1. Safety and Wellbeing: An Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Older Caregivers and the Children for whom They Care for from the Child Welfare System of Illinois Office of the Inspector General/ Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

2. Trainer Information Barbara Sittler LCSW; M. Div. Office of the Inspector General: Michelle Grove LCPC Division of Clinical Practice and Development: Illinois Department of Children and Family Services © DCFS Office of Professional Development

3. Objectives Gain an overview of the populations both departments support and the history of involvement with older caregiver families Learn about the new collaboration between IDoA and he Aging Network and DCFS through the Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA) Discover Resources from Aging and Child Welfare that can support Older Caregiver Families © DCFS Office of Professional Development

4. Intended Result of the Collaboration Better and more coordinated work between IDoA and DCFS Safer, healthier and more positive outcomes for children and their older caregivers

5. DCFS Older Caregiver Definition Caregiver is 65 or older Relative or Non-relative child welfare placement Older Adult is the Primary Caregiver of the child © DCFS Office of Professional Development

6. Is this normal? Grandparents raising Grandchildren: Adam and Eve Pres. John and Abigail Adams Pres. George and Martha Washington

7. Raised by grandparents: Jamie Foxx Samuel L. Jackson Carol Burnett Maya Angelou Tipper Gore Justice Clarence Thomas Jerry Lewis Willie Nelson LL Cool J Barak Obama (after age 13) Richard Pryor Sir Isaac Newton Lou Rawls Pierce Brosnan Eric Clapton Bobby Darin Oprah Winfrey Lucille Ball Aretha Franklin Ella Fitzgerald Jack Nicholson

8. Older Relative Caregivers in Illinois 100,000 grandparents are raising their grandchildren 110,000 children are being raised by grandparents 68% of the grandparents are under 60 32% of the grandparents are over 60 20% live in poverty http://www.aarp.org/relationships/friends-family/grandfacts-sheets/

9. Illinois Placements as of 5-31-14 Total Older Caregivers aged 65+: 2,769 Reg. Foster Children Spec. Foster Care Home of Relative Placement Children Adoption Subsidized Guardianship 2112994292,779563 Total Children: 4,281 © DCFS Office of Professional Development

10. What are the Reasons?  Abuse or Neglect  Substance Abuse  Mental Illness  Domestic Violence  Death  Incarceration  Poverty - Economy

11. What are some feelings?  Shame/Guilt  Anger  Ambivalence  Despair  Grief  Love  Sense of purpose  Gratitude

12. We’ve been here before haven’t we? DCFS and IDoA have been partnering for years We have co-trained staff We have collaborated on case questions and service provision But we never tied the knot!

13. IDoA/DCFS In 2013 we began a new collaboration developed by a workgroup consisting of: DCFS Office of the Inspector General Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) DCFS Divisions of: Clinical, Policy, Permanency, Advocacy, Child Protection, Monitoring, State Central Register (Hotline), Administrative Case Review, and Training © DCFS Office of Professional Development

14. IDoA/DCFS con’t. Commitment to work together from both IDoA and DCFS Inter Governmental Agreement between IDoA and DCFS allowing case collaboration beginning Summer 2014 New DCFS Policy and Procedure also beginning Summer 2014

15. What the IGA enables DCFS – – Contact IDoA for assessments and services – Participate in staffings with IDoA – Report abuse and neglect to APS IDoA – Provide services and assessments as appropriate upon request – Participate in staffings with DCFS – Report abuse and neglect to SCR/DCFS

16. How will we follow up to make sure this collaboration works? Webinar to IDoA providers held in June 2014 Presentation at today’s APS conference Face-to-Face trainings with staff from Aging and Child Welfare beginning fall 2014 Joint IDoA/DCFS Workgroup follow up quarterly beginning September 2014

17. Life-Span Approach  Change is common with older adults.  Placements affect children and caregivers.  Life-Span approach pairs the developmental stage of the child and what they can and cannot do, - with-  The on-going capability of the older caregiver to meets those needs until the child reaches age 18 © DCFS Office of Professional Development

18. Case example Older non relative Foster Parent Child was in 7 previous foster care placements The child goal was adoption Foster parent had macular degeneration Child experienced trauma related to earlier abuse and neglect Child’s behavior created a risky environment for the older caregiver requiring a change in placement Outcome uncertain and detrimental to both child and caregiver

19. Goals for Older Caregiver Families Address both aging and child welfare issues. Ensure the permanency of the child ’ s placement now and in the future including Back up planning. Maximize the safety of children and caregivers.

20. DCFS procedure and how it impacts you! Within the first 40 days of placement by DCFS the child’s situation is assessed Additional assessment questions are asked when the placement is with an older caregiver These may generate recommendations for referral to IDoA Senior HelpLine for additional supports for, or assessment of, the older caregiver including issues related to their safety These recommendations are reviewed by DCFS every 6 months © DCFS Office of Professional Development

21. What we asking for from the Aging Network Referrals to the GRG programs and services Linkage to available supports through the Caregiver Support Programs Collaboration on cases that span issues involving both children and older caregivers Comprehensive Needs Assessment to explore caregiver capacity

22. Examples of how the Aging Network can help  Grandparents and other relatives raising children program  Legal Assistance for back up planning and wills  Respite care  Support Groups  Education about child issues  Gap filling funds © DCFS Office of Professional Development

23. How DCFS can help During placement DCFS can collaborate with IDoA/APS regarding services and supports available for the child Once Permanency is achieved DCFS can facilitate a referral to Adoption Preservation and other service providers For non DCFS relative caregiver families with unmet needs that risk the on-going stability of the family → →Extended Family Support Program

24.  Caregiver is a relative of the child and is age 18 or older  The child has been in the relative home for two weeks  There are no abuse or neglect issues with the child  There is no active DCFS involvement with the family  The caregiver is struggling to meet the needs of the child © DCFS Office of Professional Development Extended Family Support Program

25. Short-term Services provided Crisis Intervention Guardianship obtained through Probate Court Assistance in gaining benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps, SSI benefits, “Child Only” grants, day care subsidy (for working relatives) Educational Advocacy Linkage to community based services Emergency Cash Assistance

26. How to refer for EFSP A checklist of questions has been prepared for Aging Network staff The worker - with the consent and participation of older caregiver calls the DCFS Hotline After ruling out abuse or neglect of the child a referral is made to the EFSP provider for direct follow up Cases are served and closed within 3 months

27. Older Caregiver Project  The Older Caregiver Project (Cook only) © DCFS Office of Professional Development

28. Resources for Older Caregiver Families Helpful Guide for Parents and Caregivers CFS 1050-69 Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Brochure CFS 1050-86 Resource links on IDoA and DCFS websites Generations United: – www.gu.org/grandfamilies

29. Challenges  Learning about and serving separate populations, diverse needs (children, older caregivers)  Complexity of Departmental involvements  Establishing procedures and relationships across departments  Developing the appropriate plan and services required by the family  Encountering a variety of situations  Knowing when to act © DCFS Office of Professional Development