Family Engagement Research Paper

Client engagement is important, and assuring there are lines of communications is what is needed in case planning for children. Families are the experts on their lives and caseworker and client collaboration is important. Social services agencies and caseworker practice guidelines vary from state to state, agency to agency with the overall goal safety of the child above all. Family teaming is a practice technique used in several states and is mandatory in twelve (Freundlich, 2010). Family teaming can occur at any point during the case planning process. There is involvement of parents and other family members in planning for the safety of the child. Family teaming can be facilitated by the caseworker of the family or by a person from an outside
agency affiliated with the social services agency. South Carolina family team meetings are contracted out to another independent agency. Family teaming may not always be required by policy but is beneficial to children and their families. Families are able to become empowered as their voices are heard and suggestions are taken into consideration in case planning. Family teaming also identifies family strengths. It also encourages active listening and collaborative problem solving. Family teaming not only includes the immediate family but also can include extended family and other special persons that have a relationship with the child and family. As each child protection agency is always seeking to build on and improve on its services, recently South Carolina beginning to integrate the Signs of Safety Framework (SOS) as part of policy practice. Signs of Safety began in 1990, building on solution-focused therapy, the experiences of families and the overall experience of effective practice by child protective workers. Currently Signs of Safety is used in seventeen countries worldwide and in all of the United States. The underlining principles of the SOS framework are; working relationships are fundamental, with families and other professionals. Stance of critical inquiry, always being prepared to admit you may have it wrong. Landing grand aspirations in everyday practice. The disciplines that guide caseworker practice are; having a clear distinction between past harm, future harm, and complicating factors. Seeking a clear distinction between family strengths and their protective factors.
Caseworkers should use plain language when speaking with families, caseworkers should use statements that focus on specific observable behaviors of the family. Also there is a focus on a skillful use of caseworker authority ("Signs of Safety"). Signs of Safety offers assessment tools for caseworker engagement, parent engagement, and child engagement. These tools are overall used to plan for the safety of the children. Research suggests that caseworker use of the Signs of safety framework has several benefits to the families and children. Children are empowered as they are able to express themselves using words and by the use of age appropriate assessment tools. Families are empowered because they are able to understand what is going on with their case and they are able to work collaboratively with the agency to address safety concerns. Caseworkers are also empowered because they are able to build meaningful relationships with families as they are on a journey to strengthen their families ("Signs of Safety"). Family teaming and signs of safety are proven useful techniques in child welfare case practice and the results of these interventions are still currently being
studied.