Parent Collaboration Group Newsletter

4/23/04

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services launched the Parent Collaboration Group (PCG) in September of 2001 to provide a venue for gathering and incorporating parental feedback to enhance child protective services.

The PCG is a partnership between DFPS' Child Protective Services division and parents who are or have been recipients of services from CPS.

The mission of the PCG is to provide:

• Input from stakeholders to CPS regarding developing policy;
• Recommendations to CPS regarding how services may be improved to children and families;
• Training opportunities to workers regarding the parent perspective; and
• Support to parents and function as a catalyst to like parents and the agency in partnerships that encompass statewide policy development as well as day-to-day casework practice.
  

The objectives of the PCG include the following:

• Increase the number of parent liaisons in FY11 to include more fathers;
• Develop a structure for CPS-Parent partnerships in policy and practice components that will become a vital element of local regional and state operations;
• Expand the Parent Collaboration Group advisory model throughout the state;
• Improve the skills, qualifications, and availability of individuals providing services to children and families;
• Distribute the message to staff and parents regarding the value of a family voice; and
• Support the Disproportionality efforts at the regional and state level.
  

The goals of the Parent Collaboration Group include:

• Identify gaps in services to families and children;
• Identify what services are working and should continue;
• Identify areas of policy that need improvement;
• Provide a wayfor parents to make recommendations for policy changes; and
• Identify how parents can be instrumental in improving a social worker's skills in relating to parents.
  

Approach

The Parent Collaboration Group (PCG) model is one in which local DFPS staff partner with local parent liaisons to enhance services and communication between the agency and families who are being provided CPS services in local communities. The PCG model provides for co-leadership at the state level by a staff person from DFPS state office and a parent who is a former recipient of CPS services. Local leadership for the group includes DFPS regional liaisons and regional parent liaisons. DFPS regional liaisons are selected by regional management staff and include CPS direct service staff.

Regional DFPS staff or current parent liaisons nominate future parent liaisons.

Parent Volunteers must comply with all the policy requirements for a Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) volunteer.

Participants will engage in discussions of practices relevant to the state's child protective services system. Focus will be placed on the investigative process, family-based safety services, and foster care. During each session a specific area of agency practice will be discussed allowing service recipients to identify those practices that work effectively and those that are problematic and to develop recommendations for enhancement of the current service delivery system.

The core activities of the PCG provide an avenue to obtain stakeholder input and feedback, and to develop support and liaison roles between the agency and parents.

Expected Outcomes

Cooperation and collaboration statewide will be improved between parents and the agency. CPS workers' ability to work with families effectively will be enhanced because they will have a better understanding of the parents' needs. It is hoped that policy changes recommended by the PCG will result in more efficient and improved services. These improved services will better meet the needs of the parents, resulting in decreased repeat involvement, fewer removals, and safe children.

Progress and Accomplishments of the Parent Collaboration Group include:

• Changes to the Parent Guide "While Your Child is in Foster Care"
• A video made by parents and CPS staff to train CPS workers
• Inclusion in the IV-B State Plan
• Inclusion in the Program Improvement Plan for the Child and Family Service Review

Regional Parent Collaboration Groups

Each region now has at least one Parent Support Group. The purpose of these support groups are to:

• information about the CPS system;
  
• hope and support;
  
• empowerment and encouragement;
  
• parent facilitator sharing their personal story;
  
• short question and answer session; and
  
• provision of information about various community services
  

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