This document summarizes South Carolina's Family Strengthening and Voluntary Case Management Services program which began in 2012. It is led by a coalition of nonprofit partners across the state coordinated by SAFY and Growing Homes Southeast. The program utilizes standardized assessments and case management processes to strengthen families and prevent child abuse/neglect by building protective factors like parental resilience, knowledge of parenting/child development, social connections, and more. The document outlines the program model, partners, services provided, and gaps to address like transportation, mental health services, and crisis resources.
1. Katrina Morgan, MSW
FSS/VCM Program Director
Growing Homes Southeast
And
Keonte Jenkins-
Davis, LMSW
Family and Treatment Services Director
SAFY
2. EMPOWERING
FAMILIES
Implementation of South Carolina’s first
Family Strengthening and Voluntary Case
Management Services (FSS/VCM) began in
January 2012.
SAFY of Greenville serves as the Master
Contractor for FSS/VCM services for 10
counties in the Upstate.
3. NETWORK PARTNERS
Behavioral Health Services of
Pickens County
Pickens
Hope Center for Children
formally Ellen Hines Smith
Girls Home
Spartanburg, Cherokee
New Foundations Home for
Children
Anderson, Oconee
SAFY Greenville
Social Change Initiative Abbeville, Greenwood,
Laurens, Newberry
4. SOUTH CAROLINA
COALITION FOR
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES
• The Coalition for Strengthening Families
strives to eliminate or significantly reduce
identified risk factors for child abuse and
neglect.
• To enhance protective capacities within the
family system that result in positive
permanency.
5. SC COALITION
PARTNERS
Partner Service Area
Billie Hardee Home for Boys FSS Only: Chesterfield,
Darlington, Dillon, Florence,
Marlboro
Carolina Youth Development Berkeley, Charleston
Children’s Place Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell,
Saluda, Edgefield, McCormick
John K. Crosswell Home Clarendon, Lee, Sumter
Windwood Farm Home For
Children
Charleston, Dorchester
6. SC COALITION
PARTNERS
Partner Service Area
South Carolina Mentor Lexington, Union, Chester,
Lancaster, York
Georgetown, Horry, Marion,
Williamsburg
Growing Home Southeast-
Midlands
Fairfield, Kershaw, Richland,
Chester, Lancaster, York
Allendale, Beaufort, Hampton,
Jasper, Orangeburg, Calhoun,
Colleton
VCM Only: Chesterfield,
Darlington, Dillon, Florence,
Marlboro
7. PROGRAM
COMMONALITIES
The AR Program is designed to ensure
consistency of child welfare service delivery
throughout the state. SCDSS and both
programs Empowering families and SC
Coalition utilizes the same service provision
documents.
8. PROGRAM
COMMONALITIES
• Face to Face Contact
• Safety/ Risk Assessment
• Comprehensive Assessment
• Case Plan- Review
• Documentation
• Linkage to Community Services
• Supervision
• Case Closure
11. PROTECTIVE
FACTORS
• Parental Resilience
• Knowledge of Parenting and Child
Development
• Social Connections
• Concrete Supports
• Social and Emotional Competence of
Children
• Nurturing and attachment
12. PARENTAL RESILIENCE
Resilience is the ability to manage and
bounce back from all types of challenges
that emerge in every family’s life.
13. KNOWLEDGE OF PARENTING AND
CHILD/YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Accurate information about child
development and appropriate expectations
for children’s behavior at every age help
parents see their children and youth in a
positive light and promote their healthy
development.
18. BENEFITS
• Increased chance of children remaining in
the home
• Development of a individualized case plan
• Assistance with concrete services
• Parent education and training
• Assistance with identifying and building a
support system
19. GAPS IN SERVICES
• Transportation
• Population-specific services
• Mental health providers
• Victim Assistance Services
• Childcare services
20. GAPS IN SERVICES
• Lack of space in local shelters
• Resources for assisting families with crisis
needs
• Behavior issues vs. neglect issues for the
older teens
Notas do Editor
-Implementation of Region II began on March 1, 2012. Roll out for Regions III and IV began May 7, 2012. -Our Coalition is made up of local non-profit Family Service Organizations across the State. -Our Services are based on the Belief that Individuals, Families, and Communities have Strengths and the family is the agent of change.
Our contractual responsibility was to form a coalition of service providers to deliver services. As such we have subcontracted with various Providers across the state to provide services. Essentially, we carved out various geographic areas in which subcontractors will provide services in 36 counties.Also you should know that GHSE recruits and hires employees to provide services as well.Our Seven Partners include:We believe the family is the agent of Change
Commonalities
Talk about each individually.
Intake at the time of referralproviders after the initial visit with the family, every ninety days thereafter. As significant changes occur within families.
2. completed within thirty days used to assist in treatment plan development. Comprehensive Family Assessments assesses the family’s strengths, safety issues to determine what resources are needed to assist the family. 3. completed within the first thirty days and re-evaluated every ninety days.
National Framework used by many states to align services for children and familiesDesigned to Strengthen families in the child welfare system by building protective factors within family systems. Research shows that these protective factors are also “promotive” factors that build family strengths and the family environment that promotes optimal child and youth development.
Families need skills and resources for coping with stress. Parents who are emotionally resilient have a positive attitude, creatively solve problems, effectively address challenges and are les likely to direct anger and frustration at their children. FSS and VCM case managers assist parent creating
Studies show information is most effective when it comes at the precise time parents need it to understand their own children. FSS and VCM case managers assist families in this area by connecting families to parent education classes, family members and other social connections
All above provide emotional support, help solve problems, offer parenting advice and give concrete assistance to parents. FSS and VCM case managers help families to identify their social connections. Trusted and caring family and friends provide emotional support to parents by offering encouragement and assistance in facing the daily challenges of raising a family.
All families need support… Meeting the basic needs like food, shelter, clothing, health- care those day to day things that are essential for families to thriveFamilies need emotional support like when there is overwhelming need for support in situations like…DV present, MH illnesses, SA, Job loss, home foreclosure, homelessnessThese supports need to be practical, accessible and adequate to provide the kind of stability families need to get through these crisis. What we do is help families understand their rights in accessing services, learn about the available relevant services and learn to navigate through service systems.
-These things do not evolve naturally… which is why we work to help the parents understand and create these opportunities for constant lasting learning.-Parents creating an atmosphere of learning and teaching their children to use their words. -Children learning to effectively communicate feelings in a positive manner reinforces self esteem, confidence, self control, increase patience, and empathy. - these things build and foster good relationships in the home, school, and even into the future work place for these children.
What studies have shown in working with children and families is that “relationships matters”. Families need relationships that meet each members needs for nurturance and individual growth.
Access to professional for consultation and assistance in meeting your family needs, advocate etc…
Lack of transportation: limits clients ability to get to appointments and/or to services particularly in rural areasLimited number of psychologist that accepts MedicaidPopulation-specific services (e.g. for Spanish-speaking clients, counseling services, bi-lingual service providers children with disabilities)Mental health providers because there is a waitlist and/or a long time before getting an appointment at the local mental health agencies. Also there is no consistency within local MH agencies if a family moves to a different county. State MH centers don’t cross county lines. Adequacy and quick response of mental health providers.Victim assistance services Childcare services : Need more after school programs and/or childcare centers that will provide care for older children
Lack of space in local shelters, especially for families who would like to remain together-Shortage of resources for assisting with crisis needs (i.e. rent, deposits, bills, etc…) GHSE has aided in this area by acquiring grant funding through the United Way of the Midlands and other funding sources. -Adequacy and quick response of mental health providers-Behavior issues vs. Neglect issues for the older teens