CO-PARENTING:CO-PARENTING:Challenging ourselves to safely Challenging ourselves to safely

build joint support and transitions build joint support and transitions for children in carefor children in care

Dependency SummitDependency SummitSeptember 7-9, 2011September 7-9, 2011

Hon. Jeri Cohen, T. Petkovich, Hon. Jeri Cohen, T. Petkovich, J. Niarchos, J.D. and L.Katz, Ed.D.J. Niarchos, J.D. and L.Katz, Ed.D.

Multi-Faceted ProcessMulti-Faceted Process

• Implications for foster families and birth Implications for foster families and birth familiesfamilies

• Implications for agency policies and Implications for agency policies and proceduresprocedures

• Implications for system changeImplications for system change• Implications for training retoolingImplications for training retooling• Implications for both overt and hidden Implications for both overt and hidden

agendasagendas• Implications for legal and statutory complianceImplications for legal and statutory compliance

CO-PARENTING SKILLSCO-PARENTING SKILLS

From the Foster Family Perspective: • Know your own family and their feelings• Communicate effectively about your comfort zone• Know the children• Self-evaluate your own understanding of loss and

attachment pertaining to the child’s emotional needs

• Seek training that will expand knowledge• Ask yourself how you would like to build

connections

CO-PARENTINGCO-PARENTING

• Strategize how the process can build self –Strategize how the process can build self –esteem in the child and the bio familyesteem in the child and the bio family

• Assure yourself that health and safety of the Assure yourself that health and safety of the child and foster family will be maintainedchild and foster family will be maintained

• Jointly monitor the impact of the process as Jointly monitor the impact of the process as it unfoldsit unfolds

• Accept that there needs to be elasticity in Accept that there needs to be elasticity in the processthe process

CO-PARENTINGCO-PARENTING

How does working in partnership with birth parents How does working in partnership with birth parents validate the role of the foster family?validate the role of the foster family?

• Foster parents have the responsibility to provide safe and Foster parents have the responsibility to provide safe and nurturing homes for the children in our care. nurturing homes for the children in our care.

• Foster parents commit to helping their children grow and Foster parents commit to helping their children grow and develop.develop.

• Foster parents work with their agency to keep the best Foster parents work with their agency to keep the best interest of the child a priority.interest of the child a priority.

CO-PARENTINGCO-PARENTING

• Identifying the opportunities Identifying the opportunities and challenges inherent in and challenges inherent in creating a partnership with the creating a partnership with the birth parents that opens the birth parents that opens the door to the child’s best interests door to the child’s best interests and permanency planning.and permanency planning.

CO-PARENTINGCO-PARENTING

Birth Family Perspective: Birth Family Perspective: Components of an Components of an effective effective partnership partnership with with foster family:foster family:

• Willingness to work in cooperationWillingness to work in cooperation• Effective communicationEffective communication• Recognition that both families can Recognition that both families can

make valuable contributionsmake valuable contributions• Clear expectations and roles/ Clear expectations and roles/

boundaries are set and re-boundaries are set and re-examined examined

• Honesty and TrustHonesty and Trust

CO-PARENTINGCO-PARENTING

Barriers from the birth parents’ Barriers from the birth parents’ perspectives:perspectives:

• Sense of failureSense of failure• Lack of confidenceLack of confidence• Anger: being judgedAnger: being judged• Mistrust of the systemMistrust of the system• Personal agendasPersonal agendas

CO-PARENTINGCO-PARENTING

• Overall lack of Overall lack of information sharinginformation sharing

• Mistrust of the foster Mistrust of the foster parentparent

• Reluctance to ask for Reluctance to ask for training and supporttraining and support

• Inconsistent messages Inconsistent messages

CO-PARENTINGCO-PARENTING

A birth mother’s perspective, taken A birth mother’s perspective, taken from Believing in Families by from Believing in Families by Zamosky, Sharp, Hatt and Sharman.Zamosky, Sharp, Hatt and Sharman.

