BULLETIN FOR

PROFESSIONALS
September 2016

Family Engagement: WHAT’S INSIDE

Partnering With Families The benefits of family
to Improve Child Welfare engagement

Outcomes Strategies for engaging

Engaging families in the casework process families at the practice
level
promotes the safety, permanency, and well-
being of children and families in the child Engaging parents as
welfare system and is central to successful peer mentors at the
practice. Effective family engagement program level
occurs when child welfare practitioners
actively collaborate and partner with family Promoting family
engagement at the
members throughout their involvement with
systems level
the child welfare system, recognizing them
as the experts on their respective situations Conclusion
and empowering them in the process.
Additional resources

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS
800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov
Family Engagement: Partnering With Families to Improve Child Welfare Outcomes https://www.childwelfare.gov

Family engagement is a family-centered and strengths-

based approach to making decisions, setting goals, and
achieving desired outcomes for children and families. At
Family Empowerment
its best, family engagement encourages and empowers Recognizing the many benefits that come with
families to be their own champions, working toward case family engagement, the Children’s Bureau
goals that they have helped to develop based on their Capacity Building Center for States, part of
specific family strengths, resources, and needs. This the broader Child Welfare Capacity Building
partnership between caseworkers and families is founded Collaborative, is endorsing a framework of family
on the principle of communicating openly and honestly in empowerment at all levels of child welfare. The
a way that supports disclosure of culture, family dynamics, Center is working with States to assess their
and personal experiences to meet the individual needs of family empowerment models and their capacity
every family and child. Additionally, family engagement to represent family interests at the practice,
is recognized as essential to success across the human program, and policy levels.
services and education fields and is now considered a For more information, visit the Capacity Building
core competency in educational programs accredited by Collaborative Center for States website at https://
the Council on Social Work Education (California State capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/focus-areas/
University, Institute for Community Collaborative Studies, family-empowerment/.
2014).

This bulletin for professionals provides an overview of

the foundational elements of the family engagement
Rather than a single tool, family engagement represents
approach, followed by strategies—including State
a mindset and approach that can reap extensive benefits,
and local examples—and promising practices for
including:
implementing this approach at the case level, peer level,
and systems level. Family preservation. Involving family members early in
the casework process may eliminate the need for a child
The Benefits of Family Engagement to be placed outside of the home.
A family engagement approach to casework views families
as the experts on their unique challenges and seeks to An enhanced helping relationship. A family’s belief that
support them in developing solutions. This strengths- all its members are respected—and that its strengths,
based approach empowers and encourages families to challenges, concerns, and cultural differences are
partner with child welfare professionals to plan the best recognized and accepted—strengthens the relationship
services and resources for the family to ensure child safety with the caseworker. This creates a confidence in the
and, in turn, improve outcomes for children and families. process that increases the chances for a successful
Including families in decision-making and planning intervention.
processes enhances the fit between family needs and Increased family buy-in. Families are more likely to
services and makes it more likely the family will participate commit to achieving case goals when they help to make
in services and complete the case plan (Bossard, Braxton, decisions about a plan that will affect them and their
& Conway, 2014). children.

