Team Decision Making

Team Decision Making A Collaborative Model: 

Team Decision Making A Collaborative Model Lacy Lenon

Goal of the Team Decision Making Process: 

Goal of the Team Decision Making Process To involve birth families, caregivers, community members, and educators, along with resource families, services providers and agency staff, in all placement decisions to ensure a network of support for the child and the adults who care for them.

Values of the Team Decision Making Process: 

Values of the Team Decision Making Process Every child deserves a family Every family needs the support of the community Public child welfare agencies need community partners Social worker is supported in making difficult decisions Provides a place at the table for the community, educators, counselors, and caregivers, and sends a stronger message of inclusion and partnership

Assumptions in the Team Decision Making Process: 

Assumptions in the Team Decision Making Process A group can be more effective in decision making than an individual Families are the experts about themselves When families are respectfully included in the decision making process, they are capable of identifying and participating in addressing their needs Members of the family’s own community add value to the process by serving as natural allies to the family and experts on the community’s resources

Team Decision Making Process: 

Team Decision Making Process The family’s social worker convenes the group to assist in making critical decisions. A trained agency facilitator leads a strengths-based, consensus-driven, respectful process, while modeling directness and honesty regarding risks and concerns. The social services agency maintains its responsibility to make the ultimate decision in the absence of consensus, which is stated at the beginning of the meeting.

Team Decision Making Meeting Process: 

Team Decision Making Meeting Process Facilitator begins meeting with review of the goals of the meeting. In this case, the purpose of the meeting was for the group to come to agreement on appropriate placement for a youth. The facilitator reminds the group that if consensus is not reached, DPSS has the final say in the matter.

Team Decision Making Meeting Process - Observation: 

Team Decision Making Meeting Process - Observation Participants included the following: The youth The youth’s aunt Two representatives from the youth’s current group home Mental health representative Attorney representative from the youth’s tribe Therapist from tribal social services Case social worker Social worker supervisor Foster Youth Educational Liaison School Counselor Department of Social Services office assistant and facilitator

Meeting Guidelines: 

Meeting Guidelines Reviewed by facilitator at beginning of meeting and placed on name cards in front of each participant The following are the guidelines: One person speaks at a time Be respectful, direct, and honest Do not blame or shame others It is okay to disagree, respectfully Everyone will have a chance to speak and ask questions Speak directly to the person, not about them Turn off all pagers and cell phones

Meeting Guidelines - Confidentiality: 

Meeting Guidelines - Confidentiality Facilitator reminds everyone that discussion is confidential, and that confidentiality can only be broken if it is determined that there is a possibility of abuse or harm involving the youth, or others. Facilitator explains that only in those types of circumstances could confidentiality be broken and a report would have to be made regarding the suspected abuse or harm.

Team Decision Making Meeting Problem Identification: 

Team Decision Making Meeting Problem Identification Social worker reviews youth’s case history and current placement All participants are given the opportunity to share something positive about the youth and the facilitator makes a list on a chart All participants are given the opportunity to share their concerns about the youth, which are also included on the chart

Team Decision Making Meeting Intervention Recommendations: 

Team Decision Making Meeting Intervention Recommendations The youth is given the opportunity to speak and discuss goals, which are reviewed and listed on the chart Recommendations are made regarding how the goals can be achieved Placement options are discussed which include moving the youth to live with a family member Discussion is held regarding rewards for the youth if the youth exhibits positive behavior and does not participate in the previous negative behaviors

Team Decision Meeting Implementation of Recommendations: 

Team Decision Meeting Implementation of Recommendations Facilitator confirms that all participants are in agreement regarding the new placement for the youth Facilitator discusses action plan for youth and who is responsible for each part of the action plan, and dates by which tasks are to be completed Meeting concludes with all participants signing the TDM summary and each participant completing a TDM evaluation

Team Decision Making Meeting Follow-up/Redesign: 

Team Decision Making Meeting Follow-up/Redesign Social worker follows up with all parties who have specific tasks to ensure tasks are completed Family member reports back to the social worker on youth’s progress Youth will attend all required doctor and education appointments, and will adhere to rules of new placement with family member Therapist will resume meeting with youth and family, and will provide reports to social worker

Team Decision Making Meeting Observation Critique: 

Team Decision Making Meeting Observation Critique The process of the TDM can be beneficial because it involves many different parties in making decisions regarding a youth’s removal from a placement, change of placement, reunification, or other permanent plan for a youth. The process provides for an increase in community partnership and family engagement because the meetings are opened up to birth, extended, and caregiver families. It also offers the opportunity for birth or foster parent interaction in a safe environment. The process allows for the social worker to be supported in making difficult decisions. Families are also present and involved. Excellent process for collaborating to solve issues and problems.

References: 

References Family to Family California. Retrieved from the Internet October 9, 2011: http://www.f2f.ca.gov/team.htm

The End!: 

The End! Thank you for reading this presentation. I hope you have learned something new and interesting. Lacy Lenon