March 2018Vol. 19, No. 2Print issueSpotlight on In-Home Services

The Child and Family Research Partnership (CFRP) has released a new, comprehensive report on supporting father involvement: Fatherhood EFFECT Evaluation Final Report: A Comprehensive Plan for Supporting Texas Fathers and Families. The report focuses on the Educating Fathers for Empowering Children Tomorrow (EFFECT) program and its effort to improve children's well-being through helping fathers become more involved and educated and increasing protective factors by investing in fatherhood programs across the state.

Research has shown that children with involved fathers have more positive outcomes across a variety of domains than children without an involved father. However, many fathers face barriers to being the father they want to be. While there are many programs that support fathers, evidence of these programs' efficacy has been limited. CFRP focused their evaluation on four EFFECT program participants during two rounds of evaluation: Baptist Child and Family Services (BCFS) and the Child Crisis Center of El Paso (EFFECT I, launched in 2013) and NewDay Services and the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (EFFECT II, launched in 2015).

In this report, CFRP evaluates the EFFECT program and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Prevention and Early Intervention Division's (PEI's) efforts with three tiers:

• Evaluate implementation and outcomes to assess PEI's current investments in fathers
• Identify state and local agencies' current investments in fatherhood and create an inventory of Texas programs
• Identify innovative programs and policies in other states and highlight best practices

The findings of the evaluation indicate that meeting the needs of fathers could be challenging because the range and variety of their needs (e.g., housing, mental health, and legal needs) were difficult to meet in a classroom-based program. Additionally, the voluntary nature of the program, among other challenges such as transportation and work schedules, made participation difficult. This highlighted a need that programs and policies should be more comprehensive and focus on the whole family as well as fathers and should work with other state and program providers to try and remove these barriers.

With over 70 programs offered in Texas through federal, state, and local funding, there is a large opportunity for collaboration. CFRP recommends that fatherhood programs be strengthened in the following ways:

• Target fathers who may benefit most, such as teenage/young fathers, fathers reentering society from the criminal justice system, and fathers in the child welfare system
• Identify early intervention points to reach fathers before issues arise as well as help them establish solid foundations for their families
• Collaborate statewide and across organizations and agencies to develop regional programs and practices to serve fathers and their families
• Incorporate feedback from fathers when making changes to the EFFECT program
• Identify additional services, such as providing affordable transportation, which can help fathers participate in fatherhood programs like EFFECT
• Use a measuring instrument that fully captures the outcomes and goals of fatherhood programs, such as economic stability, father involvement, relationship quality, knowledge of child development, attitudes about parenting, communication skills, improved coparenting quality, and increased confidence as a father.

The report, Fatherhood EFFECT Evaluation Final Report: A Comprehensive Plan for Supporting Texas Fathers and Families, is available at https://childandfamilyresearch.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/CFRPReport_R0140817_FatherhoodEFFECT.pdf (4,460 KB).
 

A new survey of state independent living coordinators offers a detailed look at the services and supports provided to young people transitioning from foster care. The nationwide survey, conducted by Child Trends with support from the Better Housing Coalition and Children's Home Society of Virginia, finds that the availability of affordable and transitional housing is a primary concern for youth aging out of foster care.

The 2016 survey collected data from independent living coordinators in 47 of the 52 states and territories that were contacted. Survey responses addressed state trends in six major service areas: postsecondary education; employment and career development; financial capability; safe, stable, and affordable housing; health and mental health care; and permanent relationships with supportive adults.

Major findings include the following:

• Housing was most commonly cited as an area in need of improvement. Housing is a primary concern for 21 states or an area states are actively working to improve.
• Three-quarters of respondents reported that most young people in their states leave foster care before the maximum permitted age. In 27 states that extend foster care to age 21 or older, young people typically exit the system at age 18.
• In all six categories, the array of services is similar for youth ages 18-21, regardless of whether they are in or out of foster care.
• Available services and supports drop off considerably in most states as soon as a young person reaches age 21. The report notes that most states offer some opportunities for this group in the areas of postsecondary education, employment and career development, and access to health and mental health care.

Supporting Young People Transitioning From Foster Care: Findings From a National Survey is available at https://www.childtrends.org/publications/supporting-young-people-transitioning-foster-care-findings-national-survey/.
 

A new report seeking to evaluate and understand integrated approaches for simultaneously improving family self-sufficiency and child well-being examines existing programs and research needs. While a parent with job and financial security may be better equipped than one who is poor and unemployed to provide the care a child needs to succeed, innovative programs that combine services for adults, children, and families to increase self-sufficiency and child well-being have not been rigorously evaluated.

The report, Exploration of Integrated Approaches to Supporting Child Development and Improving Family Economic Security, is part of a project launched in 2015 to evaluate and inform future investment in innovative programs for adults, children, and families. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families funded the project conducted by Mathematica Policy Research and Northwestern University's Institute for Policy Research.