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Expanded options. The inclusion of kin and extended planning, reviews, and closure. Training caseworkers in
family members early in case planning increases the “reactance theory”—reframing client resistance as a
number of individuals willing to help with child care, normal and expected response to a lost or threatened
transportation, etc., and expands placement and personal freedom—may be helpful (Mirick, 2014).
permanency options for children when in-home care is
Other factors that may impede engagement include
not feasible. The caseworker should defer to the family to
issues related to poverty, single parenting, substance
identify potential helpful connections, recognizing that
use and mental health, individual caseworker bias, lack
some people who play an important role may be “fictive
of cultural competence, and agency culture (UC Davis
kin”—those who may not be related, but who have an
Human Services Northern California Training Academy,
emotionally significant relationship with the family or
2009). Some of these family stressors—particularly
child.
substance use, mental health, and cultural barriers—often
Improved quality and focus of caseworker visits. benefit from intentional collaboration across service
The partnership developed between the family and sectors, such as behavioral health and the education
caseworker enhances the assessment process and the system.
level of engagement, resulting in more constructive
To encourage family engagement across disciplines,
meetings and more positive outcomes (Gladstone et al.,
the Children’s Bureau launched the Family Engagement
2012).
Inventory (FEI) in December 2014 as a means of infusing
Enhanced family decision-making skills. Involvement family voice and strengthening families in the many
in a strengths-based decision-making process— systems that serve children: child welfare, juvenile
where appropriate approaches to problem-solving are justice, behavioral health, early childhood education,
modeled—gives family members new strategies for and education. The FEI is designed to provide updated
communicating and problem-solving. information to those who work directly with children
and families and those who manage programs and
More targeted services. In a collaborative partnership,
make policy. Professionals can use the FEI to compare
caseworkers and family members are better able to
approaches across the five fields, access key information
identify a family’s unique needs and develop relevant
and links to relevant websites, and find practical
and culturally appropriate service plans that address
examples, among other things (http://www.childwelfare.
underlying needs, build on family strengths, and draw
gov/fei/).
from community supports (Pinsoneault & Fiermonte,
2013). An example of school-parent family engagement work is
the Dual Capacity Building Framework for Family-School
Challenges to Family Engagement Partnerships, a Department of Education initiative to
Child welfare practitioners face numerous challenges to boost the capacity of school staff and families to work
engaging birth parents and extended family members on together on behalf of student achievement (http://www2.
a regular basis, not the least of which is an unreceptive ed.gov/documents/family-community/partnership-
or nonresponsive family. Family members may be frameworks.pdf).
uneasy and mistrusting of the child welfare system for
fear of losing their children permanently and choose
not to engage with child welfare professionals. While
caseworkers may often feel as though they are going
down a one-way street with an unreceptive family, they
should continue to pursue engagement as a best practice
throughout the casework life cycle: intake, screening,

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Additional family engagement strategies to address these Strategies for Engaging Families at the
needs in the education and mental health sectors include:
Practice Level
ƒ Intentional efforts by schools to create welcoming Comprehensive family engagement improves outcomes
and culturally competent parent and caregiver and is a best practice throughout the life of a child welfare
communities with opportunities for family involvement case. There are numerous steps caseworkers can take to
(see National Center for Family and Community partner with families.
Connections with Schools at http://www.sedl.org/
connections/ and U.S. Department of Education Family The Basics of Practice-Level Engagement
and Community Engagement at http://www.ed.gov/ Quality family engagement starts at the practice level.
family-and-community-engagement/) Effective, collaborative case planning relies on the
ƒ Family network organizations familiar with local caseworker’s transparent efforts to continuously engage
community needs, cultural diversity, and economics family members and others as appropriate, including:
(e.g., Strengthening Families Program at www. ƒ Gathering and assessing information in order to
strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org) visualize the family system
ƒ Parent and family education programs to improve ƒ Identifying behaviors and conditions that need to
family functioning, prevent behavioral issues, and change
promote mental health (e.g., National Federation of
ƒ Matching strengths and needs with solutions and
Families for Children’s Mental Health at www.ffcmh.
services
org, Bridge to Hope at http://bridge2hope.org/, and
Mental Health America at www.mentalhealthamerica. ƒ Reviewing, tracking, and acknowledging progress
net) regularly

ƒ Out-of-school-time (OST) programs to support ƒ Determining readiness for key case transition points,
children and youth before and after school and during such as reunification
summer vacations to boost educational outcomes in ƒ Marshaling supports for relapse prevention as needed
disadvantaged communities (see Engaging Families ƒ Preparing for case closure
in Out of School Time Programs Toolkit: Tools to
In addition, when a child enters out-of-home care, a
Strengthen After School and Youth Programs by
vital step in establishing communication and building a
Increasing Family Involvement at http://www.bostnet.
relationship with the family is the “icebreaker meeting”
org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Handout-B-
between birth and foster families that ideally should
Engaging-Families-Toolkit.pdf)
take place within the first week of removal. These
meetings allow for valuable information sharing about
a child’s needs, strengths, and preferences, helping to
minimize the trauma a child may experience as a result
of placement. For more information, see Resources
for Planning Icebreaker Meetings Between Birth and
Foster Parents, a 2012 guide issued by the Annie E.
Casey Foundation, at http://www.aecf.org/resources/
icebreaker-meetings/.

