Remember the Core Competencies of PRIDE: 1.Protecting and
Nurturing Children 2.Meeting Childrens Developmental Needs and
Addressing Developmental Delays 3.Supporting Relationships Between
Children and Their Families 4.Connecting Children to Safe,
Nurturing Relationships Intended to Last a Lifetime 5.Working as a
Member of a Professional Team
Slide 4
Supplemental Handouts for This Session NJ Definition of an
Abused or Neglected Child Four Standards (Prongs) of the ASFA Law
Children in Foster Care and the Courts DYFS Hierarchy Resource
Family Reimbursement Rates Sample Foster Parent ID Letter Parental
Roles for Children in Foster Care Family and Medical Leave Act
Pre-School and Daycare for Children in Care Placement
Questions
Slide 5
Parking Lot Are there any questions from the last session that
we can answer now?
Slide 6
Responsibilities of DYFS DYFS has two essential mandates:
Protect children from risk and harm Connect children to permanent
relationships intended to last a lifetime These are accomplished in
one of two ways: Enabling the family to care for the child, or
whenever this is not possible, Connecting the child to another
family
Slide 7
Examples in Making a Difference! Why was Child Protective
Services called to intervene in Vernons case? How did Child
Protective Services respond? What might Vernon have been feeling?
What might Vernons mother have been feeling?
Slide 8
What factors might contribute to families who cannot care for
their children? Poverty Homelessness Loss of job Physical or mental
illness Substance abuse Domestic Violence Insufficient
family/community supports Legal problems
Slide 9
How can foster care be a support for families experiencing
these problems? Temporary respite during a stressful time
Opportunity for parents to enter treatment Ensures safety for
children while parents develop necessary skills Opportunity for
birth parents to work with foster parents on parenting issues and
skills on behalf of the child Families Helping Families
Slide 10
How would you feel? Imagine that you are unable to care for a
loved one. You have no choice but to find help. The loved one may
be your parent, spouse, sibling, friend or child. Close your eyes
for a moment and picture your loved one
Slide 11
How would you feel? How do you feel about being unable to care
for your loved one? What kind of caregiver do you want to find to
care for your loved one? What might the caregiver do to make this
easier for you?
Slide 12
Bridging the Gap PRIDEBook Page 47 shows some ways that
resource families can bridge the gap with birth families. Remember
that as we bridge the gap between resource families and birth
families, we also bridge the gap between children and their
families.
Slide 13
Family Forever Video This video should help you understand
foster care as a family-focused service It will also help you
understand how birth parents may experience their childs placement
Youll see how teamwork contributes to positive outcomes, in this
case reunification Youll also see some of the benefits and
challenges of working with birth parents
Slide 14
Slide 15
Importance of Families to Children DYFS first seeks to enable
the parents to meet the childs basic needs while the child remains
in the home When a child is placed into foster care, every effort
is made to work toward reunification When reunification cannot
occur, DYFS recognizes the importance of a family to a child by
making alternative plans
Slide 16
Permanency Is: Having a sense of ones past; including ones
cultural heritage and identity Having a legal and social status
that comes from being a family member Having safe, nurturing
relationships intended to last a lifetime
Slide 17
Permanency Must Include: Connections Ongoing relationships
Create a sense of belonging and stability Helps promote cultural
and personal identity Continuity Child understands connections
between past, present and future Know where youve been and where
youre going Also helps promote cultural and personal identity
Slide 18
The Genogram A Genogram is a tool that can be used to help
understand family connections and continuity Provides a picture of
the family connections and continuity Similar to a family tree, but
with more finite detail (illnesses/addictions/relationships) You
will prepare a genogram as part of your homework
Slide 19
The Genogram If you have a computer and Internet access, theres
a program called GenoPro that can help you do a genogram. The
software costs about $50, but can be downloaded and used for FREE
for 30 days. www.genopro.com
Slide 20
Symbols for Genograms Individuals - Children - Illnesses &
Addictions
Slide 21
Standard Symbols for Genograms Family Relationships -
Unions
Slide 22
Symbols for Genograms Emotional Relationships
Slide 23
Genogram: The Flintstones
Slide 24
Definitions Permanency planning is a set of activities and
tasks directed toward achieving the childs permanent goal
Concurrent planning is the practice of directing activities and
tasks toward more than one permanent goal at a time
Slide 25
How Are Children Placed? When an instance of abuse or neglect
is reported in a family, DYFS initiates an investigation As a
result of the investigation, DYFS will do one of three things: Find
the report to be unfounded and close the referral upon intake Open
the case for services in an attempt to preserve the family
(children remain in the home) Remove the children immediately on an
emergent basis (Dodd removal)
Slide 26
How Are Children Placed? When preservation services are put in
place, DYFS continues to work with the family until the issues have
been resolved or until such time that it is determined that
children are at risk of harm When a child is removed under
non-emergent circumstances, it must be under the authority of a
court order When Dodd removals occur, DYFS must obtain a court
order to continue the out-of-home placement within three business
days
Slide 27
The DCF/DYFS Hierarchy Who do I call when I have a
problem?
