Reflecting on a child protection experience: Two parents and a caseworker tell their story

Where are we from? Hibbing, Minnesota Hibbing

Presenters:  Matthias Norenberg, BSW St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services Child Protection Social Worker Concurrent Permanency Planning  Scott and Diana Abernathey Parents of two children placed in foster care and quickly returned to their care after they helped create and then followed their safety plan.

Timeline of events: Parents house busted by the Boundary Water Drug Task Force for involvement with methamphetamine and cultivation of pot. January 2009 was the bust. Parents house busted by the Boundary Water Drug Task Force for involvement with methamphetamine and cultivation of pot. January 2009 was the bust. The children were initially placed at the local shelter for two days until family member located and they were placed there. The children were initially placed at the local shelter for two days until family member located and they were placed there. Stayed with Grandma from 1/23/09-2/4/09. They left when she was caught driving under the influence of alcohol with the two children in the back seat. They stayed at shelter for one week after this event. Stayed with Grandma from 1/23/09-2/4/09. They left when she was caught driving under the influence of alcohol with the two children in the back seat. They stayed at shelter for one week after this event. Parents served 20 days in jail. Parents served 20 days in jail. Intake worker and SW met and interviewed multiple family members who had relationships with the children. Intake worker and SW met and interviewed multiple family members who had relationships with the children. All extended family members lived outside of Hibbing and out of county. All extended family members lived outside of Hibbing and out of county.

Timeline of events (continued):  Parents not allowed to travel outside of the county due to probation and Drug Court (court program for people arrested on drug charges that lasts one year and charges can be taken off your record if you complete the program)  Parents agreed it was best for kids to stay in town where reunification would take place, since visits would be a big part of reunifying.  SW completed Words and Pictures book with explanation from the parents to the children of why they could not live together. Pictures were on CD from wedding, poem from father in jail.  Visits at foster home supervised by foster parents, then unsupervised for a few hours at a time for church and swimming lessons, then unsupervised at the family home for full days on the weekend, then over nights, and finally home for good.

Timeline of events (continued):  Process of reunification took about four months; kids lived with foster parents for three months.  Parents completed Out Patient treatment and aftercare, attended NA meetings (which they continue to attend) got involved in church, had random UA’s through Probation and Drug Court throughout CPS involvement, mother got teaching job at day care center.  Parents presented their story with SW at the 2009 St. Louis County Health and Human Services conference  Parents told their story of “success” to the local newspaper for a two part story  The culmination of their collaboration with CPS with this presentation in front of 300 people

What are the reasons for this “success?” Motivation!! Parents saw the kids suffering and changed their behaviors for the children's’ sake Parents wanted to change Parents used the services offered for them to change Parents had a role in making their own safety plan with their own goals and by identifying their safety network. Parents regularly talk with other parents involved with CPS and children out of the home

On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 meaning your involvement with CPS was the worst experience in your life and 10 is that your time spent working with CPS was out of this world, how would you rate your experience? On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 meaning your involvement with CPS was the worst experience in your life and 10 is that your time spent working with CPS was out of this world, how would you rate your experience?

Thank you: Scott and Diana for their willingness to showcase their experience with St. Louis County CPS and to drive four hours to Chaska for a 30 minute presentation to 300 practitioners. Andrew Turnell, Carver County CPS, and Connected Families for allowing Scott and Diana to share their story and for helping out with their travel expenses. To everyone at the conference for working to keep children safe.