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Following are multiple approaches caseworkers can use ƒ Clarifying expectations, roles, responsibilities, and
to promote family engagement in daily practice: goals

Using Supportive Behaviors ƒ Communicating regularly with family members to

ƒ Providing cultural competency for special populations, minimize the possibility of unanticipated issues being
e.g., Latino families (Rivera-Rodriguez, 2014) raised during a meeting

ƒ Balancing discussions of problems with the ƒ Considering family members’ other obligations, such
identification of strengths and resources as employment, when scheduling meetings

ƒ Listening to and addressing issues that concern the ƒ Assisting family members with practical issues that
family may prevent them from attending meetings, such as
child care and transportation
ƒ Helping families meet concrete needs, e.g., housing,
food, utilities, child care ƒ Providing a welcoming physical environment for
the meeting (e.g., enough space for all members or
ƒ Setting goals that are mutually agreed upon and may
accessibility for individuals with disabilities)
be generated primarily by the family and stated in their
language ƒ Incorporating the child in the meeting through an
alternative means if s/he is unable to participate or be
ƒ Focusing on improving family members’ skills rather
present (e.g., use of photographs or artwork) (Healy,
than providing insights
Darlington & Yellowless, 2011; Dawson & Berry, 2001)
ƒ Providing family members with choices whenever
possible Instituting Family Teaming Models
The hallmark of family engagement practice is involving
ƒ Obtaining commitment from the family that they will
a broad team of interested family members in a child’s
engage in mutually identified tasks
or a family’s case plan. When it comes to putting
ƒ Sharing openly with family members about what to together a family team, child welfare practitioners
expect with regard to timelines, and, when applicable, have several options, including family group decision-
court issues making, family team conferencing, permanency
ƒ Conducting frequent and substantive caseworker visits teaming, and team decision-making meetings. For
with the parents, caregivers, and children a detailed description of how these four particular
ƒ Using effective and agency approved Internet, social approaches to family teaming models compare and
media, and smart phone technologies to engage contrast, visit http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/
families (Edwards-Gaura, Whitaker & Self-Brown, 2014; FourApproachestoFamilyTeamMeetings.pdf.
Florida’s Center for Child Welfare, 2013; Cahalane &
Family teaming is based on the belief that family members
Fusco, 2011)
should be key players on a strengths-based, solution-
ƒ Recognizing and praising progress focused team that values the family’s voice and focuses
There are additional practices that will help make case on the child’s safety, permanency, and well-being (Annie
planning meetings more fluid and productive and E. Casey Foundation, 2013). These approaches bring
encourage the development of a partnership between together a team of family members, extended relations,
child welfare staff and families, such as: and others who are significant to the family to discuss the
issues, consider alternative solutions, make decisions,
ƒ Inviting participation from those identified by the
and develop a plan. Such approaches can strengthen
family as being part of its support system, including family relationships, prevent unnecessary placement and
extended family members or individuals external to
placement disruption, and help caseworkers identify and
the family, such as friends, teachers, and clergy
nurture a system of family supports. Caseworkers often
engage fathers and paternal family members separately,

