Increasing Disability Competence in Child Protection Professionals Elizabeth Lightfoot, Ph.D. Traci L. LaLiberte, MSW School of Social Work University of Minnesota Curriculum Module Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare Funded in part by the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and Title IV-E Citation: Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T. (2004). Increasing disability competence in child protection professionals: A Curriculum Module. Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, School of Social Work, University of Minnesota website:

Introduction –Discuss prevalence of people with disabilities in the child welfare system –Present initial findings of Minnesota survey of approaches to ‘cases’ involving people with disabilities –Proposes disability competent child protection services

Prevalence of People with Disabilities in Child Protection System No Federal Reporting Requirements Uneven State Reporting Requirements No Standard Definition of “Disability”

Prevalence of Children with Disabilities who are ‘ abused ’ or ‘ neglected ’ Incidence of abuse & neglect of children with disabilities is 1.7 to 1.9 times that of children w/o disabilities –National Center on Child Abuse & Neglect (Crosse et al., 1993) Survey of ‘maltreated children’ found 64% of maltreated children had a disability –Comprehensive Survey at an Omaha Hospital(Sullivan, 1997)

Prevalence of Abuse or Neglect by Parents with Disabilities We Know Even Less! –More adults with disabilities having children –Suggestions that 40-60% of parents with a developmental disability have their children removed at some point Booth & Booth, 1998

Current Study: Research Question What policies, plans and/or procedures do county child protection agencies follow to address the needs of children and family members with disabilities?

Current Study: Site Minnesota County Child Protection Agencies –87 Total Counties –84 CPS Administrative Counties State Supervised/ County Administered

Current Study: Site Minnesota Counties Largest: Hennepin, 1,130,880 Smallest: Traverse, 3, counties: Under 20,000 8 counties: Over 100,000

Current Study: Site Four Groupings of Counties –Large City; Metropolitan Counties –Metropolitan Counties –Out-State Metropolitan Counties –Rural Counties

Current Study: Methodology Telephone Survey –Telephone Survey with CPS administrators or their agents during Winter –75 of 84 counties participated 89% Response Rate –Brief, semi-structured interview –12 minutes to 50 minutes

Current Study: Methodology (Cont.) Telephone Survey Topics –Policies and procedures for working with clients with disabilities –Best practices –Barriers to providing services and needs for improvement

Written Policies for People with Disabilities? Only 5 counties (6.7%) report having written policy related to child protection procedures for cases involving people with disabilities 30 counties (40%) report having county accommodation policies 40 counties (53.3%) report having no knowledge of county or CPS disability policies

Types of Case Management Processes Dual Case Assignment Specialty CPS Workers CPS Workers w/Disability Experience Self Select Cases Team-Information Consultation Team-Active Consultation Team/Consult with Outside Consultants Screen/Team All Cases Regularly Scheduled Teaming Opportunities All Generalist Workers Training MN Core CPS Training Research Disabilities (Internet) Assess for Safety Incorporating Disability Components Check Other Counties for History Screen for the Presence of a Disability Make a New Referral to County Disability Worker

Case Management Approaches

Barriers - Overall Lack of providers38.7% Rural county32.0% Lack of funding/resources30.7% Driving Distance21.3% Transportation21.0% Lack of specialized providers/services 20.0% Systems Conflicts20.0%

Barriers - Overall Lack of disability knowledge by professionals related to and including CPS 18.7% Too few people with disabilities16.0% Making Accommodations13.3% The time these cases take10.7% Legislation/ASFA placement timeframes 10.7% Lack of specialization by CPS 9.3%

Barriers, Non-Rural Lack of resources/funding40% Systems conflicts30% Lack of disability knowledge by CPS and other professionals 25% Legislation/ASFA placement timeframes20% Time these cases take20% Lack of training15% Waiting lists for providers15% Lack of providers15%

Barriers, Rural Issues Lack of Providers47.3% Rural County41.8% Lack of Resources/Funding27.3% Driving Distance25.5% Lack of Specialized providers/services25.5% Too few people with disabilities20.0% Transportation25.5% Systems Conflicts16.4% Lack of disability knowledge by CPS and other professionals 16.4% Lack of specialization by CPS12.7%

CPS Best Practices-Overall Accessing and coordinating services40.0% Individualizing and tailoring services32.0% Creativity and Innovation25.3% Collaborate well (Dual Workers)25.3% Good relationship with client and families17.3% Small agency so we know each other well14.7% Well-developed services10.7% Community Involvement 9.3% Good assessments 8.0% Respecting people with disabilities 8.0%

CPS Best Practices, Non-Rural Accessing and coordinating services45% Collaborate well (Dual Workers)35% Creativity and Innovation20% Community Involvement15% Holistic approach15% Good relationship with client and families 15% Well developed services15%

CPS Best Practices, Rural Individualizing and tailoring services 40.0% Accessing and coordinating services 38.2% Creativity and Innovation 27.3% Collaborate well (Dual Workers) 21.8% Small agency so we know each other well 18.2% Good relationship with client and families 18.2% Assessments 9.1% Respecting people with disabilities 9.1% Well developed services 9.1% Strengths-based approach 9.1% Communication with providers and professionals 9.1%

Case Examples: A Rural County: Northwoods Case Approach –Team Information Consult (informally) –Internet Research Barriers –Lack of Providers –Lack of Funding –Transportation –Too Few Child Psychiatrists/Psychologists Strengths –Small Agency So We Know Each Other Well –Individualize and tailor services

Case Examples: An Out-State Metropolitan County: Pleasant Lake Case Approach –Dual Case Assignment (for DD and MH) –Active Consultation –Team Outside Barriers –Lack of Providers –Lack of Disability Knowledge –Lack of Funding Strengths –Collaborate well (Dual Workers) –Respect People with Disabilities –Creativity and Innovation

Case Examples: A Metropolitan County: Humphrey Case Approach –Specialty Workers –Screen for the Presence of a Disability or Current Worker Barriers –Lack of Funding –Waiting Lists –High Staff Turnover Strengths –Caseload Size –Accessing Resources –Understanding Disabilities

Cases that Result in Most Difficulties for CPS Workers People that fall through the cracks –People that just barely don’t qualify for DD Services –People with Hidden Disabilities –People with Low Incidence Disabilities

Implications for SW Education All SW graduates should be disability competent Social work students need skills in collaboration and inter-disciplinary teaming Social work students need information on navigating complex systems Continuing education on disabilities for social workers and other professionals involved in child protection must be developed