Bridging the

Gap

Bridging the

GapKamonya Omatete, MA

Fairfax County Department of Family Services

Adrienne Tucker, MAUMFS

Katherine HawthorneParent

Michael DavisParent

Kamonya Omatete, MAFairfax County Department of Family Services

Adrienne Tucker, MAUMFS

Katherine HawthorneParent

Michael DavisParent

AgendaAgenda

BTG- Northern Virginia InitiativeWhat does it mean to “bridge the gap”?IcebreakersRoles and ResponsibilitiesPrivate/Public CollaborationEvaluation ComponentPanelQuestions

BTG- Northern Virginia InitiativeWhat does it mean to “bridge the gap”?IcebreakersRoles and ResponsibilitiesPrivate/Public CollaborationEvaluation ComponentPanelQuestions

Public/Private Collaboration In Northern Virginia

Adolescent & Family Growth Center, Inc. First Home Care, Inc.Arlington County Dept. of Human Services For Children’s SakeBraley & Thompson Northern Virginia Family ServicesChildren’s Services of Virginia Phillips ProgramsCity of Alexandria Dept. of Human Services Prince William County Dept. of Social ServicesFairfax County Dept. of Family Services Residential Care, Inc.Family Advocacy Services of Virginia UMFS

BTG in Northern VirginiaBTG in Northern Virginia

collaboration of 4 public/10 private child placing agencies

self-driven, bottoms-up effort

6 days of consultation/support through NRCFCPPP

collaboration of 4 public/10 private child placing agencies

self-driven, bottoms-up effort

6 days of consultation/support through NRCFCPPP

Why use a public/private and cross- jurisdictional approach?

Why use a public/private and cross- jurisdictional approach?

Public and private agencies serve the same clients

Private agency foster parents care for childrenfrom multiple public agencies

Unified vision of best child welfare practice

Public and private agencies serve the same clients

Private agency foster parents care for childrenfrom multiple public agencies

Unified vision of best child welfare practice

Essential Components of the Process

Essential Components of the Process

generation of interest of multiple agenciesbuy-in of all agencies’administrationsteering committee for initiative, including FPinternal steering committees in each agencyadministrative supportsub-committees for specific tasks.

generation of interest of multiple agenciesbuy-in of all agencies’administrationsteering committee for initiative, including FPinternal steering committees in each agencyadministrative supportsub-committees for specific tasks.

What is Bridging the Gap?What is Bridging the Gap?

Bridging the Gap is the process of building and maintaining relationships and communication between birth and foster families involved in a youth’s life, or between the foster and adoptive families, with the goal of supporting family reunification or another permanency plan.

Bridging the Gap is the process of building and maintaining relationships and communication between birth and foster families involved in a youth’s life, or between the foster and adoptive families, with the goal of supporting family reunification or another permanency plan.

Common Benefits of BTGCommon Benefits of BTG

Child’s PerspectiveOpportunity to preserve sense of identity and history.Bonding and attachment to family of origin are preserved.Enhances self-esteem.Reduced feelings of divided loyalties to two families. Child’s two worlds are connected.

Child’s PerspectiveOpportunity to preserve sense of identity and history.Bonding and attachment to family of origin are preserved.Enhances self-esteem.Reduced feelings of divided loyalties to two families. Child’s two worlds are connected.

Common Benefits of BTGCommon Benefits of BTG

Birth Parent’s PerspectiveBonding and attachment to child are preserved.Feeling of being respected. Parent can share their expertise about the child.Anxiety reduced from knowing with whom the child is living.Better communication and information sharing.

Birth Parent’s PerspectiveBonding and attachment to child are preserved.Feeling of being respected. Parent can share their expertise about the child.Anxiety reduced from knowing with whom the child is living.Better communication and information sharing.

Common Benefits of BTGCommon Benefits of BTG

Foster Parent’s PerspectiveFoster parents have more accurate information to help them in caring for child.Reduced discord between the families.Easier transition home or to another permanent placement. (opportunity to maintain contact with child).Can lessen the incidence of allegations against the foster parents.

Foster Parent’s PerspectiveFoster parents have more accurate information to help them in caring for child.Reduced discord between the families.Easier transition home or to another permanent placement. (opportunity to maintain contact with child).Can lessen the incidence of allegations against the foster parents.

