Recipe for Success: Implementation of Contra Costa County s Parent Partner Program. Learning Objectives. Getting to Know Each Other

Transcription

1 Recipe for Success: Implementation of Contra Costa County s Parent Partner Program Just Add Water and Stir? February 8, :30 5:00 Just Add Water and Stir? Agenda 1. Preparing the Foundation: planning and infrastructure development 2. Doing it Right the First Time: Implementation 3. Keeping the Train on the Tracks: Maintenance and Sustainability Presenters: Neely McElroy, Division Manager Judi Knittel, Family Engagement Supervisor 2/8/2011 Cheryl Barrett, Parent Partner 1 2/8/ Learning Objectives Participants will understand the importance of planning and infrastructure development Participants will be able to develop a vision and mission statement Participants will gain knowledge of importance of assessing the readiness of the agency for a parent involvement program Participants will be able to identify different ways to involve parents in an agency Participants will be able to recognize signs of trouble and strategize how to overcome them 2/8/ Getting to Know Each Other Who are we? Why we are here and what we hope to share? Group Introductions name and one thing you are curious about in setting upa parent involvement program 2/8/ The Finished Product: Basic Overview Program design 4 full time Parent Partners Serve families whose children have been removed UC Berkeley Study Family Reunification Outcomes 1000 families served Preparing the Foundation: Planning and infrastructure development Creating a Vision Why create a parent involvement program Does the vision add value to the agency, parents, and others? Mission: What will this program do? Necessary Ingredients 2/8/ /8/

2 Our Mission The mission of the Parent Partner Program is to help families to develop supportive relationships that will strengthen and support parents and families involved in the Child Welfare system, and to honor their ability to draw on family strengths and resources in order to facilitate timely permanency for their children. Vision To match families with parent mentors who will provide them with information, support and guidance as they negotiate thorough the Child Welfare System. 2/8/ /8/ Preparing the Foundation: Planning and infrastructure development Assess System Readiness Strengths Challenges Preparing the Foundation: Planning and infrastructure development Developing the Plan Consequences of poor planning Strategy, strategy, strategy Assembling the right resources Developing program values 2/8/ /8/ Putting the Program Together Follow the Recipe! Who will the program serve? How will it help? Recruiting the Parents Cheryl s perspective Preparing the Staff and Collaborative Partners Assessing Impact of program on agency and staff Your perfume is too strong 2/8/ /8/

3 S.O.S. Recognizing signs of trouble Accept as part of the process Being ready to handle Plan to deal with it The Parent s Story Using them wisely The Walking Wounded Digital stories Prepare them to share their story The Elevator Story Hearing and handling uncomfortable feedback 2/8/ /8/ Knowing if you are on the right track What is a success and how do you measure it? Contra Costa s Data Reunification Improved UCB Report Positive Report Surveys of families were positive Positive feedback from many sources Maintenance and Sustainability: Keeping the train on the tracks Supporting parent partners Handling personnel problems Supervision and continuing education 2/8/ /8/ Maintenance and Sustainability: Keeping the train on the tracks Expansion should you do it? Dissemination Sharing the Story/Keeping the History Sustaining your program Role of evaluation marketing Conclusion Key Points Develop and follow a plan but be flexible Keep your eye on the Prize know your mission Monitor, monitor, monitor Engage key supports within your agency Invest in the development of the parents Track outcomes 2/8/ /8/

4 Questions 2/8/

5 Just Add Water and Stir? Contra Costa County s Infrastructure and Implementation Guide Preparing the Foundation o Vision o Mission What will program do? o What are the necessary ingredients? o Strengths o Challenges o Ways to overcome Challenges

6 Just Add Water and Stir? Infrastructure and Implementation Guide Doing it right the First Time o Who will the program serve? How will it help? o How does the agency need to be prepared? o What problems do you anticipate? o Ways to overcome anticipated problems o What data should you track? - 2 -

7 Just Add Water and Stir? Infrastructure and Implementation Guide Keeping the Train on the Tracks o How will you support parents? o How will you share the parents story? o Potential ways to sustain program - 3 -