Linkages: CalWORKs and Child
Welfare Collaboration To
Improve Outcomes
Child Welfare Conference 2008
Monterey, California
Presenters
Danna Fabella, CFPIC, Linkages Project Director
Calaveras: Dave Godzina, Robin Bunting, and Mikey
Habberstad
Del Norte: Susan Wilson, Cathi Strait, and Kathy
Murray
Stanislaus: Jennifer Valencia, and Bergen Filgas
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History of the Project
• Genesis with Private Foundation
– Learned of work in another state that provided
cross-systems services
• Engaged Public Sector at State and Local Level
• Funded Trip to See and Learn About Other
State’s Program
• Facilitated Development of Shared Vision for
Serving Families in California
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History cont.
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Vision Created in 1998, 1999
Work began in 2000
Planning Phase 2000-2002
Three Stages of Implementation
– Pilot Phase 2003
– Second Implementation Phase 2005
– Current Implementation Phase 2006-2011
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• Steady Expansion to Include 40 of
California’s 58 Counties, Representing over
¾ of state’s population
Foundation of Vision
Poverty is a risk factor for child abuse and
neglect:
Families with annual incomes below $15,000,
compared to families with annual incomes
above $30,000, are over 22 times more likely
to experience some form of maltreatment.
(US Dept HHS)
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Shared Vision
Child Welfare Services can
serve as an anti-poverty
program in helping families to
achieve Self-Sufficiency
Temporary Assistance to
Needy Families can serve as a
child abuse prevention program
by providing families the
resources they need to promote
safety and well-being for their
children
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Pioneer Counties
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Alameda
Del Norte
Mendocino
Merced
Orange
San Francisco
San Luis Obispo
Santa Barbara
Sonoma
Stanislaus
Tehama
Yolo
Phase II Counties:
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Calaveras
Contra Costa
Fresno
Humboldt
Kern
Los Angeles
Madera
Marin
Napa
Sacramento
Siskiyou
Sutter
Trinity
Ventura
Phase III Counties
•El Dorado
•Imperial
•Nevada
•San Bernardino
•San Benito
•Santa Clara
•Sierra
•Tulare
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Who’s Being Served by Linkages?
Community Based Family
Services
Risk Assessment
& Prevention
Linkages
Focus:
Child
Mutual
Welfare Families
Families
1
0
Information, Referral
& Screening
CalWORKs
Families
Ongoing Coordinated
Services*
*Assessment, Case Planning, Case Management, Direct/ Contracted Services
Target Populations & Key Strategies
Mutual FM
TDM / MDT
Mutual FR
Differential Response
Mutual ER
Risk Assessment via CalWORKs
Mutual Sanction
0
1
1
See Snapshot
Handout
5
10
15
Number of Counties
(Total Counties Reporting = 29)
20
25
Other Innovative Populations
& Strategies
Mutual homeless cases
Teen parents
Drug felons/drug court
FR aftercare
Relative caregivers
1
2
Truancy Court response
coordination
See Snapshot
Handout
Most Common Outcomes
Reduce recidivism (mostly CWS)
Reduce child removals from home
Increase rate of reunification
Reduce time to reunification
Employment retention
Increase curing of W2W sanctions
0
5
10
15
20
Number of Counties
(Total Counties Reporting = 29)
1
3
25
30
How Linkages Matters
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CalWORKs can provide services to help prevent
families from entering CWS.
Approaching families as a team provides stronger
intervention to help families with complex needs.
Coordinating services for mutual families can
increase safety & improve economic self-sufficiency.
Joint outreach to sanctioned families involved with
child welfare removes barriers to participation.
CalWORKs families working to reunify can receive
non-cash services to promote returning
home safely and quickly.
How Linkages Matters
Family Maintenance mutual clients can access
additional supports (e.g., cash assistance, employment
services, MH, DV, SA, Medi-Cal or diversion services).
CalWORKs can provide post-reunification services,
including child care & other safety plan services to
reduce likelihood of recurrence.
Transition-age youth who are parents can routinely
be assessed for and linked to CalWORKs supportive
services to ensure economic self-sufficiency.
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For More Information
Danna.Fabella@cfpic.org
925-324-5258
Website: cfpic.org
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Questions?
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