September 15, 2009
Pre-Conference Workshops
9:45 am to 11:45 am
Workshop PC 1
Mental Health & Mental Disorders: A Brief Overview
This workshop provides an overview of common mental health diagnoses and the
effects that these
diagnoses may have on case planning and delivery of services. It focuses on identifying
and understanding
signs and symptoms of mental health disorders, considers mitigating factors and
common case plan
interventions and addresses the impact of culture and how it can influence the
delivery of services.
Outcome Objectives
- You will be able to describe how specific mental health-related symptoms can
interfere with healthy
function and impact the delivery of services.
- You will be able to list some mitigating factors that can decrease severity
of symptoms and increase
functioning.
- You will be able to identify common case plan interventions which can be used
to assist children and
families suffering from mental health disorders.
Presented by Elizabeth Domingos-Shepherd
Workshop PC 2
Substance Abuse
Learn how substance abuse (with emphasis on methamphetamines) impacts your interface
with clients in
the Linkages interviews. We will include some strategies for being more effective
in working with this population.
Presented by Scott Johnson who is currently
employed as an Adult Protective Services Social Worker for the County of Riverside,
California and has previously worked in Child Protection Services. He is also
a Licensed Addiction Counselor and maintains a private practice in which he conducts
individual and group therapy, consults on an international basis, and provides
educational presentations.
download DOC
September 15, 2009
Program
A View From the Top - Part II
1:15pm to 3:15pm
Come and hear “A View From the Top Part II” by CDSS leaders, John
Wagner, Charr Lee Metsker, and Linne Stout and Frank Mecca, County Welfare Directors
Association about their perspectives on the current challenges for California
and the families we serve.
download DOC
Networking Reception
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
As a highlight for the Reception, we are asking each county team to provide a “Story
Board” about Linkages in their county and to include any written policies and procedures for
sharing. We have heard from all of you that you are eager to learn from one another and we are hoping that
this will be a creative opportunity to showcase the great work that you have been doing since joining
the statewide Linkages
project.
September 16, 2009
General Session
8:15 am to 9:30 am
Engaging Families in Case Planning:
Guidelines and examples from the field
Families can be most successful when practitioners authentically engage parents
and youth in the decisions, plans and actions that affect their lives. Hear how
the Family Engagement Guidelines reflect the foundation principles Linkages counties
are using to promote family-centered case planning. Stanislaus and San Bernardino
counties’ will share the family engagement practices involved
in their Linkages programs.
Presented by Leslie Ann Hay, Project Associate
Bergen Filgas and Jennifer Valencia, Stanislaus and Jean Texera, San Bernardino
Counties
download PPT
download PDF
download PDF
(Goal Setting)
download PDF
(Contact Sheet)
September 15, 2009
Workshops A
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Workshop A1
Fiscal Advantages: Cost Savings/Cost shifts
Learn important information about how you can begin to think fiscally about
your Linkages initiative and how collaboration and case coordination can maximize
your local dollars. Stanislaus and Calaveras counties will share their experience
in this area and will give you tips about what to do when you might do in your
county.
Presenters: Jennifer Calencia and Terri Fidalgo, Stanislaus County
Debra Schifflea, SW III & Robin Mason, Employment Counselor III, Calaveras
County
download PDF
download PPT
Workshop A2
Evaluating Linkages
Re-energize your Linkages evaluation efforts! Learn how to
demonstrate the successes of Linkages in your county! We will provide a brief
update of statewide evaluation findings to date, followed by a participatory
session on local evaluation efforts. The forum will focus on identifying and
assessing quantitative outcomes, with opportunities for you to share ideas, learn
from others, and take away a list of concrete next steps.
Facilitated by Patrick Harrington, Evaluator for Contra Costa County
Katherine Lee, Evaluator for the Statewide Linkages Initiative
download PDF 1
download PDF 2
download PDF 3
Workshop A3
Parent Partner Workshop:
Strengthening Families through California Parent Engagement Programs
Are you interested in developing or promoting a Parent Engagement Program in
your county? Join us to learn about the many innovative parent engagement programs
and strategies happening in CA. We will highlight how California Parent Leaders
are partnering with professionals in child welfare direct service programs to
support and strengthen families and improve outcomes. Contra Costa County will
showcase its unique Program model and its positive outcomes for families. Learn
about an effective strategy for promoting awareness about your Parent Engagement
Program through the California Parent Engagement Center, a new groundbreaking
online resource that features different programs and strategies throughout the
state.