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but making them part of the family team early on might The December 2015 No Place Like Home Final Progress
be more effective in terms of expanding the number of Report is available at https://library.childwelfare.gov/cwig/
engaged family members and improving outcomes. ws/library/docs/gateway/Blob/103415.
pdf?w=+NATIVE%28%27recno%3D103415%27%29&up-
Family-group decision-making (FGDM) allows the family
p=0&rpp=10&r=1&m=1.
to assume a primary role when children come to the
attention of the child welfare system and considers The family team meeting strategy has been effectively
“the family” as a broad social construct that includes employed with recipients of Federal supportive housing
not only the birth family, but next-of-kin and extended grants at demonstration sites in Cedar Rapids, IA; San
relations, friendships, and communities—all of whom can Francisco, CA; and in the State of Connecticut. These
contribute to the long-term well-being of children. FGDM sites are part of the Partnerships to Demonstrate
brings family members who might otherwise be at odds the Effectiveness of Supportive Housing for Families
with the system to the table. The collaborative decision- in the Child Welfare System project (funded by the
making process that ensues is designed to enhance the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
trust of both family members and child welfare agency Administration on Children, Youth and Families), a
staff, increasing the chances for more long-term positive demonstration project to test whether supportive housing
outcomes (McMurphy, Barnes, & Merkel-Holguin, 2012). can end homelessness and foster care placement among
families with complex challenges, such as substance use
A 3-year project funded by a Children’s Bureau Family
and mental health issues. The family teaming strategy is
Connection grant—No Place Like Home—looked at the
part of the strengths-based, trauma-informed approach to
effectiveness of FGDM in helping to prevent children
addressing family service needs at these demonstration
receiving in-home services from entering or reentering
sites (Child Welfare and Supportive Housing Resource
foster care. The project centered on three child welfare
Center, 2015).
agencies with well-established FGDM programs: Larimer
County Department of Human Services, Colorado; South The project report makes the following observations:
Dakota Department of Social Services, Rapid City; and
ƒ Families must be present, prepared, and supported
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services,
ƒ Successful meetings depend on adherence to
Dallas and Tarrant Counties; with the support of the
protocols and attention to training and coaching
Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child
Abuse and Neglect and Casey Family Programs. ƒ Efforts to identify and engage supports must be
continuous and aimed at expanding the team
The results showcase the importance of fidelity to the
ƒ Regular meetings are important for team
evaluation model and how caseworker attitudes and
accountability, but interim follow-up is essential
family buy-in can influence outcomes (e.g., was there a
professional orientation toward child safety versus family More information about this Federal initiative is available
preservation?). Ultimately, the report notes that the very at http://www.csh.org/csh-solutions/serving-vulnerable-
complex methodology had several important limitations populations/families/child-welfare-and-supportive-
and may require a longer-term look. housing-resource-center/partnerships-to-demonstrate-
the-effectiveness-of-supportive-housing-for-families-with-
child-welfare-involvement/.

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Incorporating Family Finding The Family Connection Discretionary Grants project in

Family finding includes casting a wide net to identify and Hawaii demonstrated that when family finding exercises
search for family members and other important people were launched early in casework, children were less likely
in the lives of children in foster care, making them aware to be removed from the home, and that if they were
that children have entered care, and then engaging removed, they were in care for a shorter period of time. It
family members in the case decision-making process, also showed that within 12 months of such an intervention,
including the development and fulfillment of case plans. more children were reunified and fewer children remained
Although family finding was initially viewed as a tool to in out-of-home nonrelative foster care than those who
enhance permanency for youth aging out of foster care, did not receive such services. Further, more family
the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing connections were identified (Hawaii Department of
Adoptions Act of 2008 requires State agencies to identify Human Services, 2012).
and locate family members within 30 days of removing a The Hawaii grant was administered by EPIC 'Ohana, Inc., a
child from his or her home. The goal of family finding is to family-focused nonprofit agency that "strives to create an
provide numerous safeguards for child and family well- atmosphere of respect by providing participants a place
being by identifying a lifetime family support network and to be heard and an opportunity to feel like a part of the
maintaining existing family relationships. This can help to solution." 'Ohana-directed family conferences allowed
empower the family in emotional and legal permanency for family-directed meetings and included a discussion
decisions and provide children with multiple adult of goals, family values, and strengths; an airing of shared
resource connections once they leave foster care concerns and legal issues; identification of available
(Wentz & Beck, 2012). family, community, and professional supports; and private
Family finding can be challenging, particularly when family time (EPIC 'Ohana, Inc. & Hawaii Department of
caseworkers have limited resources or when family Human Services, 2014).
members are resistant to agency or court involvement The 3-year grant concluded in 2012, but resulted in a
or are at odds with certain family members. Engaging safety net in Hawaii that ensures all children new to care
family members may also require financial assistance are automatically identified and receive family finding
and additional childcare, therapeutic, or administrative and 'Ohana conferencing services. For more information
supports to care for children (Jordan & Williams, 2014). on EPIC 'Ohana, Inc., visit its website at http://www.
Family finding is linked to a greater number of family epicohana.info/.
supports for children in out-of-home care and a higher
likelihood that a child will have at least one consistent Encouraging Father Involvement
relationship with an emotionally supportive adult. It has The role of fathers is a key piece of the broader family
also been shown to yield more adoptive placements with finding effort, and efforts to locate and engage
a relative than traditional child welfare services, resulting nonresident fathers are often the first step in the process.
in greater permanency options (Landsman, Boel-Studt, & Potentially important relationships and permanency
Malone, 2014). options are overlooked when fathers and paternal
relatives are underrepresented. The findings from Round
2 of the Federal Child and Family Services Reviews
“You gave me back my family that I (CFSRs) shows that of the reviewed cases, fathers were
lost and haven’t been a part of for a engaged in less than half—only 47 percent—compared
while. Thank you.” to reported mother engagement, which was at 71 percent
——Family—member—participant,—Hawaii—DHS—grant— (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS],
project 2011). The Children’s Bureau conducts the CFSRs, which
are periodic reviews of State child welfare systems.