“ “ The foster families hold all the power…and the state already The foster families hold all the power…and the state already thinks they can do a better job than me. What chance do I thinks they can do a better job than me. What chance do I have? They have a better house, more money, and there are have? They have a better house, more money, and there are two of them and one of me. I feel like they are judging me. two of them and one of me. I feel like they are judging me. Sometimes I think it would be easier if I just gave up … and Sometimes I think it would be easier if I just gave up … and then I say no, I love my kids and I can be a good mom to then I say no, I love my kids and I can be a good mom to them… its all just so hard”.them… its all just so hard”.

CO-PARENTINGCO-PARENTING

From the agency perspective: Co-parenting must be a From the agency perspective: Co-parenting must be a part of part of every aspect of the system of care:every aspect of the system of care:

• Recruitment (How will this change who we recruit?) Recruitment (How will this change who we recruit?)

• Training /orientation-MAPPTraining /orientation-MAPP• Child placement logisticsChild placement logistics• Team meeting/family team conferenceTeam meeting/family team conference• Case plan conferencesCase plan conferences• Individualizing the expectationsIndividualizing the expectations

CO-PARENTINGCO-PARENTING

““Building a relationship with families necessitates Building a relationship with families necessitates reevaluating and rethinking the way we reevaluating and rethinking the way we fundamentally intervene with families. It requires fundamentally intervene with families. It requires being able to communicate to families our being able to communicate to families our unwavering conviction that birth parents can unwavering conviction that birth parents can grow and safely care for their children”.grow and safely care for their children”.

Believing in Families - Zamosky, Sharp, Hatt and Believing in Families - Zamosky, Sharp, Hatt and SharmanSharman

CO-PARENTINGCO-PARENTINGCo-parenting strategies support the Co-parenting strategies support the

children children • More child-centeredMore child-centered• Less adversarial Less adversarial • More organized/Less fragmentedMore organized/Less fragmented• Communication framed in neutral termsCommunication framed in neutral terms• Reduces child’s externalizing behaviorReduces child’s externalizing behavior• Presents a united parenting front mediates Presents a united parenting front mediates

instabilityinstability• Both parties become active listeners of the Both parties become active listeners of the

childchild• Information can be shared as opposed to Information can be shared as opposed to

message delivery onlymessage delivery only• Addresses problems without blameAddresses problems without blame

Preliminary Research on Preliminary Research on Approaches to Co-parentingApproaches to Co-parenting

Basic premise is that child’s emotional Basic premise is that child’s emotional adjustment to foster care can be best adjustment to foster care can be best facilitated when there is an facilitated when there is an acknowledgement that the caregivers will acknowledgement that the caregivers will have unequal roles over the life of the case, have unequal roles over the life of the case, when they agree that direct communication when they agree that direct communication can help the child, and when they can can help the child, and when they can communicate about potential interpersonal communicate about potential interpersonal conflict.conflict.

One Study – Approach to Co-parenting One Study – Approach to Co-parenting (Linares, Montalto, Li & Oza, 2006(Linares, Montalto, Li & Oza, 2006

• Study in New York examined effects when Study in New York examined effects when biological parents and foster parents (non biological parents and foster parents (non kinship) attended sessions of parenting classes kinship) attended sessions of parenting classes together.together.

• Pairs of bio and foster parents were randomized Pairs of bio and foster parents were randomized into treatment as usual vs. joint interventioninto treatment as usual vs. joint intervention

• Bio parents got 2 hours parenting weekly by Bio parents got 2 hours parenting weekly by themselves and 1 hour jointly with foster parents themselves and 1 hour jointly with foster parents in the study intervention.in the study intervention.