Slide 28
The DCF/DYFS Hierarchy Local Office Manager Casework Supervisor
Supervisor - Intake Intake Caseworker/Investig ator Supervisor -
Ongoing Ongoing Caseworker Supervisor Resource Families Resource
Family Support Worker Casework Supervisor Supervisor - Adoption
Adoption Specialist Supervisor Resource Family Supervisor - Ongoing
Ongoing Caseworker Casework Supervisor Local Office Manager
Slide 29
The DCF/DYFS Hierarchy Local Office Manager Casework Supervisor
Supervisor - Intake Intake Caseworker/Investig ator Supervisor -
Ongoing Ongoing Caseworker Supervisor Resource Families Resource
Family Support Worker Casework Supervisor Supervisor - Adoption
Adoption Specialist Supervisor Resource Family Resource Family
Support Worker Supervisor - Resource Families Supervisor - Ongoing
Ongoing Caseworker
Slide 30
The DCF/DYFS Hierarchy Governor Commissioner Dept of Children
&Families (DCF) Director Division of Youth & Family
Services (DYFS) Assistant Director DYFS Area Office Local Office
Manager DYFS Local Office
Slide 31
Court Timelines Every child placed into care under court order
is assigned a law guardian an attorney that represents the child in
court After a child is in placement for about 45 days, the case is
reviewed by the Child Placement Review Board (CPRB) a panel of
volunteers appointed by the presiding family court judge to review
cases and make recommendations to the court on the childs behalf A
case is reviewed by the family court judge approximately every
three months
Slide 32
Court Timelines Around the 11 th month of placement, the Court
will hold a permanency hearing At the permanency hearing, DYFS must
present a permanent plan to the court, which must include an intent
to terminate parental rights (TPR) if reunification with family is
not imminent If termination of parental rights is pursued, DYFS
files a guardianship complaint which ultimately results in a TPR
trial before the judge
Slide 33
Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) Federal legislation
enacted in 1997 NJ implementation defined by law (N.J.S.A.
30:4C-11.1) Expands the provisions of the Adoption Assistance and
Child Welfare Act of 1980 States must demonstrate commitment to
prevention and reunifications services Ensuring a childs health,
safety and timely permanency are DYFS paramount concern
Slide 34
Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) DYFS must demonstrate
that reasonable efforts were made to prevent a placement or state
why they were not possible Permanency options include safe return
home, adoption, or alternative plan When a child is in placement
for 15 of 22 months (about a year), DYFS must present a permanent
plan, which must include termination of parental rights (TPR) or a
statement of why TPR is not appropriate, if reunification is not
likely
Slide 35
Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) The ASFA law does NOT
mandate that if a child is in foster care for over a year, they
automatically become free for adoption!