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A recent study of child welfare workers funded by the Employing the Solution-Based Casework
Annie E. Casey Foundation points to major barriers Approach
to father engagement and also offers suggestions for
Solution-Based Casework (SBC) embraces family
how child welfare professionals can encourage their
engagement with three theoretical foundations: family
involvement (Coakley, Kelley, & Bartlett, 2014):
life cycle theory, relapse prevention/cognitive behavioral
Barriers to Engagement therapy theory, and solution-focused family therapy (Antle
et al., 2008). SBC assumes full partnership with every
ƒ Ongoing relationship difficulties with the mother
family as its goal and considers a family’s unique lifestyle
ƒ Substance use problems patterns to inform and promote the skills needed to
ƒ Lack of a valid address or working phone number for prevent negative behaviors.
contact purposes
In SBC, family empowerment drives case planning and is
ƒ Distrust of agency and/or caseworker focused on:
Steps to Engagement ƒ Capitalizing on family strengths
ƒ Use diligent efforts to identify, find, communicate with, ƒ Setting goals that use a family’s specific language and
and engage fathers culture to support family “ownership”
ƒ Offer fathers the same services and supports that ƒ Creating concrete goals specifically matched to the
mothers receive, and treat them equally family’s needs
ƒ Address father-specific needs (community services, ƒ Tracking progress with the family and celebrating
father support groups, counseling, housing and successes along the way
employment services, etc.)
SBC has proven to be an effective partnership that results
ƒ Ensure a constructive caseworker-father relationship in improved outcomes, including:
For additional information, see: ƒ Greater follow through from referrals to services
National Fatherhood Initiative website at http://www. ƒ Increase in number of families signing their case
fatherhood.org. plans—an important indicator of involvement
ƒ Higher likelihood that tasks and goals will be achieved
A Guide for Father Involvement in Systems of Care,
featuring strategies for systems and families, especially ƒ Fewer recidivism referral reports for repeat
those who are involved in systems of care, to help maltreatment
fathers become more involved. Available at http://www. For more information, visit
tapartnership.org/docs/Father%20Involvement%20 http://www.solutionbasedcasework.com.
Guide_June%202013.pdf.
Using the Motivational Interview
Best Practice Guide for Engaging Fathers and Non-
The practice of motivational interviewing may be
Residential Parents, issued by the North Carolina
particularly useful in getting parents to recognize the
Department of Social Services and available at http://web.
potential benefits of participating in a home-based
archive.org/web/20150129185453/http://www.ncdhhs.gov/
family support program. When skillfully employed, this
dss/best_practices_pilot/misc/Practice%20Guide%20
technique helps an individual see the possibilities for—
for%20Fatherhood%20Engagement.pdf.
and merit in—positive change and then encourages
and supports them in this effort. The practice requires a
caseworker to listen empathetically and build trust with
the family before pushing for change. If the caseworker