Criteria for ParticipantsCriteria for Participants

• Substantiated child maltreatment caseSubstantiated child maltreatment case• Residence in a non kinship foster homeResidence in a non kinship foster home• Goal was reunificationGoal was reunification• 64 parent pairs enrolled/randomized64 parent pairs enrolled/randomized• Evidence-based curriculum was used Evidence-based curriculum was used

(Incredible Years, Webster-Stratton, 2001)(Incredible Years, Webster-Stratton, 2001)• Co-facilitated group leaders did bio only and Co-facilitated group leaders did bio only and

joint groupjoint group

Study ProtocolStudy Protocol

• Assessments were done at baseline, post Assessments were done at baseline, post completion and at 3 months follow-upcompletion and at 3 months follow-up

• Goal of joint sessions: expand knowledge of Goal of joint sessions: expand knowledge of each other, practiced open communication, each other, practiced open communication, negotiated inter-parental topics of conflict negotiated inter-parental topics of conflict such as discipline, bedtimessuch as discipline, bedtimes

• Fidelity to the curriculum was monitored Fidelity to the curriculum was monitored through taped sessions looking at format through taped sessions looking at format and group processand group process

AssessmentsAssessments

• Parenting Practices Interview (Webster-Stratton, Parenting Practices Interview (Webster-Stratton, 1998)1998)

• Family Functioning Style Scale(Dunst, Trivette and Family Functioning Style Scale(Dunst, Trivette and Deal, 1998)Deal, 1998)

• Child Behavior Check List (Achenbach,1991)Child Behavior Check List (Achenbach,1991)• HOME (Caldwell & Bradley, 1984)HOME (Caldwell & Bradley, 1984)• Additional child behavior inventories Additional child behavior inventories • Session Attendance Session Attendance

OutcomesOutcomes

• For intervention group there was For intervention group there was endorsement by both sets of parents for use endorsement by both sets of parents for use of positive disciplineof positive discipline

• Both groups demonstrated clearer Both groups demonstrated clearer understanding of appropriate understanding of appropriate developmental expectationsdevelopmental expectations

• Higher degree of flexibility Higher degree of flexibility • Consensus on less externalizing behaviors Consensus on less externalizing behaviors

of the childof the child

Implications for Practice**Implications for Practice**

• Co-parenting approaches should Co-parenting approaches should incorporate structured strategies for how incorporate structured strategies for how the pairs of parents will interact effectivelythe pairs of parents will interact effectively

• Participation of both sets of parents in some Participation of both sets of parents in some joint trainings is one strategyjoint trainings is one strategy

• Gain buy-in from the agencies and child Gain buy-in from the agencies and child welfare that the benefits are understood but welfare that the benefits are understood but that the challenges will occurthat the challenges will occur

Implications for PracticeImplications for Practice

• Conceptually having the pairs of parents on Conceptually having the pairs of parents on the same page can support the child’s the same page can support the child’s emotional well-beingemotional well-being

• Training would need to include trust Training would need to include trust building and structured procedures for how building and structured procedures for how all would communicate and interactall would communicate and interact

• Shows promise as a strategy to support Shows promise as a strategy to support “best interests” of the child.“best interests” of the child.

Where do we go next?Where do we go next?

• Development of agency protocols for Development of agency protocols for foster families and biological foster families and biological families so that interactions occur in families so that interactions occur in an organized, agreed upon manner.an organized, agreed upon manner.

• Clarification of roles and Clarification of roles and responsibilitiesresponsibilities

• Define what co-parenting looks like Define what co-parenting looks like in our community and how it is to be in our community and how it is to be implemented.implemented.

• Challenges and impedimentsChallenges and impediments

Health and permanency Opportunities

To Learn

AdequateShelter and

Nourishment

Safe Homes

SafeEnvironments

SecureAttachment

Relationships

BU

Co-ParentingCo-Parenting• Is a strategy where foster parents work in partnership with Is a strategy where foster parents work in partnership with

the child’s birth parents toward the goal of reunification. the child’s birth parents toward the goal of reunification. This team approach to parenting allows both families to This team approach to parenting allows both families to bring their strengths to focus on the well-being of the child bring their strengths to focus on the well-being of the child and allows the child to focus on growing, learning, playing and allows the child to focus on growing, learning, playing and developing to his/her potential during a difficult time.and developing to his/her potential during a difficult time.