Common Benefits of BTGCommon Benefits of BTG

Social Worker’s PerspectiveGood communication and collaboration reduces tension.Visitation runs more smoothly.Better communication that makes job easier.Foster parent can serve as a mentor/role model for birth parent.Morale booster when parties are working together.

Social Worker’s PerspectiveGood communication and collaboration reduces tension.Visitation runs more smoothly.Better communication that makes job easier.Foster parent can serve as a mentor/role model for birth parent.Morale booster when parties are working together.

Common Challenges of BTGCommon Challenges of BTG

Foster parents may feel reluctant; it’s a role change.Social workers may feel the same; perception of more work.Foster parents may have fears that must be addressed.

Foster parents may feel reluctant; it’s a role change.Social workers may feel the same; perception of more work.Foster parents may have fears that must be addressed.

The Birth Parent-Foster Parent Relationship

Begins with small steps. Safety is paramount!

ICEBREAKER MEETINGS

ICEBREAKER MEETINGS

The First Meeting Between Birth Parents and

Foster Parents

The First Meeting Between Birth Parents and

Foster Parents

Icebreaker ProtocolsIcebreaker ProtocolsFacilitated, child focused meeting which provides an opportunity for birth parents and foster parents to meet each other and share information about the needs of the child.

Scheduled by child’s social worker.

Takes place within 7 days of placement.

Lasts about 30 minutes.

Children may attend as appropriate.

Facilitated, child focused meeting which provides an opportunity for birth parents and foster parents to meet each other and share information about the needs of the child.

Scheduled by child’s social worker.

Takes place within 7 days of placement.

Lasts about 30 minutes.

Children may attend as appropriate.

WHY IS A PROTOCOL IMPORTANT?WHY IS A PROTOCOL IMPORTANT?

Consistency and training for staff.Social workers are given tools to support their role in conducting icebreakers.Helps social workers think through challenging situations.Allows for measuring outcomes.

Consistency and training for staff.Social workers are given tools to support their role in conducting icebreakers.Helps social workers think through challenging situations.Allows for measuring outcomes.

BTG Roles and ResponsibilitiesBTG Roles and Responsibilities

Important for sustaining the communication and relationship for all parties involved through the case process.

Important for sustaining the communication and relationship for all parties involved through the case process.

THE BTG STEERING COMMITTEE and

SUBCOMMITTES GOT THE JOB DONE!

THE BTG STEERING COMMITTEE and

SUBCOMMITTES GOT THE JOB DONE!

Self-education process for buy-in and sense of ownershipCommon vision and commitment to consistency in practiceAcceptance of a definition and rationale for BTGIdentification of products to developClarification of roles and responsibilities of playersCross-agency training for staff and foster parentsEnhanced partnerships between all agencies

Self-education process for buy-in and sense of ownershipCommon vision and commitment to consistency in practiceAcceptance of a definition and rationale for BTGIdentification of products to developClarification of roles and responsibilities of playersCross-agency training for staff and foster parentsEnhanced partnerships between all agencies

Rolling Out BTG in Northern Virginia

Rolling Out BTG in Northern Virginia

Use a “Train the Trainers” modelModeled collaboration with agency partnershipsPublic & Private agencies served as co-trainersPublic & Private agencies both hosted trainingsAgency Administrators & Supervisors trained 1stStaff and Foster Parents cross-trained when possible

Use a “Train the Trainers” modelModeled collaboration with agency partnershipsPublic & Private agencies served as co-trainersPublic & Private agencies both hosted trainingsAgency Administrators & Supervisors trained 1stStaff and Foster Parents cross-trained when possible

Critical Component: EVALUATIONCritical Component: EVALUATION

Conducted across all 14 agencies as of 9/1/08Surveying of foster parents, birth parents & social workers immediately after icebreaker and then 6 months laterTo extend for two years, only.

Conducted across all 14 agencies as of 9/1/08Surveying of foster parents, birth parents & social workers immediately after icebreaker and then 6 months laterTo extend for two years, only.

FOCUS OF THE EVALUATIONFOCUS OF THE EVALUATION

Are doing what we said we would do?

Icebreaker meetings being held?

What barriers to scheduling?

Types of ongoing contact & communication after icebreaker meeting

Are doing what we said we would do?

Icebreaker meetings being held?

What barriers to scheduling?

Types of ongoing contact & communication after icebreaker meeting

The Experts Speak!The Experts Speak!

QUESTIONS?

Thank YouThank You