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neglects to do this, a parent may resist change and put ƒ “Self-Assessment Checklist for Personnel Providing
children at further risk. Child welfare workers trained in Services and Supports to LGBTQ Youth and Their
motivational interviewing are more apt to develop an Families” at http://nccc.georgetown.edu/documents/
empathetic and less confrontational style, which has Final%20LGBTQ%20Checklist.pdf
been shown to result in greater parental cooperation
and follow-through (Iannos & Antcliff, 2013) and benefit Engaging Parents as Peer Mentors at
casework practice overall. the Program Level
Peer mentoring programs enlist individuals who were
For additional information, see http://cascw.umn.edu/
once involved with child welfare services to help parents
portfolio-items/motivational-interviewing-module/.
currently involved with the system meet case plan goals
Developing Cultural Competence and navigate the system. Parent and caregiver mentors
Caseworkers should be trained in cultural competence assist current parents through mutual sharing, support,
so they are more culturally sensitive and responsive, and advocacy and are becoming a common best practice
particularly in areas with culturally diverse populations in child welfare. Parent partner programs are founded
and when working with family members or youth who on the premise that these “experienced” parents and
have identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, caregivers are uniquely qualified to help by serving as
or questioning (LGBTQ). A deficit in understanding empathetic peers, mentors, guides, and advocates.
the cultural needs, values, and strengths of an at-risk Parent partner programs have proven to be beneficial
population may undermine the quality of a family’s case to the mentors as well as the mentees. Mentors take
plan and provided services (Rivera-Rodriguez, 2014). on helping and leadership roles, feel enhanced self-
A lack of cultural sensitivity may lead to assumptions worth and responsibility, build workplace skills, and
and misconceptions that can result in limited family are compensated for their efforts. While some parent
engagement, frustrated efforts, and misguided resources. partners might have records of substance use and
For example, the number of Latino children in the child criminal histories that limit employment options, serving
welfare system has grown substantially in the last 2 as a parent partner might open new possibilities as they
decades, and there is a proportional need for culturally establish connections in their communities and attain
competent providers. Because the Latino community is new job skills (Leake, Longworth-Reed, Williams, & Potter,
very entrenched in its own social networks, accessing 2012).
outside services can be challenging. Language barriers To be successful, parent partner programs need strong
and immigration status may keep at-risk families beneath leadership that can work collaboratively with multiple
the radar. Developing parent mentors within the Latino agency and community partners, such as the multilayered
community holds promise for helping this population to management model that exists in Iowa (Midwest
access services (Ayon, 2011). Child Welfare Implementation Center, 2014) and the
The National Family Preservation Network offers training involvement of local nonprofits and faith organizations.
in cultural competence (http://nfpn.org/products/253- Because some agencies are not accustomed to treating
cultural-competence.html). For additional resources on their former child welfare clients as paraprofessionals,
cultural competence, including guidelines on sensitivity supervisors may need to work to increase staff buy-in so
and responsiveness when working with LGBTQ youth, see: that working collaboratively with parent partners becomes
an established part of the process. The value of parent
ƒ The National Center for Cultural Competence website partners may also need to be better understood by
at http://nccc.georgetown.edu/ providers in adjacent service areas, such as the judicial,
ƒ A list of resources on cultural competence at http:// mental health, and substance use arenas, many of whom
www.tapartnership.org/COP/CLC/default.php/

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may never have worked with former child welfare system

clients in paraprofessional roles (Leake, Longworth-Reed, “....at the conclusion of the SOC grant, the data
Williams, & Potter, 2012). showed that having a parent partner increased
Parents Helping Parents [Contra Costa reunification by about 50 percent and reduced
County, CA] recidivism by about 50 percent. The parent
partner program has improved our outcomes
The Parents Helping Parents program in Contra Costa
in these two areas while helping parents to feel
County, established over 11 years ago as part of a Systems
heard, respected, and included in case planning.
of Care (SOC) grant, has a detailed professional
It is a model that worked 10 years ago, and is still
development plan for each individual employed as a
working today to achieve permanency for the
parent partner. Each parent partner has to become
children of Contra Costa County.”
competent in understanding county government, agency
protocol, confidentiality, required reporting, team —Judi Knittel, Family Engagement Unit
decision-making, options available to parents, and how supervisor, Contra Costa County
the court process works.