Benefits of Co-ParentingBenefits of Co-Parenting::• Puts the minds of the birth parents at ease to meet the Puts the minds of the birth parents at ease to meet the

people who are caring for their children.people who are caring for their children.

• Gives the parents access to asking personal questions of Gives the parents access to asking personal questions of the caregivers about the children's mental and physical the caregivers about the children's mental and physical health as well as school, day care and everyday health as well as school, day care and everyday happenings.happenings.

  

Benefits of Co-parenting - Benefits of Co-parenting - continuedcontinued

• Encourages the birth parents that the caregivers of their children Encourages the birth parents that the caregivers of their children are working with them to obtain reunification by encouraging are working with them to obtain reunification by encouraging positive parenting with their children.positive parenting with their children.

• Provides the family engagement team with 24/7 knowledge of how Provides the family engagement team with 24/7 knowledge of how the process is affecting the children and their relationship to the the process is affecting the children and their relationship to the birth parents.birth parents.

  • Is the stepping stone to support the birth parents in continued Is the stepping stone to support the birth parents in continued

communication with their children in a more natural environment communication with their children in a more natural environment than the supervised visits, whether it be telephone communication, than the supervised visits, whether it be telephone communication, unsupervised visits, accompanying the foster parent to doctor visits unsupervised visits, accompanying the foster parent to doctor visits and school events and/or meetings etc.and school events and/or meetings etc.

• Supports the family engagement team in the goal of reunification Supports the family engagement team in the goal of reunification through reinforcement of positive support and encouragement of through reinforcement of positive support and encouragement of the birth parents to complete their tasks and reunify with their the birth parents to complete their tasks and reunify with their children.children.

Practice changes:Practice changes:

• Foster parents who accept children with Foster parents who accept children with a goal of reunification commit to a goal of reunification commit to participate in co-parenting.participate in co-parenting.

• Foster parents meet with the parents Foster parents meet with the parents within 48 hours of the child’s removal in within 48 hours of the child’s removal in an “ice breaker” meeting facilitated by an “ice breaker” meeting facilitated by the case manager. The team begins the case manager. The team begins exploring how to best support the family exploring how to best support the family including how the foster parents will including how the foster parents will support and encourage the biological support and encourage the biological family.family.

What Foster parents do What Foster parents do to engage the birth to engage the birth

family :family :• Transport child to visits with biological families.Transport child to visits with biological families.

• Send them pictures of the child. Send them pictures of the child.

• Send them the child’s school work/report cards.Send them the child’s school work/report cards.

• Have the child write them a letter or make a Have the child write them a letter or make a picture. picture.

• Invite them to sporting events the child is Invite them to sporting events the child is involved in. involved in.

What Foster parents do to What Foster parents do to engage the birth family :engage the birth family :

• Invite them to birthday parties and school Invite them to birthday parties and school events. events.

• Encourage them to attend the child’s Encourage them to attend the child’s medical/dental/psychological appointments. medical/dental/psychological appointments.

• Arrange with other foster parents to do sibling Arrange with other foster parents to do sibling visits if the children are separated.visits if the children are separated.

• Share the details of important milestones in the Share the details of important milestones in the

child’s life, such as walking, talking, starting child’s life, such as walking, talking, starting school, awards, etc. school, awards, etc.

  

Next steps: Next steps: ImplementationImplementation

• Jurisdictional planning-where are we now?Jurisdictional planning-where are we now?• Getting the buy-in from families and Getting the buy-in from families and

staffersstaffers• Monitoring practice changes at the Monitoring practice changes at the

practitioner level-how will we know what practitioner level-how will we know what we have changedwe have changed

• Seeking client satisfaction feedbackSeeking client satisfaction feedback• Examining ways to measure improved Examining ways to measure improved

outcomes of familiesoutcomes of families