Slide 36
Timeline to Permanency Day 1 (assume emergency)Child is removed
from home0 days Within 3 business daysInitial Court Hearing (Order
to Show Cause, OSC)3 days About 2 weeks laterFollow-up Court
Hearing (Return on the OSC)2 weeks 45 days after placementCPRB
Initial Review45 days About every 3 monthsCourt Hearing (Compliance
Review)3 months Around 11 th monthPermanency Hearing in Court12
months If plan is TPR, within ~3 mosFiling of Guardianship
Complaint15 months If plan is TPR, within ~8 mosTPR trial is
schedule (3-5 court days)24 months After TPR trial, within ~2
monthsJudge issues decision26 months Within 45 days of TPR
decisionParties may file appeal27 months After appeal filed, up to
1 yrAppellate Division hears appeal39 months
Slide 37
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and
Families, Children's Bureau, www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb
Preliminary Estimates for FY 2005 as of September 2006 Timeline to
Permanency Number of Months from TPR to Adoption (FY2005)
Slide 38
Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) In order to terminate
parental rights, a judge must be satisfied that DYFS has met four
specific standards or prongs, based on the preponderance of the
evidence presented
Slide 39
Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) 1.The child's safety,
health or development has been or will continue to be endangered by
the parental relationship. 2.The parent is unwilling or unable to
eliminate the harm facing the child or is unable or unwilling to
provide a safe and stable home for the child and the delay of
permanent placement will add to the harm. Such harm may include
evidence that separating the child from his foster parents would
cause serious and enduring emotional or psychological harm to the
child.
Slide 40
Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) 3.The Division has made
reasonable efforts to provide services to help the parent correct
the circumstances which led to the child's placement outside the
home and the court has considered alternatives to termination of
parental rights. 4.Termination of parental rights will not do more
harm than good.
Slide 41
Parental Roles Giving birth (Birth Parent) Legal responsibility
(Legal Parent) Protecting & nurturing (Caregiving Parent) For
children in placement, it is important to remember that these
parental roles may be held by different people or agencies.
Slide 42
Addictions Citizenship Consent (medical/education/general)
Family/Tradition Life Genetics Eye/Hair/Skin Color Gender Physical
Characteristics Parental Roles Personality Intelligence Health
Issues Heritage/History Name Prenatal Care Religion/Culture
Siblings/Relatives Talents List all of the things children are
given only through their birth parents
Slide 43
Advocate Clothing Subsidy (monthly allowance) from DYFS Consent
(general) / Power of Attorney Day Care - Contracts w/approved
providers Education Consent for Transfer/IEP Ethics Food DYFS
Subsidy/WIC Healthcare Medicaid/Placement Physical/Consent
Identification Foster Parent ID Letter Liability Name Protection
Safety Various assessments by DYFS Shelter Subsidy Supervision
Therapy Parental Roles List all of our legal responsibilities as
parents
Slide 44
Acceptance Advocate Affection Buy Things Clothing Comfort
Commitment Consistency Day Care Develop Talents Discipline
Documentation/Chronicle Family/Traditions Food Healthcare Hobbies
Hugs Parental Roles List all of the things we do for our children
every day Humor Hygiene Interaction Language Liability Life Skills
Listening Love/Affection Morals/Ethics Motivation Nurturing
Opportunity Patience Playing Protection Quality Time Religion Role
Model Safety School/Homework Shelter Sports/Recreation Structure
Supervision Support Teach Therapy Tolerance Transportation Trust
Understanding Vacation/Recreation Values
Slide 45
Abandoned Abnormal Angry Conflicted Confused Depressed
Disappointed Parental Roles How might these distributed roles make
CHILDREN feel? Happy Hopeful Relieved Safe Thankful Frustrated
Hesitant Lost/Misplaced Rejected Sad Scared NegativePositive
Slide 46
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Federally enacted in 1993
Entitles eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid,
job-protected leave in a 12- month period for specified family and
medical reasons 12-month period is at discretion of the employer
(calendar, anniversary, fiscal) Defines entitlement to leave,
maintenance of health benefits during leave and job restoration
after leave
Slide 47
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) For more information about
FMLA, visit www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla New Jersey has adopted the
provisions of the FMLA through the New Jersey Family Leave Act
(NJFLA) www.state.nj.us/lps/dcr/law.html#FLA
Slide 48
Guidelines for Effective Teamwork Team members need to share
child welfare values and a respect for child welfare laws. Team
members need to respect one anothers complementary roles and value
one anothers perspectives. Team members need to have a clear
understanding of the goals and objectives, and ensure that these
are shared among all team members.