Presented by Meryl Levine, ACSW, MSSA, Vice President of Development, Parents
Anonymous® Inc.
LaTisha Lawson, Parent Leader, California State Parent Team
Judith Knittel, Supervisor, Family Engagement Unit & a Parent Partner, Contra
Costa County
Workshop A4
CalWORKs 101
This workshop will present an overview of the fundamentals of the California
Work Opportunity and Responsibility
to Kids (CalWORKs) program. The presenters will inform attendees on the program’s
history, policies, regulations, and current issues facing this critical social
service program. If you ever had questions or just wanted to know more about
the CalWORKs program, come join us for this workshop.
Presented by Teri Ellen, CDSS, Welfare to Work Division, CalWORKs Employment
Bureau &
Maria Hernandez, CDSS, Welfare to Work Division, CalWORKs Eligibility Bureau
download PPT
Workshop A5
Communicating About Collaboration –What Matters?
This workshop will engage participants in identify the communication messages
that can most effectively promote increased collaboration between CalWORKs and
Child Welfare staff in serving their mutual clients. We will identify the benefits
of and barriers to increased collaboration – as
well as the messages that are most effective to use. Information gleaned from the workshop will provide the basis
for developing a brochure and/ or other materials and strategies regarding increased collaboration for use with
county staff and leadership.
Presented by Renee Wessels, Renee Wessels & Associates
download DOC
Workshop A6
Taking care of yourself: Now more than ever!
Everywhere we turn - newspapers, T.V., personal lives, work, we are reminded
that we are in a “fiscal crisis”. The nature of our work means that while we are experiencing our own “crisis” the
number of children and families we serve is growing and there are less of us to do this essential job.
We will focus on the values of different socio economic groups and how they respond differently to stress and
will look at how to remain engaged and empathetic towards families even when you and your staff are feeling overwhelmed.
You will have some time to learn from one another and develop a plan for yourself in moving
forward.
Presented by Lisa Molinar, Shared Vision Consultants
download
PPT
September 16, 2009
Workshops B
9:45 am to 10:45 am
Workshop B1
Curam: Automating Case Coordination Rubicon
Improving Outcomes through Social
Enterprise Collaboration
This workshop will combine discussion, presentation,
and demonstration to explore the challenges of crossagency collaboration and
technology solutions to help address these challenges. We will highlight how
software can be used to support a multi-disciplinary approach to improving caseworker
collaboration and client outcomes. Topics will include: managing common clients
across child welfare and TANF/WTW; sharing information; collaborative case planning/service
delivery; and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs)
Presented by Richelle Mathieu and Abraham Lincoln Lee
Workshop B2
Data Matching for Client ID & Evaluation
This
workshop will briefly present strategies for matching client data between CWS/CMS
and your CalWORKs data system. The main focus will be peer exchange - an opportunity
for counties to ask questions of each other and share what has worked for you.
If your county has any room for improvement on matching client data, this workshop
is for you!
Facilitated by Patrick Harrington, Evaluator for Contra Costa County
Katherine Lee, Evaluator for the Statewide Linkages Initiative
download PDF
Workshop B3
CWS
101 - Protecting Children and Supporting Families
Child welfare services
are mandated to provide for the protection of children when they are at risk
of maltreatment. Protecting children means supporting and strengthening families
to be able to provide the safe care that children need. You will hear a short
history of child welfare and how it relates to poverty, and learn about Federal
and state mandates and outcomes; Working with families in child welfare; Why
working with CalWorks is critical to child welfare and Understanding the urgency
of child welfare. Participants will have an introduction to the work of child
welfare and why our mutual work is necessary for families.
Presented by Deborah Lowery, The Resource Center for Family-Focused Practice,
Workshop
B4
CalWORKs and Child Welfare Collaboration to Improve Child Safety
This Workshop will showcase curriculum developed by the Southern Training
Academy to support Linkages.
You will learn how this training can be provided to your county and how to use
it to achieve safety outcomes for children in their own homes.
