Saturday, August 29, 2009

Who Can Be A DCFS Caseworker?

Well, when I was hired at DCFS in Provo in 1995, I had a BYU bachelor's degree in Theater Education. My good friend, Eric, who was hired the same day had a degree in Korean! DCFS gave us a year to bring our 'unrelated' degree up to a 'related' degree.

During that year Eric and I took classes from the 'U', Weber State and UVSC...we had to take I believe, 5 classes. Then we could formally be hired at DCFS; which we both were in May or June 1996. Within a few years a ruling came down(from wherever rulings come down from) which said DCFS can now only hire those with certain bachelor degree's. I'm not sure, but this may have been instigated by the David C. vs Leavitt lawsuit from the mid-1990's (more on the lawsuit in a later blog).

At this time Eric and I were able (and required) to take and pass the state social worker test so that we could be Social Service Workers (SSW's). Which we both did, successfully.

Today, as I started to say a few sentences ago, DCFS hires it's caseworkers from graduates of degrees in social work, and a few other related majors. They probably wouldn't look twice at applications from theater or korean majors!

This change in hiring practices was a GOOD THING! It didn't 'guarantee' an understanding of the social worker mentality, (which is one of compassion, helping, boundary setting, non-judgmental-ness, among other attributes)...but it sure does lay a strong foundation of basic principles of this important field of study and service. Which I didn't have....

I usually tell a story in my foster parent training classes about how proud I was when I was hired at DCFS. How I felt strong, capable, and better than the loser birth parents who abused or neglected their kids... I'm also pretty sure that I was successful at letting others know I was those things, too. I believed working for 'state government' was an elitist position; good insurance, paid holidays, great working environment...and that the families who abused or neglected their kids better know that I was the one in charge and if they didn't do what I told them to, they'd probably be unsuccessful at getting their kids back.

Not long after I was a licensed social worker in Utah, DCFS was under a scrutinizing microscope to create more family-friendly practices, again the catalyst was the lawsuit. There was a huge number of changes (around 300 specific items, but I'll double check that #) that DCFS had to make if they wanted to be the child protection agency in the state. Research was showing that families were more apt to respond to services offered to them, when they had a say in what the services were (services such as therapy, substance abuse issues, domestic violence, anger, unemployment, parenting skills, etc)...so that meant caseworkers needed to ASSESS the families strengths and needs and to link them to the services the family needed to bring the 'needs' up to 'strenths'.

Now this was a new philosophy to digest. I remember case workers really kicking and screaming about this new assessment and how we didn't have time to be all warm and fuzzy with our high caseloads, etc. But, it made total sense to me as I digested it....but it took a few trainings to really open my eyes and heart to what social work was really about. (Now, I was morphing from a drama teacher with a state gov't job, to a real social worker!).... and it was my goal to become a cheerleader of these new practice principles.

Assessments were implemented; strengths and needs were put in writing, new Service Plans were (and still are) updated to keep up with best practices; families were given more choices instead of being dictated to...and the recognition that hiring trained social workers was an important element in successful child welfare practices in Utah.

It's been so educational to be a part of the child welfare world in Utah. Many of you have no idea that Utah's Child Welfare practices are on the cutting edge of 21st century, North American ideals. Other states visit Utah's DCFS administration, and some local offices, to see how we do what we do. That's something to be proud of...but it has not been an easy road: ask any worker who has at least 15 yrs under their belt!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Utah.gov

Utah.gov

Sunday, August 23, 2009

It's All About Relationships

I've often told the classes I train, (those potential foster/adoptive parents) that if I could re-name the Pre Service Training classes, I would call them "Relationship Building 101". I tell them they will learn new information and skills, be reminded of old (but still valuable) information and I will show them how it will all pertain to building relationships. I go on to list that some of those relationships will be with people in their current family compostion, but some will be with community agencies, other professionals, (schools, mental health agencies, substance abuse providers, attorneys, etc) but also the birth families, and the abused/neglected children. DCFS is counting on them to be team players.
I talk to them about three important facts about DCFS in Utah: ONE- Safety always comes first. The safety of abused/neglected children, the safety of their staff, the safety of foster/adoptive parents and even of birth families. TWO- Confidentiality is HUGE at DCFS. Not only will they be the recipients of the right of confidentiality (DCFS will not disclose last names even, if the foster parents are uncomfortable with it, and they most will be until they begin to build... what? Right, a relationship with the birth family!), but so are the children and DCFS staff. THREE- DCFS is NOT an adoption agency. Which means this: DCFS is in the business of hiring temporary families to care for abused and neglected children until they can safely (fact one) go home. Then, if the birth family can not or chooses not to get their lives together in the court appointed time frame, and there is no other viable relative, DCFS will hope that, and ask, the current foster/adoptive family if they will consider raising/nurturing this child permanently.
And I often need to remind them (and myself) that none of this is done perfectly every day; as a matter of fact it's RARELY done perfectly. Why? you may be thinking.... because we are emotional beings (aka: human) and that's just the way it is. That means, DCFS employees are human, attorney's and judges are human, foster/adoptive parents are human...and they are no different, certainly no better than the parents of children invovled with 'the system' (that could mean:DCFS, criminal justice, whatever). So, we learn to be patient, (with ourselves as well as others), we learn to be better today than we were yesterday and we encourage others to be better today than THEY were yesterday, too. Including abusive birth parents or spouses, including victims, including other service providers, including addicts...
I invite guest speakers to my classes as often as I can get them. Sometimes 7 out of 8 classes in a month, will have a guest speaker! Mostly, tho' I can arrange 4-5 guest speakers a month; but they share amazing stories of hope, forgiveness, courage, and transformations.