The project included the following components:

• A targeted literature review, consultation with experts, and field work to learn more about selected programs
• Development of conceptual frameworks to inform program design and research
• Assessment of existing research on programs that provide economic security services to adults and that include services to children birth through age 12
• An assessment of opportunities for future research and evaluation on such programs

The report's findings include the following:

• Contemporary programs tend to originate as either child-focused programs or those that serve parents and children together. Their service models combine multiple offerings for parents and children.
• The quality and intensity of the programs may need to be at a high level to have an impact on both parent and child outcomes.
• The conceptual framework developed for integrated parent and child services illustrates integrated service delivery and expected outcomes (i.e., parents will improve their education and skills to find employment and help their children succeed in school) for parents, children, and the home environment over both the short and long terms.
• Given the limited evidence and the developing field, more research is needed on how to implement integrated parent and child programs and the effectiveness of such programs.

The report is available at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/exploration-integrated-approaches-supporting-child-development-improving-family-economic-security.
 

Positive coparenting is a collaborative relationship that involves sharing the responsibilities and goals associated with raising a child. Children who are exposed to positive coparenting are less likely to exhibit externalizing problem behaviors, such as aggression, hyperactivity, and poor social skills. Positive coparenting is also associated with increased father involvement, particularly among nonresident fathers.

The Office of Adolescent Health recently released a resource for youth-serving professionals who support young parents and offers the following best practices for programs that offer coparenting services:

• Program goals and messaging should be consistent, especially in how they message the program to young fathers; be aware of and provide referrals to agencies that provide services outside the program's ability and resources young parents can access within the community; and emphasize that  case management meetings are about the child's well-being as well as supporting fathers and mothers both individually and collectively.
• Programs should embed coparenting lesson plans into their services, and program materials should include materials that focus on responsible fatherhood, coparenting, and relationship management.
• Create safe spaces and boundaries by discussing upfront what information will be disclosed about either parent during individual or group meetings, offer opportunities for fathers and mothers to engage in the curriculum activities together as well as separately, and assess the nature of the relationship between the father and mother to ensure the safety of the child and parents using trauma-informed approaches.
• Foster opportunities for communication by providing guidance for young fathers on how to effectively communicate with their child's mother, especially if parents do not live together.

The brief also provides a listing of coparenting resources, as well as evidence-informed programs and other sources of information to help young parents.

Co-Parenting: Resources and Best Practices for Service Providers is available at https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/sites/default/files/coparenting-resources.pdf (389 KB).
 

Approximately one-third of all families who become involved with child protective services experience intimate partner violence (IPV) in the year preceding their involvement with the child welfare system. Because of this significant co-occurrence, it is important for child welfare workers to have the knowledge and skills to gauge children's exposure to IPV and implement practice considerations to mitigate the negative consequences of exposure to violence, including the potential for child maltreatment.

A recent issue of Practice Notes, a product of the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, discusses how exposure to IPV manifests in children of various ages. For infants, IPV exposure has been associated with eating and sleeping problems, lack of physical responses, and loss of previously acquired developmental skills. Preschool-aged children may show increased behavioral problems, such as irritability, regressed behavior, and even posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Children in school may exhibit aggression and disobedience, depression, fear and anxiety, and interpersonal conflict with peers. Adolescents exposed to IPV are at risk of emotional problems related to depression, increased aggression, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

The brief provides the following six key practice considerations for social workers and supervisors based on UNICEF recommendations:

• Children need a safe home environment without violence. It is important to provide families experiencing IPV with domestic violence resources and services geared toward parents and children.
• Children need trusted and supportive adults who will listen to them and keep them safe. Child welfare workers should check in with children and ask them how they feel about their safety in their homes or foster homes and respond with empathy, care, and support.
• Children need a sense of normalcy and routine, especially if they have been removed from their homes.
• Children need support services that address the impact domestic violence has on children, such as therapeutic and family-centered interventions.
• Children need to learn that domestic violence is never acceptable and that there are nonviolent ways to solve problems. It is important to have age-appropriate conversations about healthy relationships and share concerns about things happening at home, school, and the community. 
• Children need adults to not only advocate for their best interests but also raise awareness about the impact IPV has on children.

The brief also provides a case example; reflection questions, such as "How do you assess for children's exposure to IPV in your day-to-day practice?"; and additional resources.

Intimate Partner Violence in Child Welfare is available at https://www.cascw.org/portfolio-items/intimate-partner-violence-in-child-welfare-pn-29/.
 

Many times, children and youth may have difficulty expressing how they feel or are affected by the negative things happening in their lives. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network developed a guide specifically for youth who have experienced complex trauma to help them get a better understanding of what it is and how it effects them. Complex trauma, or trauma that combines two or more forms of trauma exposure, such as sexual, physical, or emotional abuse; neglect; or domestic violence, among others, and its effects can be difficult for a child to understand or voice to adults. Clinicians, caregivers, and other adults can use this guide to help start and direct a conversation with youth about what complex trauma is, how it can impact them, and what coping strategies youth can use.