Presented by Peter
Dahlin, MS
download PPT
download DOC 1
download DOC 2
Workshop B5
Strength Based Practice to
Better Support Families and Children - Linkages
Come to this interactive workshop that has been designed using evidenced based,
motivational practices to support skill building and teaming for child welfare
and eligibility social workers. The workshop is designed for child welfare and
eligibility social workers who work with challenging youth and their families
and as a result of the training, participants will:
- understand the core components of strengths based practice and the stages
of the change process;
- explore exercises to increase connection to parents and move them toward
change;
- explore exercises to “roll with resistance.”
- learn to employ strategies for effective interagency teaming to provide
excellent client service.
- Explore and commit to strategies for individual teaming between county
child welfare and eligibility
social workers.
Presented by Betty Hanna, MA, MFT, member of Motivational Interviewing Network
of Trainers
Workshop B6
TANF Emergency Contingency Fund
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 established the TANF Emergency
Contingency Fund which provides up to 5 billion dollars to States for basic assistance,
subsidized employment, and short-term non-recurrent benefits. This Workshop will
present information on this funding source and how counties are currently planning
to use these funds. You will have the opportunity to share with your colleagues
ideas regarding how this funding might support your Linkages families.
Presented by Anastasia Dodson, County Welfare Directors Association
September 16, 2009
Workshops C
11:00 am to Noon
Workshop C1
Curam: Automating Case Coordination
Improving Outcomes through Social Enterprise Collaboration
Repeat of Workshop B1
Workshop C2
Data Matching for Client ID & Evaluation
Repeat of Workshop B2
Workshop C3
Linkages: What does it look like in
San Luis Obispo & Merced Counties?
Hear from two Pioneer counties about Linkages in their counties. Learn more about
how the pioneer counties have continued their work since the beginning of Linkages.
They will describe their Linkages initiative, challenges they have faced, and
goals for this coming year.
Presented by San Luis Obispo & Merced Counties
Workshop C4
CalWORKs and Child Welfare
Collaboration to Improve Child Safety
Repeat of Workshop B4
Workshop C5
Strength Based Practice to
Support Families and Children - Linkages
Repeat of Workshop B5
Workshop C6
Substance Abuse: Meth Grant
Administration of Children and Families funded 53 grantees nationwide in
2007 to focus on issues related to child welfare, alcohol and drug and the courts.
One of these grantees is a collaborative of four northern California counties,
Tehama, Trinity, Lake and Butte counties. They have worked in partnership to
increase screening, and assessment for all child welfare families of alcohol
and drug (AOD) issues, provided early engagement groups, implemented an evidence-based
parenting program with an AOD focus, developed common policies and procedures
and other strategies to improve the outcomes for children and families. Learn
about this grant, lessons learned, and the strategies implemented to improve
child welfare outcomes.
Presented by Susan Brooks, Northern California Training Academy
September 16, 2009
Workshops D
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Workshop D1
Curam: Automating Case Coordination
Repeat of Workshop B1
Workshop D2
Looking at Linkages—
Los Angeles and Fresno Counties
This Workshop will focus on two Phase II counties that have created liaisons
between their CalWORKS and Child Welfare departments to keep Linkages moving
forward in their counties. They will describe their Linkages initiative, the
roles and responsibilities of their liaisons, and what they hope to accomplish
this next year.
Presented by Los Angeles and Fresno Counties
download PPT (Fresno)
download PDF (LA)
download PDF (Liaisons)
Workshop D3
Family Reunification and Linkages: AB 429
Learn how Tehama County has implemented AB 429, the barriers they have faced
in their continued efforts to identify and serve this vulnerable population.
This workshop highlights the benefits of AB 429 from the perspective of Child
Welfare, CalWORKs and Eligibility. Participate in discussions with your colleagues
regarding this topic to support mutual solutions.
Presented by Tehema County’s Jason Votaw, Tara Loucks & Laurie Nelson
download PDF
download
PPT
Workshop D4
Creating Momentum for Service Coordination:
Strategies for starting or jump-starting your Linkages Program
Learn about ways to engage the leadership, operations and funders of both child
welfare and CalWORKs to get behind Linkages and make it happen. Discover the
secrets for initiating and sustaining interest and commitment, helping a good
idea survive in challenging budget times and leveraging the experience from other
counties to help you make the case for Linkages in your location.
Presented by Leslie Ann Hay, Linkages Project Associate
download PPT
Workshop D5
Substance Abuse: Meth Grant
Repeat of Workshop C6
Workshop D6
CWS 101:
Protecting Children and Supporting Families
Repeat of Workshop B3 |
