Island County Parents

WELCOME SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 • NOON - 2 PM COUPEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY This event is not affiliated nor sponsored by the Sno-Isle Libraries.

PLEASE SIGN-IN Thank you for coming to the first ICParents meeting. The goal of

this meeting is inform you how parents and professionals can work together to form a proactive community network; with the purpose of helping heal children, parents, and families involved with child welfare, i.e. Child Protective Services.

This is a open public meeting, however, please keep personal information shared with the group in confidence to the extent that it is possible. Refer to the meeting ground rules for more info.

WELCOME Introductions/Icebreaker

Please say your name, and if you want to answer this question: Who was your hero when you were a child, and what did you do to be like them?

This meeting is facilitated by Jeremiah Donier ICParents Network Coordinator, DBHR Certified Peer Counselor

ICParents@outlook.com • 360-240-2913

WORKING TOGETHER

The following slides show a some groups of parents & professionals that work at the local, state, and national level

SNO-PAC SNOHOMISH PARENT ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

Gina showing hearts SNO-PAC sent to legislators to asking for funding of FAR: Family Assessment Response

https://www.facebook.com/sno.pac.5

SPAN

https://www.facebook.com/Spokane.PAN

WSPAN

http://wspan.org/

WORKING TOGETHER

http://catalystforkids.org/

BIRTH PARENT NATIONAL NETWORK The BPNN also meets once a month with professional stakeholders to provide training, get input on national policies.

The meeting was this past Thursday and was on Father Engagement. It was facilitated by two parents and DSHS Father Engagement Specialist Jonah Idczak

Known as “the Alliance� they have a Parent Council of 8 parents nationally, it meets once a month.

2 parents from Washington are members.

http://www.bpnn.ctfalliance.org

WORKING TOGETHER To recognize the work of birth parents reuniting with their children the ABA started celebrating National Reunification Month in 2007.

In 2010 Governor Gregoire released a proclamation for a statewide celebration.

In 2012 the ABA launched the Reunification Heroes awards.

So far 6 people nationwide received this award: social workers, attorneys, and parents.

Two of the recipients are from Washington State.

http://www.americanbar.org/groups/child_law/ what_we_do/projects/nrd/heroes.html

RISE MAGAZINE The parent stories cover a broad spectrum of issues from all over the nation. This is a good resource for social workers and parents in recovery.

Founded in 2005 and based in New York City, the editor of this nonprofit, Nora McCarthy works with parents to publish “Stories of the Month�

Use caution when sharing this information with families currently involved with CPS.

http://www.risemagazine.org/

QUESTIONS? Are there any questions or about these groups?

Next we’ll look at some of the statewide:

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PROGRAMS

SNO-PAC

Life During CPS Founded in 2009, parents from Sno-PAC currently: • Celebrates reunifications at annual family picnics • Offers free “Life During CPS” support group for parents.

DFCS refers parents to this!

• Works on a variety of FREE community outreach and support projects for low income families • Some members attend Family Team Decision Meetings at the request of parents

S-P-A-N

HOPE: Helping Other Parents Engage Founded in 2009, parents from SPAN currently:

• Celebrate reunifications at annual family picnics • Works within Spokane County Superior Court teaching a class to parents called HOPE • Meets monthly with stakeholders from DCFS, CASA/GAL, Office of Public Defense, Martin Luther King Family Center, and many more!

http://www.spokesman.com/ stories/2013/jul/14/helping-handsadvocacy-network-works-to-reunite/

CATALYST FOR KIDS Heather shows her Spokane County employee ID badge.

There are now 4 Parent for Parents programs, in King, Snohomish, Spokane and Thurston counties.

Parent Engagement

WSPAN Parents & Professionals with Governor Inslee

Child Welfare Advocacy

Founded in 2007, parents from WSPAN currently: • Advocate for legislative and policy changes in child welfare, housing, early learning, criminal justice, and much more.

• Since 2012 we passed 6 of 6 priority legislative agendas!

• Work with stakeholders, advisors, legislators, Children’s Administration staff as well as other government agencies to draft legislation that breaks down barriers to reunification and improve access to services for low income families.

