How to work more effectively in representing clients involved with a local DSS Dan Beerman •Faculty, JMSW, NC A&T / UNC-G •Child Welfare Education Collaborative •30 years Social Work experience l Understand the creature – Federal-State-County “Dance” – Pressures from the top – State supervised/County Administered l Understand people – Demographics l How it plays out for your clients – Four types of DSS social workers What comes to the courtroom reflects a complex process…strive to understand the complexity l Have a basic mastery of language and concepts. l Federal Role Data State Role Skills Fear Policy County Role Training Best Practice Federal Changes •ASFA 96 •Federal Reviews County Impact •Structural Changes •Focus on Family NC Fails Audit -- 2001 •Develops Program Improvement Plan (PIP) Program Changes •Structured Decision •MRS •Professional Development Policy Driven System l Fear of policy violation l Circle the wagons l Many of our families have secrets they want to hide…so does the DSS l Level of commitment l Support from counties l Innovative programming l Vision from the State l Training from State l Efforts to professionalize workforce l Structured Decision Making l Team Decision Making (TDM) l Multiple Response (MRS) l Family Centered Practice l – Family Group Conference – Family Focused Team Meetings l OTHERS l l l Same set of questions and data in all 100 counties Some actuarially valid No decisions without review NC MRS 2003 EXPANSION MAP o yw McDowell Catawba Lincoln Gaston Macon Davidson Cabarr us 2002 MRS Site 10 Bertie Franklin Nash Edgecombe Chatham Pitt Johnston Harnett Hoke Lenoir Hyde Craven Pamlico Jones Sampson Duplin Scot land Onslow Robeson Beaufort Wayne Stanly MontgomeryMoore Anson Washing-tonTyrrel l Dare Dare Greene Bladen Pender 2003 MRS Site Martin Wilson Lee Clay Union Hertford Wake Randolph Gates Halifax Rowan rg Mecklenbu Rutherford Henderson Polk Transylvania d elan Clev od Cherokee n so ck Ja Graham Buncombe Burke Davie Iredell Northampton Warren and Ha Swain Yancey Alexander Cumbe rl Madison Caldwell Guilford Richmo nd ell tch Mi Forsyth Alamance Yadkin Avery Orange Wilkes Watauga Person Vance Rockingham Caswell Granville Stokes Durham Surry k tuc rri n Cu mde k Ca tan uo s sq an Pa im rqu an Pe ow Ch Alleghany Ashe 42 Columbus New Hanover Brunswick Carteret l Professionalization of Social Work – Deprofessionalization of Child Welfare l Female, Age 29, BA (Psychology), – Average salary $32,000 – Special social work training required, 72 hours plus specialties (90 hours total--CPS) l Tenure on job -- Two years l Statewide turnover – From 5% to 70% – Average 35 to 40% l Turnover Issues – – – – Supervision/Support Caseload size Complexity of job--cases, paper work Money l Human Scale – Optimistic and caring – Concerned and cautious – Frustrated and self protective l l l l l l l Passionate Intense Serious Willing to bend rules Strong identity with child and protective family members Can be weak on documentation Heart over head l l l l l Knows policy and follows it. Is often complete and does good documentation Has material to support opinions May not connect well with family Head over heart l l l l l l Great at getting resources for clients Is liked by clients May not like paperwork Is easily disappointed by family May not understand models of practice Can be frustrated by social complexity l l l l Belongs in some other field Does not like clients Does not like home visits Likes to stay in office l l l l l l l l Understands the balance between policy and best practice. Likes her clients Understands resistance and change Supports responsible family decision making Professionally educated - BSW, MSW Culturally competent Understands law and it application Possibility 1 in 5 Learn about the needs and issues faced by your DSS. l Meet with program managers and director to get overview of Department. l Go to DSS board meeting l Help with TPR’s l l l l l l l Suspicion Concern Anxiety Acceptance Respect Engagement l Child Welfare in NC is in a state of crisis – – – – l l Recent Legislative Committee Press Turnover Federal audit DSS staffs are under-funded but still provide a basic to good quality of service. THEY live, work in and are part of your community. Connect with them! http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/childrenss ervices/svcdel/index.htm l Institute of Government l