Enhancing Strengths/Needs Based Practice

Enhancing Strengths/Needs Based Practice:

Effectively Assessing Behaviors to Meet the

Unmet Needs of Children and Families for SCSWs

This 1 day training for SCSWs provides a brief overview of the Core Practice Model and its Shared Practice Principles. SCSWs will be introduced to the principles of Advanced Strength Based Practice and the matrix used to identify, assess and address the unmet needs of children and families. Through skill based activities, SCSWs will understand the link between the child’s behaviors and the underlying unmet needs of children and families. SCSWs will also enhance their skills to be an effective coach and mentor, and support the transfer of learning for the CSW. Utilizing the parallel process, the SCSW will be given specific tools to support shifting their focus from CSW deficits to CSW strengths, in turn, supporting the CSW to shift their practice from family deficits to family strengths. Lastly, SCSWs will develop strategies to enhance their ability to support culturally respectful casework relationships.

Topic Areas:

Link to: Katie A. Initiative, Core Practice Model & the Shared Practice Principles

Assessing the Link between Behaviors & Underlying Needs

Introduction to the Strengths/Needs Matrix Family Vignette

Enhanced Strengths/Needs Based Practice: What is it?

Effective SCSW Coaching in a Strength Based Context

Learning Objectives

Knowledge

1. Participants will understand the philosophy and relationship between the Core Practice Model and the Shared Practice Principles.

2. Participants will understand the principles of Advanced Strength Based Practice with children, families and all members of the team.

3. Participants will understand the link between the child’s behaviors and their underlying needs as they relate to safety, permanence and well-being.

UCLA Center on Child Welfare: October 2011 4. Participants will understand the importance of writing a child’s needs statement which identifies and focuses on children’s underlying unmet needs.

5. Participants will understand the need to support their workers in shifting from a focus on the family’s deficits to their strengths to meet their child’s needs.

6. Participants will understand the importance of helping their workers to address values and biases to support culturally respectful casework relationships.

Skills

1. Using a family vignette, participants will a. Demonstrate Advanced Strength Based Practice skills with children and families.

b. Demonstrate their ability to support the family and caregivers shift from a focus on the family’s deficits to a focus of identifying and utilizing the family’s strengths to meet their child’s needs.

c. Assess the child’s behaviors and identify the underlying needs impacting safety, permanence and well-being.

d. Write a strength based needs statement for child and family.

e. Craft supports and services with families and caregivers to directly meet the child’s safety, permanence and well being needs.

2. Using table based activities; participants will develop strategies to enhance their ability to support culturally respectful relationships in casework practice.

3. In a transfer of learning activity, participants will complete an individualized strength /needs assessment check list.

Values

1. Participants will value the importance of understanding the philosophy and relationship between the Core Practice Model and Shared Practice Principles to enhance their worker’s strengths/needs based casework practice.

2. Participants will value the importance of understanding principles of Advanced Strength Based Practice with children, families and all members of the team.

UCLA Center on Child Welfare: October 2011 3. Participants will value the ability to identify and assess the link between the child’s behaviors and their underlying needs as they relate to safety, permanence and well- being.

4. Participants will value the importance of developing a needs statement with the child and family as an enhanced strength based practice.

5. Participants will value the importance of utilizing Advanced Strength Based Practice strategies and principles to support the family in addressing the unmet needs of the child and family.

6. Participants will value their ability to support their workers in shifting from a focus on the family’s deficits to a focus on identifying and utilizing the family’s strengths to meet their child’s needs

7. Participants will appreciate the importance of helping their workers to address values and biases to support culturally respectful relationships in casework practice.

UCLA Center on Child Welfare: October 2011