1. How To Get Your Kids Back Parents as Case Managers

2. Family Profile Jane and Frank have two sons George who is 18 months and Ryan who is 6 months. Frank is Ryan's biological father but was present in the relationship when George was born Jane and Frank have two sons George who is 18 months and Ryan who is 6 months. Frank is Ryan's biological father but was present in the relationship when George was born

3. Jane was in Foster Care for a significant part of her childhood. Jane was in Foster Care for a significant part of her childhood. Frank has two other children with a previous partner both of whom live in a permanent care placement. Frank has two other children with a previous partner both of whom live in a permanent care placement.

4. Ryan and George have been in care for four months after a notification was made by nursing staff at the hospital who noticed a mark that looked like it could have been a burn on Ryan when he was brought to the hospital by his dad because he wouldn’t stop crying. The hospital also noted a failure to thrive. Ryan and George have been in care for four months after a notification was made by nursing staff at the hospital who noticed a mark that looked like it could have been a burn on Ryan when he was brought to the hospital by his dad because he wouldn’t stop crying. The hospital also noted a failure to thrive.

5. A PASDS residential assessment had taken place and their report indicated that both Jane and Frank scored low on almost every indicator of good parenting. It recommended extensive parenting skills development but did not detail the skills to be developed. A PASDS residential assessment had taken place and their report indicated that both Jane and Frank scored low on almost every indicator of good parenting. It recommended extensive parenting skills development but did not detail the skills to be developed.

6. The report also indicated a high degree of parental conflict and recommended relationship counselling. The report also indicated a high degree of parental conflict and recommended relationship counselling.

7. A psychological assessment noted that Jane presented with a “flat affect” and suggested Post Natal Depression. Jane was also determined to have learning difficulties although her IQ registered in the normal range. A psychological assessment noted that Jane presented with a “flat affect” and suggested Post Natal Depression. Jane was also determined to have learning difficulties although her IQ registered in the normal range.

8. The referral to the Skills Development service noted all of these factors including the concern the Jane was denying being depressed. The referral to the Skills Development service noted all of these factors including the concern the Jane was denying being depressed.

9. During contact visits Jane showed little interest in the children particularly the baby Ryan. During contact visits Jane showed little interest in the children particularly the baby Ryan.

10. During a contact visit the Cassis record showed that Frank had left 6 month old Ryan “lying face down on the floor screaming while he left the room”. During a contact visit the Cassis record showed that Frank had left 6 month old Ryan “lying face down on the floor screaming while he left the room”.

11. Contact visits were being cancelled or missed Contact visits were being cancelled or missed The children had now been in care for 5 months. The children had now been in care for 5 months.

12. The Skills Development worker had been working with the family for 3 months. She reported that the family were not engaging in the skills development and continued to insist they were good parents who felt capable of parenting. The Skills Development worker had been working with the family for 3 months. She reported that the family were not engaging in the skills development and continued to insist they were good parents who felt capable of parenting.

13. The Protective Services Team Leader stated the children were being seen as moving toward permanent care and they did not see the children being returned to their family. The Protective Services Team Leader stated the children were being seen as moving toward permanent care and they did not see the children being returned to their family.

14. Jane and Frank Lived 1 ½ hours from the carers home. Lived 1 ½ hours from the carers home. Frank had a part-time job at nights and income was minimal Frank had a part-time job at nights and income was minimal Rising fuel costs placed an increasing financial burden on the family Rising fuel costs placed an increasing financial burden on the family

15. Jane and Frank Reimbursement for fuel costs from CP was taking months Reimbursement for fuel costs from CP was taking months

16. Jane had taken Ryan to the hospital twice in the first few weeks after birth because she could not get him to stop crying. Jane had taken Ryan to the hospital twice in the first few weeks after birth because she could not get him to stop crying. Staff told her she needed to relax more with her baby. Staff told her she needed to relax more with her baby.

17. While in care CP workers took Ryan to the hospital because he would not stop crying While in care CP workers took Ryan to the hospital because he would not stop crying Medical staff found he had an abnormality in the way his tongue was formed which was preventing him from feeding properly. This was corrected. Medical staff found he had an abnormality in the way his tongue was formed which was preventing him from feeding properly. This was corrected.

18. When it was explained to Jane that a ‘flat affect” was a lack of emotional expression she talked about her determination not to “scream and shout” as she wanted to because she thought she would be seen as a bad mother. Instead she “blanked out’ when she was with the kids. When it was explained to Jane that a ‘flat affect” was a lack of emotional expression she talked about her determination not to “scream and shout” as she wanted to because she thought she would be seen as a bad mother. Instead she “blanked out’ when she was with the kids.

19. Jane did not believe they would be returned and was preparing herself to cope with losing her children for good. Jane did not believe they would be returned and was preparing herself to cope with losing her children for good.

20. Frank changed Ryan's nappy and quickly went to dispose of it and wash his hands as he had been told to do. He placed Ryan on the floor on his tummy while he did this. Ryan cried at being put down. This was recorded. Disposing of the nappy and washing his hands was not. Frank changed Ryan's nappy and quickly went to dispose of it and wash his hands as he had been told to do. He placed Ryan on the floor on his tummy while he did this. Ryan cried at being put down. This was recorded. Disposing of the nappy and washing his hands was not.

21. Before their children had been removed Jane and Frank had rarely argued. Now they argued all the time. They wanted to go to counselling to show they would comply with the recommendations but the CP had not had time to organise it. Before their children had been removed Jane and Frank had rarely argued. Now they argued all the time. They wanted to go to counselling to show they would comply with the recommendations but the CP had not had time to organise it.

22. We needed someone to tell us what it was we had to do to get our kids back. We needed someone to tell us what it was we had to do to get our kids back.

23. How To Get Your Kids Back Positive conditions for change Positive conditions for change Raise the protective instincts in parents Raise the protective instincts in parents Support the negotiation of statutory systems Support the negotiation of statutory systems Parents become the driving force behind getting kids out of care Parents become the driving force behind getting kids out of care

24. What skills does a champion need? To know the systems and how they work To know the systems and how they work To understand the Foster care agency and how it works To understand the Foster care agency and how it works To understand emotional intelligence To understand emotional intelligence To understand their child/rens needs To understand their child/rens needs To know how to advocate for their child/rens rights To know how to advocate for their child/rens rights To know what needs to happen To know what needs to happen