• Work in conjunction with Catalyst for Kids to offer training to parents • Serve in various statewide workshops, speaker panels, and committees such as: • Children’s Justice Conferences • Reasonable Efforts Symposiums • Child and Family Services Review Team

QUESTIONS? Are there any questions or about community outreach services and programs?

Next, we will look at parent engagement and what this means and how parents and professionals can work together!

PARENT ENGAGEMENT What does it mean?

To get parents currently involved with the child welfare system engaged with services, build meaningful connections with their community, but most importantly attachment with their children.

Many service providers, attorneys and social workers struggle to make connections with parents. One major problem is that these parents are most often in a “fight or fight” or frame of mind. They are afraid, angry, and don’t know who to trust.

PARENT ENGAGEMENT The voices of both mothers and fathers need to be heard There is a lot of research that clearly shows: children do well when they have an involved parent—someone who loves them, knows them, guides them, and helps them achieve their dreams.

So, how can involved parents be helped?

By connecting these parents with parent peers who have recovered successfully. By hearing stories of success, these parents may find hope that they can recover too.

PARENT ENGAGEMENT Parent Peers/Mentoring Parent peer or mentors can provide hope and understanding from someone who has been there, a shoulder lean on, an ear willing to listen, and guidance on how to advocate for one’s own needs.

The goal is to build a network of trust and support for everyone involved with child welfare, birth parents, foster parents, professionals, and most importantly the children.

Parent peers or mentors should NEVER intervene on a parent’s behalf or give legal advice on a case – this is an attorney’s and/or social worker’s responsibility.

Part of parent mentoring or peer work is to work with others to identify barriers to reunification, in order to improve and/or change policies and practices. And there have been positive changes that we’ll discuss during the parent advocacy section!

FATHER ENGAGEMENT It is especially important to contact fathers immediately in the dependency process!

Research from 2006 “What About the Dads?� report http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/06/cw-involve-dads/report.pdf

by Malm, Murray, & Geen shows: When fathers were identified and located within the first 30 days, then 80% were contacted by a social worker.

This video explains why father engagement is so vital and how social workers and attorneys can connect with fathers.

VS

When father were identified after 30 days, then only 13% were contacted by a social worker.

This is a HUGE decrease!

Including Fathers Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NKER2BrQVI

FATHER ENGAGEMENT The “What About the Dads?” report also explains:

just contacting fathers is NOT enough because it is unlikely to affect outcomes for children, The report recommends contact should also support fathers’ engagement or re-engagement in their children's lives!

“When we ignore fathers, we ignore that relationship, we ignore paternal grandparents, paternal aunts, cousins, next of kin - we just cut the child (and its resources) in half, and that is not okay to do.”

Daryllyn Harris, MSW Washington State Social Worker

LET’S TALK ABOUT: How can parents and professionals work together support parent engagement in Island County? i.e. support for DCFS/CPS office and Island County Juvenile & Family Court Services? e.g. Dependency 101

Next we will look at child welfare advocacy and how to parent voices are vital to this process.

CHILD WELFARE ADVOCACY We need to ensure that the voices and perspectives of mothers and fathers are heard in child welfare discussions. So that they might stimulate new conversations, around reforming child welfare policy, financing, and practices. This can lead to better programs that inspire and equip both mothers and fathers to be involved in nurturing children.

What does this mean?

It means that parents need to have a voice in forming child welfare programs, practices and policies.

And thanks to WSPAN they do!

CHILD WELFARE ADVOCACY This means we all need understanding that: • It is ultimately about the safety and well-being of children.

• Parents are necessary partners in the process of improving the child welfare system, and facilitating change.

• “Veteran Parents”* can provide hope and inspiration to parents in the system and to professionals working in the system. *the definition is covered on the next slide

• Collaboration is needed among ALL stakeholders – veteran parents, child welfare agency personnel, attorneys, courts, service providers, foster parents, etc. This is the heart of successful advocacy work.

• The one focus of this work is to overcoming challenges and building individual and community connections.