If you are thinking about becoming a foster(or adoptive) parent in Utah, get in touch with the Utah Foster Care Foundation (they have a great website: www.utahfostercare.org and a blog for more information)

Saturday, August 15, 2009

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Change is SO possible...

The sun rises and sets everyday (so far)...it changes the world we live in everyday. I breathe in and out every single day (so far)...and I'm probably changing it, too. But the question that runs repeatedly in my head is: Am I changing the world in a positive way? I have a very real optimistic outlook during my majority of days. I WANT to be part of the solution. But to which problem? For me, today, it's the child welfare world in Utah.
I've seen birth parents who have made difficult life changes...some have been because 'it's time', some have been motivated by incarceration, some have been because the (permanent or temporary) loss of their children knocked them on their butt and that was all the motivation to change they needed. I've run in to old clients who have no ill feelings toward DCFS, and others who hate that agency and still blame them for the break-up of their family.
I have 'hired' some of these birth parents to share their stories in the foster parent training classes I teach each month. They tell their story of 'recovery' or 'getting out of a violent relationship' or whatever their inspiring story is.... And I invite them so that my potential foster parents can change their perspective which is usually one of fear and anger toward's the birth family to one of tolerance, empathy, forgiveness, hope and acceptance...usually in that order.
I have one 'couple' who speaks about how much easier it is to love the birth parent of her adopted child than it was to hate her. But change takes time and patience...on all of our parts. But I believe that as long as we can breathe, we have the ability to change, grow and develop.

I also bring up the very real point that even with the best of intentions, without any guile or expectation on our part whatsoever, a birth parent may not WANT our empathy, forgiveness or acceptance...but that's OKAY too. Because if they do, I want my potential foster parents to be ready to share it...and if they don't, at least these foster parents know that they made the good choice to offer the open hand of helpfulness.

Which brings my thoughts to: we as foster parents (I love saying that!), are not BETTER THAN the birth parents we are serving...we, too have sins, scars (emotional and physical) and poor choices (whatever you want to call them) which are in our history, too. And if our poor choices were illegal in nature, and we were arrested for them, and paraded in front of a judge and other state employees because of them; we'd feel ashamed, embarassed, angry and maybe defiant, too. Remembering that will help build the empathy and forgiveness values in our lives. What a great way to demonstrate to your children/parents/friends/spouse that you believe everyone can change for the better; that you are a 'hopeful' person (versus a despairing one).

Well, this is one of my soap box issues...let me know if I need to clarify anything. I'm happy to.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

1st inquiry for a placement !

Today I had my first interview for a placement of a teen girl! I am looking forward to having a teen in the home; but I also know she is coming with 4-5 years of tough times, being separated from parents and siblings. I hope to keep my 'looking forward'-ness in check as I put her needs ahead of my own.
I've never been a full time mother and I'm 49 years old. The only parenting experience I've had is when I was married and we had his four (awesome) kids on Wednesdays and every other weekend. I also get the regular experience of taking my best friends 5yo son, Will, with me when I need a fix of youthfulness and energy!

Now, this is the normal routine for placing a child in a foster home in the Western Region of Utah. (There are 5 regions, most run the same): usually, Resource Family Consultants (RFC's) who are social workers employed by the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) go over all possible families in a meeting, twice a week, as a team. They talk about the kids who have recently come into care, or maybe those that are not having success in their current placement and need to be moved. They discuss foster families that have openings, what city they live in, what life experience they have, if there is a stay-at-home parent or not, if there are other kids in the home and what their gender/ages are. THEN, they pick the three best homes for each child(or sibling group), and make their final decision from those three. However, sometimes there is not always 'three best homes' to choose from....sometimes there's only one family who fits the needs of the child and has the family strengths that would help the child/children best.

Then they make the phone call to that "chosen family" to see if they'd be willing to take the child/children and if so, when can they make it happen. It could be a nice, smooth transition that takes 1-2 weeks, or it could be a 'see you in 30 minutes!' type of placement. DCFS OFFICE HOURS are Mon - Thur 7a - 6p (as of August 2008; part of the governor's initiative to save the state money)

But, the type of placement (slow or immediate) also depends on which day it is (a workday, a weekend day or a holiday?) and what time of day (afterhours is from 6pm - 7am and Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays)....but DCFS in Utah has an 'after hours' phone for emergency placements, or to assist a foster parent who feels they are in an emergency situation with a child in custody. I beleive all 5 regions have that after hours access; if you know differently, let me know.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Introductions....

My name is Nancy. I live in Provo, Utah. I have been employed as a foster care caseworker, a foster care supervisor and even for a short time, the state foster care specialist (though that position has a different name now). Today I train foster parents through a non-profit agency. I'm a licensed social worker in Utah. I also have a Master's Degree in School Counseling and as of August 1, 2009 I am a licensed foster parent!

I am developing a philosophy about child welfare which I would like to share with you. I have a few soap box topics that I'm sure I will address shortly. I also want to make myself available to support you in your fostering experience, answer questions about Child Welfare practices in Utah (and I promise, if I don't know the answer, I won't make it up, I'll find it or I'll link you to where you can find it).

I also want to inspire and motivate you! If you are not yet a foster or adoptive parent in Utah; I want to recruit you, if you meet the minimal criteria. I'll get into that a little later, too.