Alternative Response in
Louisiana
Together We Can Conference
October 6, 2010
Walter Fahr, MSW, LCSW
Outline
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What is Alternative/Differential Response
Who is using it
Why is it being used-Data
What does it look like in Louisiana
Key elements to a successful program
Engaging Families with AR/DR
Solution Focused Questions.
Alternative Response Resources
• American Humane
– http://www.americanhumane.org/protectingchildren/programs/differential-response/
Contributors to this Presentation
• All the DCFS staff using AR
• Especially the Baton Rouge region AR
staff
• Kingsley House- New Orleans
• Sue Lohrbach Olmsted County, MN
• Jerry Patton, SELU
• Pat Schene, Senior Fellow AHA
Definition of AR
• DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE, ALSO REFERRED TO
AS “DUAL TRACK,” “MULTIPLE TRACK,” OR
“ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE,” IS AN APPROACH
THAT ALLOWS CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO
RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO ACCEPTED REPORTS
OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, BASED ON SUCH
FACTORS AS THE TYPE AND SEVERITY OF THE
ALLEGED MALTREATMENT, NUMBER AND
SOURCES OF PREVIOUS REPORTS, AND
WILLINGNESS OF THE FAMILY TO PARTICIPATE IN
SERVICES-American Humane
AR-Pat Schene
• DR is a way to serve more of the
legitimate reports (screened in) at an
earlier stage by engaging families in a non
-adversarial process of linking them to
needed services
• Sets aside fault finding and substantiation
decision
Why Implement Differential
Response?-Pat Schene
• The majority of investigations do not result
in any services being provided. Since the
overwhelming majority of cases are not
served through court orders, evidence
collection is not always needed
• Differential Response allows the system to
move more quickly to address safety
needs
DCFS Definition of AR
The family assessment is an alternative response to an investigation
of a report of child abuse/neglect. It is a safety focused, family
centered and strength-based approach to addressing reports. A
family assessment is completed to determine the safety of the child,
the risk of future abuse/neglect to identify the family needs and
strengths; provide direct services as needed and appropriate;
and/or,connect the family to resources in the community. As a
strength-based intervention, it draws on the strengths and resources
of the family members to address safety and/or risk issues. The
process seeks to discover periods of successful family functioning,
understanding the factors that made those periods possible, and
work to recreate those factors. It assumes that people are best
understood within the context of their own environment and when
they are allowed to define their own circumstances and capacities.
Also, it assumes that families who are supported by kin and
community are the most likely to have positive outcomes.
DCFS Policy Alternative Response
AR IS APPROPRIATE
For
Children and families who
appear to be at lower risk or
who present less immediate
safety concerns. These
families’ circumstances may
not warrant a traditional CPS
response, but can benefit
from some intervention to
prevent potential or future
maltreatment.
Core Elements of AR
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Two or more discrete responses to reports
of maltreatment that are screened in and
accepted
Assignment to response pathways is
determined by array of factors
Original response assignments can be
changed
Ability of families who receive a noninvestigatory response to accept or refuse to
participate in Alternative Response or to
Core Elements Continued…
• After assessment, services are voluntary for
families who receive a non-investigatory
response (as long as child safety is not
compromised)
• Establishment of discrete responses is
codified in statute, policy, protocols
• No substantiation of alleged maltreatment and
services are offered without formal
determination that maltreatment has occurred
• Use of central registry is dependent upon type
Alternative Response in
Child Protective Services
Common Ground
Family Assessment
Response
Family Interviews
Outcomes:
Safety, Well-Being &
Permanency
Investigative
Response
Finding of
Maltreatment
Individual Interviews
Finding of a Need for
Services
Child Centered
Family Focused
Community Based
Immediate Response
Response 0-5 days
Risk Level
Proportionally Lower
Safety Threats
Proportionally Lower
Subject to Appeal
Practice Model:
safety focused
solution oriented
partnership
collaboration
Family Conferences
SDM
Sawyer - Lohrbach
Risk Level
Proportionally Higher
Safety Threats
Proportionally Higher
Implementation of AR in US
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12 States-Statewide implementation
5 States-Pilot or regional implementation
5 States-Planning AR
2 States- Tribal implementation only
6 States-Other Innovative Response
16 States- No AR Implementation
4 States-Discontinued AR
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National Data on AR-NCANDS
• Child Maltreatment 2008
• AR cases Approximately 8% of total
findings from 13 states
• 277,947 Children in AR cases(28%)
• 715,760 Children with substantiated(valid)
findings(72%)
• Louisiana had 1308 AR children (11%)
versus 10,173 substantiated victims.
Article 612(3) of the Louisiana
Children’s Code:
“In lieu of an investigation, reports of low levels
of risk may be assessed promptly through
interviews with the family to identify needs and
available match to community resources.”