• Civility is vital; respect and value anyone who wants to contribute, find ways to include their strengths.

VETERAN PARENTS The Merriam Webster Online Dictionary defines “Veteran” as: a) someone who fought in a war as a soldier, sailor, etc. OR b) someone who has a lot of experience in a particular activity, job, etc.

WSPAN started using the name “Veteran Parents” to describe birth parents who through long experience worked hard to change their lives and reunite with their children.

It is now used to reference to parents with a lot of experience – not just with CPS – but also with training in Advocacy, Coalition Building, Civility, Cultural Competence, Peer Counseling, Public Speaking, Strategic Sharing, and so much more.

The term “veteran parent” is used to honor the years of voluntary, yet valuable service, as a well as experience. Veteran parents remain committed to supporting both families and professionals within the child welfare system. As such it has become a widely accepted term, and a part of Washington State law..

PARENT ADVOCACY Who are Veteran Parents?

• Those whose families were touched by the child welfare system, by a referral to Child Protective Services.

• If children were removed from the home, then the children achieved permanency through: either reunification with a birth parent OR placement in another safe permanent home.

• Those who have resolved the issues that led to a child dependency and/or referral to CPS, i.e. the case is closed.

• Those who take personal responsibility for their role in their family’s referral to CPS. • Those who can demonstrate they and their families are on the road to healing and recovery.

• Those who want to work in a collaborative spirit with others to improve outcomes for ALL children and families entering and/or within the child welfare system.

SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY Since 2012 WSPAN helped pass these bills: SB 6555, created an Alternative Response System now known as Family Assessment Response (FAR) within our state’s child welfare system.

HB 2264, instituted performance based contracting within our state’s child welfare system.

SB 6315, created the Fair Tenant Screening Act and took the first step in breaking down a major barrier to entering housing.

SB5568, Fair Tenant Screen Act Part 2 provides privacy protection for those who have been victims of abuse and provides protection for those that have prevailed in Eviction Court.

HB1284, Children of Incarcerated Parents Bill gave the courts authority and guidance to delay filing a petition to terminate parental rights when a parent’s incarceration or prior incarceration is a significant factor in why the child has been in foster care for 15 of the last 22 months, provided that the parent maintains a meaningful role in the child’s life.

SB5565, Background Check bill established a committee to look at a more equitable and fair process for those that have transformed their lives and are now seeking to be employed by an organization that serves children and families and/or looking to be a placement option for relative children in state foster care.

2014 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA What WSPAN is working on: Priority Agenda: Background Checks SB 6168 and HB2535 - allow individuals to initiate an internal administrative review when they are denied licensure, employment or unsupervised access to children through a licensed or contracted agency as a result of a background check.

SB 6095 - WSPAN is advocating for passage of this bill that will ensure that the licensing of relatives and other suitable persons occurs using the Adoption & Safe Families Act (AFSA) list of disqualifiers.

Family Assessment Response (FAR) WSPAN is advocating for increased funding for additional staff and support services to ensure successful FAR implementation.

Support Agenda: Housing HB 2537 (Passed 2/13/14) and SB 6291 - Fair Tenant Screening Act - Part 3 - WSPAN is partnering with the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance (WLIHA) to advocate for this bill which addresses the high cost of repeated screening fees by landlords by creating a portable screen that can be used multiple times.

Housing Trust Fund - WSPAN is partnering with WLIHA to advocate for financial support for the Housing Trust Fund to address the state's continuing need for affordable housing.

Early Learning HB 2519 (Passed 2/13/14) and SB 6538 - WSPAN is partnering with Children's Home Society of Washington to support continued early learning child care subsidies for child welfare involved families after a case is closed.

WRAP-UP & DISCUSSION Where do we go from here?

What should we name our group?

Who is here, who needs to be here?

Can you help recruit more parents?

Next meeting time and place?

THANK YOU If you’re interested in joining the ICParents Network please leave your contact info on the sign-in sheet:

Jeremiah Donier ICParents Network Coordinator, DBHR Certified Peer Counselor

ICParents@outlook.com 360-240-2913 Nina and Alise, King County PAC