EnhancingStrengths/Needs Based Practice:

Effectively Assessing Behaviors to meet the Unmet Needs of Children and Families

Day 2

UCLA Center on Child Welfare

Agenda Welcome Back! Housekeeping Agenda

Lessons Learned Highlights from Day 1 Share the transfer of learning activities:

› Strengths/Needs Assessment Checklist› Strengths/Needs Matrix

The safety factors Your initial Bio/Psycho/Social hunches

Reviewing the Strengths/Needs MatrixJack

Linking:› Behaviors & Concerns› Client Hunches› CSW Hunches› Needs & Needs Statement› Desired Outcomes

Completing the Strengths/ Needs MatrixJack

Identifying Mobilized Strengths

Crafting Solutions & Strategies

Paradigm Shift in Practice Coaching & Mentoring

› The Family › The Caregivers› The Team

Challenging Behavioral Expression: Families and Workers

Child Safety

Coaching to EnhanceStrengths/Needs Based Practice

Challenging Behavioral Expression: Families & Workers

Child Safety

Establish beliefs & truths about the personBased on past information both good and badOften focused on deficit model thinkingOften based on judgments and bias

Coaching to EnhanceStrengths/Needs Based Practice

Confirmation Bias occurs when we selectively notice or

focus upon evidence which tends to support the things we already believe or want to be true while ignoring that evidence which would serve to disconfirm those beliefs or ideas. Confirmation bias plays a stronger role than empirical evidence.

Recency Bias is the tendency to extrapolate

information from recent events to make concrete decisions about the future. The recency effect is a cognitive bias that results from disproportionate attention to recent observations. This occurs when CSWs only attend to that which has been occurring in the recent history of a family and NOT their long term patterns.

Challenging Behavioral Expression: Families & Workers

Child Safety

Establish beliefs & truths about the personYour language and actions reflect your beliefs

Coaching to EnhanceStrengths/Needs Based Practice

Challenging Behavioral Expression: Families & Workers

Child Safety

Establish beliefs & truths about the personYour language and actions reflect your beliefsYour actions impact and influence the actions of others

Coaching to EnhanceStrengths/Needs Based Practice

Coaching to EnhanceStrengths/Needs Based Practice

Beliefs drive our thoughts Thoughts drive our language Language drives our actions Our actions influence the thoughts,

language and actions of those around you› We pick up on the emotional

tone/energy from those around us and act/behave accordingly

Gathering Information & Making Assessments from a Deficit

Focus1. I do not value this person2. This person is incompetent and

unmotivated, and can’t solve their own problems

3. I know the answers and it is up to me to solve this person’s problems

4. I questions this person’s abilities and commitment

5. This person is time consuming and wears me out!

Gathering Information & MakingAssessments from a Strength Focus1. This person has value and is

worthwhile2. This person is capable and has the

ability to make a difference3. This person has his/her own answers

and can identify their underlying needs

4. This person is an inspiration to me5. This person deserves to be treated

with dignity and respect

Strengths/Needs MatrixSmith Case VignetteDenise

ONE Behavior & Concern Client Hunches CSW Hunches Desired Outcome Needs Statement Mobilized Strengths Services/Strategies

Link to

Safety Concerns

Lunch

A Principle of the Strength Based Perspective

Supports Cultural Awareness & Humility Why is this important?

Adapted from office of Affirmative Action

Know Yourself and the Families With Whom You Work

Parallel Process Administrators

SupervisorsSocial

Workers & Collaborative

PartnersParents & CaregiversChildren

Communication Guidelines Recognize your communication style Expect to learn something about

yourself and others Speak clearly and use personal

examples when making a point Participate honestly and openly Engage in the process by listening,

as well as speaking Confidentiality Take responsibility for yourself and

what you say

Race Color National Origin Religion Sex Political Affiliation Disability Age Marital Status Sexual Orientation

› (California Specific)

Civil Rights Protected Areas

Defining DiversityDiversity is defined as race,

gender, age, language, physical characteristics, disability, sexual

orientation, economic status, parental status, education,

geographic origin, profession, life style, religion, personality,

position in the company hierarchy, and any other

difference.

Four Layers of Diversity

•Organizational•External• Internal •Personality

Review: Smith Family Vignette

What are some of categories/groups

that the Smith Family belongs to?

Questions will be asked about our diversity and experiences

Please raise your hand to identify what group best describes you

Cultural Awareness Activity:Who We Are

Defining Culture

Culture is life-styles, habits, behavior patterns, customs, rituals, language and other unique characteristics of a given people or group.

Culture is developed and refined over time

Expressions of Culture Food, Music, Rituals Communication and Language Dress and Appearance Time Consciousness Rewards and Recognition Relationships Values and Norms Sense of Self and Space Beliefs and Attitudes

Expressions of Culture

We all judge and place value on these expressions of culture as:

Helpful HurtfulHealthy UnhealthyConstructive DestructiveGood Bad

Expressions of Culture Our judgments & values of

culture have a basis in:

Personal Systemic• Bias • Fear• Awareness• Understanding

• Research• Laws • Policy• Education

From the first CPS activity, in which category have you experienced this?

How did it make you feel? How did you respond? Where do you think you learned this

response?

Personal Experiences of Bias and Discrimination

Self Reflection Worksheet Identify three personal biases you

have about a group of people: › Resolved › Current › Emerging

For each personal bias, indicate:› What circumstances/experiences caused

you to have this bias? › How has this bias caused you to feel,

think , and react toward this group of people?

Questions will be asked regarding your feelings/beliefs about different groups of people

Indicate your response using the remote control

Classroom Performance System Activity:Identifying Our Biases

Identifying Our Biases Why is it important to

continuously become aware of our biases?› To enhance our strength based practice

with all families› To ensure that we are treating all

families with dignity & respect› To ensure that we are giving all families

equal access to services› To ensure that we are not contributing to

disproportionality/disparity in CWS

Diversity Appreciation Scale

AppreciationAcceptanceToleranceAvoidanceRepulsion

Changing Your Biased Behavioral ResponseWhen Working with Families

Revisit Self-Reflection Worksheet:› How did you change/ improve your

bias behavioral response? › How does this support the paradigm

shift to strengths/needs based practice?

› How does this support enhancing cultural competence?

Life’s Lessons: People work best when

they feel appreciated/accepted

People cannot work at their best when they feel tolerated/avoided

Each individual is on a continuum of self reflection and awareness on their life journey

Transfer of Learning Complete Strengths/

Needs TOL Checklist for Day 2

What information/ strategies/ practices will you take back into the field with you?

Coming Attractions Engaging Families Teaming Coaching and Mentoring

Have a Wonderful Evening! Closing and Evaluations