History of Alternative Response in Louisiana
• 1996-OCS develops AR Task Force
• August 1998-AR Pilot in Jefferson Parish
• January 1999-AR contract with Kingsley House in
Orleans Parish
• November 2005-Kingsley House Contract terminated
( Katrina)
• January 2007-AR Planning Committee organized
• October 2007-AR begins in BR, Covington, and
Jefferson Regions
• March 2008-AR expands to Thibodaux, Lafayette, Lake
Charles regions
• May 2008-AR expands to Shreveport, Alexandria,
Monroe and New Orleans regions
• February 2010-SDM intake implemented in Baton
Rouge Region, Ascension and Calcasieu Parishes
• June 2010- SDM intake expands statewide
Questions still needing answers:
Are children whose families participate in the noninvestigation pathway as safe as or safer than
children whose families participate in the
investigation pathway?
How is the non-investigation pathway different from
the investigation pathway in terms of family
engagement, caseworker practice and services
provided?
What are the cost and funding implications to the
child protection agency of the implementation and
maintenance of a differential response approach?
Percentage of AR Cases of Accepted Cases
October 2007-July 2010
Parish
Oct 07-Sep 09
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010
17%
33%
44%
Jefferson
20%
Orleans
5
Baton Rouge
15
44
38
31
Covington
24
23
35
35
Thibodaux
9
21
36
51
Lafayette
23
7
31
36
Lake Charles
14
34
34
29
Alexandria
16
34
34
33
Shreveport
12
8
26
28
Monroe
11
12
29
33
21%
32%
Statewide
11%
35%
Solution Focused Questions for
Families
Based on a presentation by Sue Lohrbach
Fahr’s Key to Success in AR
• Stakeholder support
• Adequate PAF funds.
Staging For Success: Assumptions
About Families
Until proven otherwise, the belief is that all
families want to:
• Be proud of their children
• Have a positive impact on their children
• Hear good news about their children and
learn what their children are good at
• Give their children a good education and a
good chance at success
• Have a good relationship with their
children
• Be hopeful about their children
Staging for Success: Assumptions
About Children & Youth
Based on observations and listening, the
belief is that all children want to:
• Have their families be proud of them
• Please their parents and other adults
• Be accepted and part of the social group
in which they live
• Learn new things
• Be active and involved in activities with
others
• Be surprised and surprise others
• Voice their opinions and choices
• Make choices when given an opportunity
Back Pocket Skill Set
for AR Workers
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Scaling Questions
Exception Finding Questions
Coping Questions
Miracle Questions
Details & Amplification
Goal Focus
Building an Invitation List:
Amplification
• Draw a picture (e.g. genogram, tree…)
* on paper
* with words
* other (include pets)
• Who is in your family?
* BIG PICTURE
* Who else and who else?
* Who is missing?
* Where do they fit?
Downsizing As Needed: Scaling
Question
• On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is “no way”
and 10 is “absolutely”, how willing are you
to include everyone in this picture?
* If you were to “downsize”, where
would
you start?
* How did you decide?
* Pros/Cons?
* What might they think?
Laying the Groundwork: Children
& Youth
• Call upon play and pictures in addition to
words and stories
• Know developmental milestones
• Work with parents and caregivers
• Work with child/youth’s adult network
• Be ready to translate
• Be flexible
Possibilities: Coping, Scaling,
Amplification & Exceptions
• What do you think will stack this meeting
for success?
• How could we make that work?
• Who needs to be in the mix of planning?
• What else and what else would be helpful?
• Given that has been a struggle, what other
ideas do you have?
• When was there a time when folks got
together and things went well?
• What might have made the difference?
What else?
• How did you cope with everything you just
described?
• What keeps you going?
• What is it about you that got you through
such a struggle without giving up hope?
• On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is “zip” and 10
is “good to go”, how willing are you to give
this a try? What would move you one step
closer to a 10?
Safety: Scaling, Amplification &
Coping
• On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is “completely
stressed” and 10 is “prepared to manage”,
how confident are you that you are safe
enough in the meeting to fully participate in
plan making?
• What is currently in place for your number to
be that high?
• What could we put in place that might
increase your confidence/safety by one
number?
• What/who have you called upon in the
past that has been helpful in similar
situations? What/who else?
• What do you think the impact will be on
you when you/they are in the same space
together? Impact on children? Others?
Openings/Closings:
Amplification
• What would be your hope for starting out the
meeting?
• What are the important ways your family
begins conversations/gatherings?
• How will you know the meeting was
successful? The plan workable?
• When you think about the decision to be
made and developing a plan, what
information needs to be at the table to help
the family? What else and what else?