Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NEWS
Jeffrey Fetzko, ACSW, LSW, CFRE
Vol. 2, No. 15, July 15, 2004
The executive director news is published specifically for the employees of the Somerset Home. This issue and past issues of this newsletter are available on our web site at http://www.somersethome.org/main/pages/employee_newsletter.htm.
DYFS Director Ed Cotton
DYFS Launches "Structured Decision Making"
"Don't trust your gut." That was the resounding message delivered to 2,800 employees of the Division of Youth and Family Services during a three-month retraining effort that wraps up this week. No longer should caseworkers bear the full weight of making life-altering decisions, such as whether children would be safer living at home or in foster care. State officials said even intuition derived from years of experience should not be trusted when evaluating a family. The new training regimen, called "structured decision-making," requires staff to grade families on a numeric scale in 20 categories. The caseworker will then tally the score to determine if children are at low, medium or high risk of harm, and get a supervisor's approval.
The ratings are based on statistical research into characteristics of families that have been investigated for maltreatment around the country. DYFS Director Edward E. Cotton calls the dramatic shift in casework "the most important element" of the entire court-ordered $320 million plan to transform the agency. More than 18 states and cities have adopted the same approach, including California, which inspired New Jersey's curriculum, said Chris Baird, vice president for the Children's Research Center. The Madison, Wis., research and training company holds a $1.26 million contract to teach the technique to DYFS staff.
Some states still value the "consensus-based" approach, which favors clinical experience, intuition, and interviewing skills, according to a study by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect.
But actuarial systems, like structured decision making, are more reliable, the study found. They "can estimate future behavior more accurately than ... even decision makers who have had extensive clinical training."
Some child welfare experts familiar with the training call structured decision making a series of computer checklists and tally sheets that workers robotically complete, leaving no room for nuance. "That's a criticism we hear very often," Baird said. "We don't think this replaces good social work, like developing a relationship with the family. This helps workers determine which cases they really ought to be putting efforts into, which families are most likely to abuse and neglect kids." Revelations about judgment errors pressured the state to change how DYFS does its job.
The case of 7-year-old Faheem Williams, who was found dead in Newark last year after DYFS closed his family's case, riveted attention on the failings of the agency. It also pressured Gov. James E. McGreevey in June 2003 to settle a four-year-old lawsuit alleging civil rights abuse against foster children. Children's Rights, Inc. the national child advocacy group that filed the lawsuit, found DYFS had returned one in five foster children to abusive parents who hurt them again, based on a record review of 500 random files. The independent panel named by the federal judge overseeing the lawsuit settlement supports the new, statistics-based approach, particularly now as DYFS plans to hire 1,450 new employees as part of its reform plan.
"You have a lot of people who don't have professional background coming in to do the work," panel chairman Steve Cohen said. "Just making sure they go through a standard process, and that a supervisor has to be part of the decision -- that alone is useful."
Staff Profile
Danielle Thompson
Recreation Coordinator/Senior Youth Counselor
Somerset Youth Shelter
Theatre trips to New York City, yoga with the girls, organizing a talent show, arts and crafts and so much more...Danielle has done it all. What impresses me most is the genuine interest she shows in every youth. The kids know they are safe with Danielle and they will have a good time.
Danielle has a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from Rutgers University and can be found Tuesday through Saturday making sure the kids are busy learning, exercising and most importantly encouraging their emotional well-being and building their self-esteem. As the summer unfolds we see Danielle busier than ever and are thankful for her energy and commitment to our kids. Thank you, Danielle... for giving our kids some fun!
My Place I
We expect to close on "My Place I" today!
Located on Third Avenue, one block from Passages, "My Place I" is a five-bed transitional living program for males. The program is currently under development and is expected to open this fall.
Staff News
Marshall Christie - Marshall has been promoted to senior case manager. Marshall will continue to provide excellent leadership, case management, crisis counseling and continue to be of invaluable assistance with hundreds of special assignments (and make it look easy)!
Tierney O'Donnell - Tierney has a new title, development coordinator. Tierney will continue to focus her energy on coordinating the fund development strategy under the leadership of Anne Bradley-Sosis, associate executive director.
Sarah Smith - Formerly the residential services coordinator, Sarah has now stepped into the case manager position at the Somerset Youth Shelter. Sarah's courteous and persuasive communication skills will come in handy as she broadens her advocacy responsibilities assisting the youth in crisis at the Somerset Youth Shelter.
Jessica O'Gara - We welcome a new employee, Jessica O'Gara as the residential services coordinator for the Somerset Youth Shelter. Jessica comes to us with experience from Carrier Clinic's East Mountain Youth Lodge and the Middlesex County ARC.
Patti Bender - Unfortunately, Patti Bender will not be returning next school year as she has accepted a teaching position close to her home in Hunterdon County. Patti has promised to help us train the new education coordinator and we are actively searching for a replacement. Please encourage anyone you may know to contact us at jobs@somersethome.org. We need a N.J.D.O.E. certified, Teacher of the Handicapped (special education) , K-12 teacher. A temporary certification may be possible for someone with a teaching certificate in another area who would be willing to complete the course work necessary to gain the TH/K-12 certification.
Human Services Commissioner James Davy visits Somerset Home’s Passages Transitional Living Program
Division of Child
Behavioral Health Services Director Kathi Way and DHS Commissioner James Davy
review case records with Passages Case Manager, Nicole Franco
New Jersey Department of Human Services Commissioner, James Davy, and Kathi
Way, director of the Division of Child Behavioral Health Services, visited
the Passages transitional living program July 8, 2004.
A portion of the $320 million Department of Human Services “New Beginnings” child welfare reform plan targets adolescents and youth transitioning out of the child welfare system. The plan calls for the development of community based “transitional living programs”, 40 new beds during this first year and adding 30-40 beds each year. “For 17 years the Passages program has been regarded as a model for this type of program and we were all very pleased the Commissioner was able to come out and see first hand the good work this program has done for aging out youth.” commented Ray Fantuzzi, a member of the Somerset Home board of trustees who was also present for the visit. “We work with kids who are initially not very optimistic about their futures and with a unique combination of supportive services these youth are heading off to college and successful careers. We are very proud of our youth graduates and dedicated staff here at Passages."
Youth who grow up in substitute care face many challenges, and are rarely equipped to live independently at age 18. While in residence at the Passages program, youth learn the skills necessary to become productive adults. The average length of stay is one year.
“The demand for services for young adults who lack a family support system to prepare and support them as they move toward independence is a critical and growing need. Our programs are overflowing with runaway and homeless youth who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and can’t live at home. We are grateful that the N.J. Department Human Services has prioritized this area in the (New Beginnings) plan and will provide additional resources to help meet the needs of the aging out population,” said Jeffrey Fetzko, executive director of Somerset Home.
Commissioner Davy’s tour guide was one of the residents. He was shocked to see the “boys side” of the building was as neat as the girls side. “Do you cook?” he asked the 18 year old male resident. “Yes, we all do” was the reply. The Commissioner also asked what services were provided and learned the in-house case management and independent living skills education were supplemented by a range of supportive services available within walking distance of the facility, including counseling, education and job opportunities.
After his visit, Commissioner Davy commented, “Somerset Home is a leader in the area of independent living skills development among youth aging out from the N.J. child welfare system. I look forward to continuing the state’s long-standing partnership with the agency.”
As always, thank you all for your continued hard work on behalf of our youth.
