’ for Children and Youth Services in Alberta? Supporting vulnerable children to live successfully in the Community, Children in temporary care will be reunited quickly with their family, Children in permanent care will be placed in permanent homes as quickly as possible, Youth will be transitioned to adulthood successfully, Aboriginal children will live in culturally appropriate placements. Diversity, needs of child & family will be met through service provision.

Client Outcomes in Child Intervention context Generally speaking, Outcomes in CYS tend to centre on 4 domains (although there are variations): 1. Child Safety 2. Child Well Being 3. Permanence 4. Family and Community Support

OBSD Phase-in Sites Worksites are partnered up with an identified lead agency in a specific geographic area Altered contracting and funding structure to allow flexibility and adaptability in service provision and accountability to outcomes. This agency is responsible for the provision of all services to the child and family according to a plan that is developed collaborative between the family, the caseworker and the agency. The Children’s Services delegated caseworker retains final decision making ability over case management. This is called the ‘Delegated Responsibility’.

Lead Involvement South zone central region Drumheller, Stettler and Olds District Offices and surrounding area is the OBSD site working collaboratively with McMan as the lead agency. A referral to the lead agency is made when a decision is made to open a file to legal status. The lead agency stays involved until the file closes. The lead agency has an after hours response, if needed, to support families and CFS if needed.

OBSD to date in Phase-in sites Entered 5th year of implementation, but early stages of measuring outcomes. Some results to date: Greater clarity regarding roles and purpose of an intervention More explicit focus on intended ‘outcomes’ for the child and family As of March 31, 2014 in the South Zone 44 % of children were in home and 56% were in care. This number changes quickly, however, the number of kinship or homes approved by family is on the rise. In the last 4 year term our Recurrence was 10.7 % compared to 15% provincially. Contract agencies express that they have a greater voice in planning how services will be delivered Greater recognition of contribution of agency service provision to the wellness and safety of the children and families they are serving

Current Status May 2010 – March 31, 2014 South Zone Implemented OBSD Total Clients served (children in need) = 328 Closed Files = 335 Additional 13 files (Long term PGO In-care files transitioned to OBSD) South Zone Implemented OBSD May 10, 2010 South Zone encompasses 3 sites: Drumheller, Olds, Stettler

Role of Foster Parent Provide Temporary Care Participate in Permanency Planning Actively participate and collaborate on the development of a collaborative plan designed to achieve intended outcomes Improve children's well being – basic, social, emotional Contribute to the Improvement of parental well being – basic, social, emotional

OBSD Services Coached visitation After care model Signs of Safety/Intervention Services Family Group Conferencing Family Search and Engagement Clinical Consultation Therapeutic/Psychological Services Foster Care and Kinship Care

Our Work! Video Central Region/South Zone stats 98% of Children had an improvement in Child Development The % of children who with the objective of Legal permanency that met a permanency objective: OBSD South – 92% Provincial CFS average – 71% Percentage of Children placed in Family Care: OBSD South – 49% Provincial CFS average –40% Average duration of met Supporting vulnerable children to live successfully at home or in community: OBSD South – 152 days Provincial CFS average – 189 days Questions

Biggest Lesson Collaboration requires interpersonal as well as organization sensitivity: skills in listening, self-awareness, ability to read other signs, and a dose of humility. (Moss 1999 – in Change is Everyone’s Job: Managing the Extended Enterprise in A Globally Connected World)