CA’s Practice Model Washington DSHS Children’s Administration (CA) Created by the Practice Model Team in conjunction with Dr. Dana Christensen Foundations of Practice

Developmental Competency SW Ability to identify core principles and goals of the agency practice model such as building partnerships, focusing on pragmatic everyday life events, and targeting measurable prevention skills

By the End of This Session You will be able to: Describe the reasons for having a practice model State the four milestones that make the SBC practice model Explain the three basic tenets of the SBC practice model List the three foundational theories of SBC Navigate the research that shows the effectiveness of the practice model Explain how the practice model addresses disproportionality

Theoretical and values based Operationalizes specific casework skills/practices Provides a conceptual map to optimize the safety, permanency, and well-being of children who enter the child welfare system What is a Practice Model ?

Solution-Based Casework (SBC) is an evidence- informed practice model for Casework Management in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice. The model provides a conceptual map for a family-centered practice from assessment through case closure. The SBC practice model is best thought of as the architecture that holds our practice to a consistent focus on our outcomes. What is our practice model? Solution-Based Casework

Three Main Tenets of SBC We Prioritize the Family Partnership We Focus on Pragmatic Solutions to Everyday Life Problems 33 We Help Families Document and Celebrate Success

Integrated Framework from:  Relapse Prevention (Cognitive Behavioral Theory) (Marlatt & Gordon, 1985, Pithers, 1990, Beck, 1993) Cognitive Behavior Therapy  Solution-Focused Therapy (Berg, 1994, DeShazer, 1988) All three models have their own well-documented evidence base. Solution Focused Interviewing  Family Life Cycle Theory (Carter and McGoldrick, 1999) Family Life Cycle Theory

Research on SBC in Child Welfare? SUMMARY of OUTCOMES 30% reduction in removal of children Over a 100% increase in goal attainment 27% more workers contacted referral sources directly 64% increase in identified client strengths Families with chronic CPS involvement more likely to be successful Clients with Co-morbidity also achieved more goals. 35% reduction in recidivism referrals over 6 months Full implementation of SBC met all 23 CFSR review items and the 7 outcomes of safety, permanency, and well-being (4500 cases) (Antle et al, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012) More information on other studies at

What is the SBC Evidence Base ? (Antle et al, 2005, 2007)

Achievement of Goals Families achieved significantly more case goals/outcomes when SBC was used Chronic CPS families were even more likely to experience success with SBC Families with all types of maltreatment and co-morbid factors achieved more goals with the use of SBC

Worker Effort (Antle et al, 2005, 2007)

Worker Attitude

Overview of Study Research: What is the relationship between implementation of SBC and performance on federal review items and outcomes What are the most critical points in the child welfare casework process to use SBC in order to promote positive outcomes? Sample: 4,559 cases over four-year time period ( ) Procedure CQI Review Process Merged data across four years Extracted SBC items from review tool Federal review items and outcomes mapped onto CQI tool by CFSR/PIP team in KY (Antle et al, Child Abuse and Neglect, 2012)

Summary of Study 5 Solution-Based Casework is associated with significantly better scores on all 23 CFSR review items and the 7 outcomes of safety, permanency, and well-being (Antle et al, Child Abuse and Neglect, 2012) Well-being 1, 2, & 3Permanency 1 & 2Safety 1 & 2

Family Centered wasn’t operationized: no systemic support Investigations led to a list of problems, not solutions Assessments were too interrogative, no consensus built Assessments weren’t located in the details of family life Case planning focused on service completion, i.e. compliance (versus skill acquisition) Case planning was more worker-driven and “owned” Caseworkers and Providers didn’t share a common map Why was Solution-Based Casework Developed ? Problem - Based

DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM Family Support Mental Health In-home therapy Drug Counseling Health In-home worker Residential Staff Foster Care Anger Management Family MembersCPS Natural Supports Courts School Counselor

Mom is NeglectfulMom needs MoneyMom uses DrugsSon is TruantSon is HyperactiveGirl needs SA CounselingBaby has Med. Needs Assessment of Problems Case Plan Assessment & Referral to: Referral & Assessment Family Support Action Plan Drug Counselor Treatment Plan School Attendance Plan Impact Plus Service Plan FPP’s Treatment Plan Comp Care Treatment Plan First Step Treatment Plan The Family ? ? ? ? The All-Too-Familiar Approach

A Family-Friendly Interface that Helps to Organize Complex Issues and Multiple Partners Mental Health: MH Clinic Work Issues: Family & Child Support School Attendance: School Substance Use: AA Counselor Supervision: Family Members Home & Child Cleanliness: FPP Protection issues: Courts and P & P

How is Solution-Based Casework Different ? Problem definition located in the difficult situations of everyday life (Family Life Cycle) Challenging situations are normalized, tracked, and contextualized Consensus building sought and guided from the very first interview Case planning targets NEW ways of handling those situations at both the Family and Individual level Outcome is measured by skill development in areas of concerns (Versus service compliance) Skill development is documented and celebrated. Ahh…that’s better

Organization Of Practice Organization Of Practice Milestone 2 : Getting Organized on Objectives Moving from Consensus to FLO & ILO Building the Family and Community Team for Change Co-Developing a “Case Plan” Milestone 1 : Building a Consensus Family engagement Gathering assessment information (IA, FAR FA, CFE) What has happened in the past? What do we need to create change? Milestone 3 : Specific ACTION Plans Specific Plans of Action for Families and Youth Documenting behavioral change Using the Team to help Milestone 4: Documenting and Celebrating Documenting Progress and Change Celebrating Small Steps of Success Adjusting plans for progress 20

Making the practice real CHILD SAFETY FRAMEWORK SAFETY ASSESSMENTS FAR FAMILY ASSESSMENT FAMILY TEAM DECISION MAKING MEETINGS SHARED PLANNING MEETINGS COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY EVALUATION

Summary What are some reasons for having a practice model? Shout out the four milestones of our practice model What are the three basic tenets of the SBC practice model? What are the three theories that make up SBC? How do you think our practice model can address disproportionality?