The program participates in foster parent orientations and

training, which has been helpful in dispelling any Both caseworkers and attorneys have found the parent
preconceived ideas about who or what “parents” look like partners to be very helpful in their work and particularly
or act like, according to Judi Knittel, program supervisor. effective in explaining the court process to parents in a
Contra Costa County has contracted with the local Child way that the attorneys cannot. Judges have also found
Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) so that parent partners the support afforded by parent partners to be useful and
are CAPC employees and eligible for benefits (vacation/ frequently encourage parents to sign up for the program
sick time, health insurance, a retirement plan, etc.) that (J. Knittel, personal communication, January 15, 2016).
they were not able to access as contract employees.
An independent evaluation of the Contra Costa program
The Parents Helping Parents program initially engaged showed that 62 percent of children whose parents were
the parent at the detention hearing, but is now employing mentored by a parent partner reunified with their parents
the model in a preventive capacity. Parent partners never within 18 months of their removal, compared to 37
officially close a case, so if parents encounter problems, percent for those who did not (HHS, 2010).
even after their cases are closed, they are encouraged to
call their parent partner for assistance.
Promoting Family Engagement at the
Systems Level
Systems-level family engagement occurs with the
intentional inclusion of family members who were formerly
involved with child welfare services as active participants
in systems change activities: encouraging them to
advocate for policy changes and serve on decision-
making boards, inviting them to evaluate child welfare
services and programs, employing them as practice
advisors and consultants, and recruiting them to conduct
trainings and participate in social marketing campaigns
(HHS, 2010).

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Family Engagement: Partnering With Families to Improve Child Welfare Outcomes https://www.childwelfare.gov

Parent partner programs have been particularly The parent program eligibility requirements include the
instrumental in affecting systems-level change. In Iowa, following:
for instance, birth parents who have been involved with ƒ Must have been reunited with children for at least 1
the child welfare system sit on State child welfare boards, year (training may begin after 6 months of reunification)
attend local meetings, and conduct trainings—and have
ƒ Must have had at least 1 year to resolve issues
a considerable impact on providers and child welfare
surrounding termination of parental rights
agencies (S. Persons, personal communication, January
20, 2016). ƒ Must have a stable and healthy family situation with no
current child welfare involvement
Partnering With Parents for Systems Change
ƒ Must have no founded child abuse report since
[Iowa]
assuming role of parent partner or parent partner in
The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) has a training
sweeping initiative underway to institutionalize parent
ƒ Must have some flexibility to attend meetings and
engagement strategies and inform policy, programs, and
facilitate groups
practices statewide. The project, Partnering with Parents
for Systems Change, includes a major expansion of the ƒ Must have been substance free for 1 year, if substance
State’s parent partner mentoring program. Because the use was a protective concern
initial phase of this program had demonstrated positive ƒ Must participate in all required training
outcomes for children and families in its pilot areas, DHS ƒ Must agree to share personal child welfare experiences
proposed to expand its implementation from six sites with other parents and child welfare staff
covering 16 counties to 21 sites covering 68 counties and
ƒ Must agree to demonstrate appropriate behavior
finally scaled up its plan to be offered in all 99 of Iowa’s
counties by 2015. The contract was awarded to Children & The following will disqualify a potential parent partner
Families of Iowa (CFI), an existing human services agency from entering the program:
(Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center, 2014). ƒ Founded sexual abuse
According to the Children & Families of Iowa Parent ƒ Listed on the sex abuse registry
Partner Annual Report for 2014–2015, the majority of ƒ Convicted in the death of a child
families involved with the program are benefiting from
the mentoring services, most notably in the areas of being Iowa parent partner duties:
able to “effectively speak up for myself and my family,” in ƒ Engage families in case planning
feeling comfortable when interacting with DHS and other ƒ Maintain connections between parents and children
service providers, and in being able to listen to DHS and during out-of-home care
other service providers “and understand their concerns
ƒ Share personal experiences to help parents in
with my situation.”
their efforts at reunification and provide hope and
The Iowa multilayered parent partner management model inspiration
includes a State coordinator, a service area coordinator for ƒ Assist with reunification goal and/or the development
each Iowa DHS service area, numerous local coordinators of appropriate alternative permanent plans
for each cluster site around the State, and multiple
ƒ Provide encouragement, outreach, and support
parent partner roles, including lead parent partner (CFI
Annual Report, 2015). The target service population for ƒ Collaborate with parent partner team
this program includes parents whose children have been
removed from their care and/or those who can only
reside with their children under special court-directed
circumstances.

