Building parenting capacity and emotional family well-being

through the relational practice of the 3-5-7 Model©

Darla L. Henry PhD, MSW,MRS

Panel Members:Honorable Jolene Kopriva, - Blair CountyHonorable John Kuhn, - Adams CountySue Cohick, Administrator – Adams County CYA

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Objectives• Highlight the integral practice concepts for working with

traumatized families through the lens of grief using the 3-5-7 Model©.

• Explore the challenges for families who experience trauma from separation and losses.

• Empower professionals to successfully engage and empower families in enhancing their parenting capacities.

• Enhance opportunities for public and private child welfare professionals to experience hope and success in their work of building foundations of hope for families in renewing their relationships.

Proprietary: Darla L Henry & Associates, Inc.

Proprietary: Darla L Henry & Associates, Inc.

Family Finding

Family Group Decision Making

Teaming

Engagement meetings of ALL types

To truly engage

families we need to

understand where they have been, where they

are, and where they are goingProprietary: Darla L Henry & Associates, Inc.

EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

• Achieving autonomy• Mastery• Growth• Positive relationships• Self-acceptance• Sense of purpose

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IMPACT of LOSSES on WELL-BEING

• FAMILIES• History of life experiences-generational• Resultant behaviors may be abuse/neglect• Limitations in parenting capacity• Feelings of failure as parent

• CHILDREN/ADOLESCENTS• Primary losses-abandonment, rejection, opportunity • Secondary losses-maize strangers

• PROFESSIONALS• Secondary trauma

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The FGDM process is often emotionally intense and anxiety-ridden

Separation and loss are common themes

Schmid, Harris, Hassabu, and Barnwell (2007)

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Why pay attention to loss?

• Issues of grief and loss can have a substantial impact on the process of rebuilding family relationships

• If losses are acknowledged and recognized, the trust, security, and openness needed for a successful decision making conference will be more readily achieved

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• Pervasive and painful feelings of loss• Threats to:

• Self-Esteem• Parental and Family Identity• Sense of Belonging/togetherness• Security

• Lacking of a sense of purpose• Criticism and Blame

Field Guide to Child Welfare: Placement and Permanence, Child Welfare League of America, 1998

Proprietary: Darla L Henry & Associates, Inc.

• Helplessness/frustration• Concern for both the child and the parent• Embarrassment• Anger/Resentment

• Toward parent and/or child welfare system• When relative becomes caregiver:

• Loss of future plans (retirement, etc)• Move from one role to another

• Grandparent to Parent• Aunt/Uncle to Parent• Sibling to Parent

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Themes of Loss (for Families with Child Welfare System Involvement)

Loss of controlLoss of dignityLoss of securityLoss of identity

Loss of belongingness in family

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3-5-7 MODEL

Evidence-informed relational practice approach that supports the work of children, youth, and

their families

• To grieve losses resulting from their traumas • To rebuild relationships established in the

perception of safety• To empower individuals

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3-5-7 MODEL

•3 TASKS: frame engagement strategies to support the work of children, youth, and families

•5 QUESTIONS: support the work of the 3 tasks and address the issues that are the

results of relationship and family traumas

•7 SKILLS: the abilities, knowledge and philosophical perspectives of professionals

and caregivers who work with children, youth and families

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TASKS • CLARIFICATION:

Events of one’s life are explored through activities, listening, support, conversation

• INTEGRATION: Relationships are identified and recognized for

their ongoing place in one’s life. Meaning is given to each important relationship

• ACTUALIZATION: Permanency in relationship(s) is visualized

based on perceptions of safety and belongingness

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Conceptual Questions

• Who Am I?………………………Identity

• What Happened To Me?………Loss

• Where Am I Going?……………Attachment

• How Will I Get There?………….Relationships

• When Will I Know I belong?... Permanency/Safety/BelongingProprietary: Darla L Henry & Associates, Inc.

Skills * ENGAGING individuals & families in their work (3

tasks)

* LISTENING to their stories & life experiences

* BEING PRESENT & BRIEFLY SPEAKING in response to stories, questions, comments, reactions of child/youth/families

* AFFIRMING current perspectives of their Life Stories

* Establishing the perception of SAFETY through authentic listening, physical location and continuity of time spent with child/youth/family

* EXPLORING past life events in present time building on strengths

* RECOGNIZING and ACCEPTING that

current BEHAVIORS reflect GRIEF RESPONSES from past traumas and current events

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Clarification: Supporting the Work of Grieving and Identity Formation

• Continuity of time with individual• “Normalizing” the grief work• Knowledge of and use of activities• Development of Life Book• Awareness of self –

• Own losses• Skills and ability to comfort another• Supportive relationships

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Integration: Supporting the Work of Relationship Building

• Recognizing the loyalty within families• Recognizing the most children and youth love

their birth parents; and, parents love their children

• Accept the human need to be in relationship with another

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Actualization: Supporting the Work of Relational Permanency & Belongingness

• “permanency begins at home”

• Exploring all possible relationships

• Future view of a caring connection and/or relationship that is secure

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Proprietary: Darla L Henry & Associates, Inc.

OUTCOMES1. ENCOURAGE EXPRESSION of FEELINGS

2. EMBRACE PAST LIFE EVENTS, RELATIONSHIPS, CULTURE

3. CLARIFY CONFUSIONS, QUESTIONS

4. ESTABLISH SUPPORTIVE CONNECTIONS

5. VISUALIZE POSITIVE FUTURE

Impact of Grief & Loss Courts & County CYS System

• Honorable Jolene Kopriva – Blair County• Honorable John Kuhn – Adams County

• Sue Cohick – Adams County

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References

• Henry, D. L. (2005). 3-5-7 Model: Preparing children for permanency. Children and Youth Services Review, 27, 197-211.

• Rycus, J. & Hughes, R. (1998). Field Guide to Child Welfare: Placement and Permanence, CWLA Press: Washington D.C.

• Schmid, J., Harris, C., Hassabu, I., & Barnwell, L. (2007). Using family group conferencing in the context of death and dying. Protecting Children, 22, 51-60.

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For more information on the 3-5-7 Model:

Darla L. Henrydarla@darlahenry.org

Proprietary: Darla L Henry & Associates, Inc.