The resource guide is divided into the following sections:

• What is complex trauma?
• How complex trauma can affect youth
• How youth can cope
• Ways youth can make things better
• Where youth can find more information about complex trauma

This resource guide uses graphics and tables with examples of some possible thoughts youth may encounter and coping strategies they may be using and the reasons behind them. The guide also includes several activities youth can complete that can help them work through their feelings, explore how they believe complex trauma has affected them, reflect on how they coped with trauma in the past, and brainstorm actionable ways to help themselves recover and thrive.

The resource guide, What Is Complex Trauma? A Resource Guide for Youth and Those Who Care About Them, can be found at http://www.nctsn.org/products/what-complex-trauma-resource-guide-youth-and-those-who-care-about-them.
 

A new tip sheet from YOUTH.gov is designed to help incarcerated parents anticipate issues that may arise during visitations with their children so the visits are more positive and productive for all.

The tip sheet outlines questions that an incarcerated parent should think through before the visit, including the following:

• What are the visitation rules (e.g., what can visitors wear and bring, how many visitors are allowed, what are the age restrictions, etc.)?
• How will your child react to security? (Discuss expectations with the child before visitation.)
• What is the extent of physical closeness your facility will allow (e.g., will you be separated by Plexiglas)?
• How can you interact with your child (e.g., engage in bonding by reading a book, talking about school or sports, playing a game, etc.)?
• Who will be bringing your child? (If you have a strained relationship with that individual, do your best to put that aside for your child's sake and leave adult conversations for another time.)
• Are special visiting programs available (e.g., access to special child-friendly rooms with toys)?

It also includes useful pointers to consider during a visit, including the following:

• Your child's frame of mind (may be nervous, etc.)
• How your child may have changed since the last visit
• Conversation points (asking questions, such as, "what's your favorite class?")
• How to engage beyond conversation (play a game, take a photo together)
• Time of day (children may be tired or hungry)
• Making goodbyes easier (give children a 10-minute warning before it's time for them to leave so they can mentally prepare, discuss plans for the next visit)

Postvisit tips include the following:

• Talk with the child's caregiver about engaging the child about the visit
• Follow up with your child with a phone call or letter (show them there are other ways to communicate)

Tip Sheet for Incarcerated Parents: Planning for a Visit From Your Child/Children is available at https://youth.gov/sites/default/files/COIP-TipSheet-Parents_Visits_508.pdf (158 KB).
 

Upcoming conferences and events focusing on child welfare include the following:

March

• 31st Annual Research & Policy Conference on Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Behavioral Health
  Department of Child & Family Studies, University of South Florida
  March 4-7, Tampa, FL
  http://cmhconference.com/index.php

• Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine 2018 Annual Meeting
  Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
  March 14-17, Seattle, WA
  http://www.adolescenthealth.org/Meetings/2018-Annual-Meeting.aspx

• 14th Annual Childhood Grief and Traumatic Loss Conference
  Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect
  March 15, Los Angeles, CA
  http://ican4kids.org/events.html

• 2018 National Conference on Juvenile Justice
  National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
  March 18-21, San Diego, CA
  http://www.ncjfcj.org/2018-national-conference-juvenile-justice

April

• National Conference on Coaching in Human Services
  Center for Human Services at the University of California, Davis
  April 24-25, Davis, CA
  http://www.humanservices.ucdavis.edu/coachingconference

• 2018 Child Welfare League of America National Conference
  Child Welfare League of America
  April 26-29, Washington, DC
  http://www.cwla.org/conferences/

May

• Annual Family Support and Child Abuse Prevention
  Prevent Child Abuse Iowa
  May 9-11, Des Moines, IA
  http://www.pcaiowa.org

• 2018 Ties That Bind: Parents & Children Strengthening the Bond Adoptive Family & Youth Training Seminar
  Family Matters Consulting, Inc.
  May 18-20, Peachtree City, GA
  http://www.ties-that-bind.org/

• Effective Strategies for Working with Involuntary Clients: International Perspectives
  The Prato Centre of Monash University, Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, and the University of Minnesota School of Social Work
  May 23-25, Tuscany, Italy
  https://cascw.umn.edu/portfolio-items/effective-strategies-for-working-with-involuntary-clients-international-perspectives-welcome/
  

Child Welfare League of America, in collaboration with FosterParentCollege.com, has released the New Generation PRIDE Model of Practice. This 14-step model of practice was developed to help child welfare agencies support foster and adoptive families as team members in child protection and trauma-informed care. The training opportunity features dynamic, interactive adult learning methods and integrates in-person group sessions, family assessment (home study) consultations, and online self-paced training to meet the needs of diverse families.

The New Generation PRIDE Model of Practice is based on the following five core competency categories:

• Protecting and nurturing children
• Meeting children's developmental needs and addressing their delays
• Supporting relationships with birth families
• Connecting children to safe, permanent, and nurturing relationships
• Working as a member of a professional team

The training aims to strengthen the quality of family foster care and adoption service by educating communities about the importance of resource families; recruiting families based on a comprehensive, strengths-and-needs plan; providing in-person or online, preservice training with information and skill building around the five core competencies; integrating preservice training as an essential component of the mutual family assessment (home study) process; and more.

More information on the New Generation PRIDE Model of Practice is available at https://www.cwla.org/pride-training/.