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.
This publication is available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f-fam-engagement/. 11
Family Engagement: Partnering With Families to Improve Child Welfare Outcomes https://www.childwelfare.gov

Iowa parent partners are compensated for their time and For more information about refining agency procedures,
travel and are asked for a minimum 1-year commitment to see the Child Welfare Information Gateway April 2015
mentor at least two families. The program provides parent bulletin, Supervising for Quality Child Welfare Practice,
partners clinical support for issues that arise in the provision available at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/
of services. effective_supervision.pdf.

Visit the Iowa Parent Partner page at http://dhs.iowa.gov/ Conclusion

parent-partners.
There are many ways in which child welfare caseworkers
Agency supervisors can incorporate family voice into and agencies can engage families, ranging from large-
policies and procedures by supporting the following best scale policy changes to simple changes in daily practice.
practices: Fundamentally, though, it requires a paradigm shift in
attitude where the family is treated as the expert on its
ƒ Using family-centered language in policies and other
unique situation and encouraged to draw on its specific
agency documents
strengths and resources to ensure more positive long-
ƒ Creating a family-friendly environment in agency offices term outcomes. By reviewing the concepts presented
ƒ Providing supervision, coaching, and training that in this issue brief, child welfare professionals can assess
encourages family engagement how well their own agencies engage families and initiate
ƒ Including family-friendly practice in position descriptions changes to improve their work in this area.

ƒ Engaging families in decision-making processes and in Additional Resources

designing policies and practices
Child Welfare Information Gateway
ƒ Assessing whether child welfare information systems
support a family-centered approach Provides resources on family-centered practice
approaches, including information on engaging families in
ƒ Including family engagement measures in agency
case planning.
evaluation and performance measurement
ƒ Providing caseworkers with the necessary research tools http://www.childwelfare.gov/famcentered/
and other resources to aid in finding and engaging family
Engaging Families: Making Visits Matter—A Field
members
Guide
ƒ Ensuring the availability of materials and service
accessibility for diverse cultural populations Features detailed practice recommendations for family
engagement, including steps for working with resistance.
ƒ Creating an organizational structure with
○ Leadership dedicated to family engagement http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/helpkids/PMNetworkDocs/
CPM%20Field%20Guide.pdf
○ Defined roles for planning and facilitating team
decision-making meetings Family Engagement Inventory
○ Quality assurance and case review monitoring
Website offering information and strategies for infusing
○ External assistance as needed family “voice” and strengthening families in the many
○ Individualized performance review system systems that serve children: child welfare, juvenile
○ Systems change initiatives and program improvement justice, behavioral health, early childhood education, and
plans education.

○ Identification of service gaps http://www.childwelfare.gov/fei/

ƒ Including parents and youth on agency councils and
boards

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.
This publication is available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f-fam-engagement/. 12
Family Engagement: Partnering With Families to Improve Child Welfare Outcomes https://www.childwelfare.gov

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Children and Families
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Children’s Bureau