Slide 49
New Jersey Family Team Meetings A component of child welfare
reform plan Bring together supportive resources to assess the
family needs Help keep the family and team members focused on plan
of action Use conflict resolution methods that encourage
collaboration and build consensus regarding placement and services
Train other staff to become effective facilitators
Slide 50
New Jersey Family Team Meetings Identify needed interventions
in finding solutions for the family Empower families to achieve
their desired outcomes
Slide 51
Team Members Could Include DYFS staff (caseworker, supervisor)
Foster parents Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Law Guardian
Service Providers
Slide 52
Parking Lot Are there any questions that you had that may not
have been answered during this session? Lets add them to our
Parking Lot!
Slide 53
CLOSURE Key Points, PRIDEBook Pages 52-56 A Birth Parents
Perspective, PRIDE Book Pages 59-61 PRIDE Connection exercises,
PRIDEBook Pages 62-64 (copy in packet) Making A Difference!,
PRIDEBook Page 65-66 Session 3: Meeting Developmental Needs:
Attachment
Slide 54
Exercise: Resource 2-F Quickly answer the following questions
from PRIDEBook Page 48.
Slide 55
Exercise: Resource 2-F What do you plan to do tomorrow? Who do
you plan to have with you tomorrow? What do you want to be doing
one year from now (personally or professionally)? Who do you plan
to have with you then? What would you like to accomplish in the
next five years? Who would you like to have sharing your
accomplishments?
Slide 56
Questions for Video Clip #1 & Clip #2 What does the foster
mother do that demonstrates her ability to work as a member of a
team in shared parenting? How will this help Annie to deal with
loyalty conflicts?
Slide 57
Charlie Small group activity Each group will represent one of
the following: BirthParent Caseworker Foster Parent School Teacher
Counselor What knowledge, skills, and/or experience do you bring to
the table?
Slide 58
Print out the slides following this slide as supplemental
handouts.
Slide 59
The DCF/DYFS Hierarchy Local Office Manager Casework Supervisor
Supervisor - Intake Intake Caseworker/Investig ator Supervisor -
Ongoing Ongoing Caseworker Supervisor Resource Families Resource
Family Support Worker Casework Supervisor Supervisor - Adoption
Adoption Specialist Supervisor Resource Family
Slide 60
The DCF/DYFS Hierarchy Governor Commissioner Dept of Children
&Families (DCF) Director Division of Youth & Family
Services (DYFS) Assistant Director DYFS Area Office Local Office
Manager DYFS Local Office
Slide 61
Team Questions List all of the things that you have given your
children through birth? List all of your legal responsibilities as
a parent? List all of the things that you do for your children
daily?
Slide 62
Child Taken into Care Adjudication/ Disposition Decision to
make reasonable efforts Decision to NOT make reasonable efforts
Review Hearing Permanency Hearing (1) File TPR Petition (2) TPR
Trial (3) Permanency Hearing File TPR Petition (if adoption is the
goal) TPR Trial (if ordered) 6 mos.12 mos.15 mos.ASAP 30 daysASAP
Reviews every 6-12 mos. (from previous hearing) until child is
adopted or permanency goal achieved (1)When calculating when to
have the permanency hearing or the 15 of 22 months, use the earlier
of the date or adjudication OR 60 days after the child is removed
from the home. (2)Unless a compelling reason exists not to
terminate parental rights. (3)In NJ, usually within 6-8 months of
filing TPR Petition. Copyright 1998 by the American Bar Association
Timeline to Permanency