Child and Family Teams

Family Team Meetings

Family & Systems Teams

Agency Sponsorship

Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services, Children's Services

Department of Human Services, Bureau of Child and Family Services (BCFS)

Maine Children's Cabinet (DOC, DHS, BDS, DOL, DPS, DOE); Department of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Services.

Definition

A Child and Family Team creates a wraparound plan to support the family in meeting the needs they identify as important. The wraparound process is a family centered, community-oriented, strengths based and highly individualized approach to meeting the needs of children and their families both within and outside of formal human services systems, while they remain in their neighborhoods and homes, whenever possible.

A Family Team Meeting (FTM) is a therapeutic, structured, strength-based, future-focused meeting process, bringing together the individuals a family or youth identify as being supportive to them in attaining their future goals. The team comes together as needed by the family to assist them in planning for and in addressing their needs that will promote child safety, permanency, and well-being.

Family and Systems Teams is a voluntary, family focused, strengths-based program that uses a trained FST facilitator who, with the family, brings all relevant people into the planning process.  This team works in partnership with the family to create a comprehensive plan that ensures respect and safety for all.

Case Plan

Wraparound Plans are family centered, highly individualized, strengths-based, culturally competent, team developed and supported, outcome focused, needs driven, not service driven, and community based. The family, friends, neighbors and service providers develop the Wraparound Plan.

The family or youth set outcomes for their meetings. Through a process of identifying strengths and needs, and by determining how the family and team may help meet the needs, a specific plan is produced. The team may work to design/implement all or part of an overall child and family plan.

One comprehensive family plan based on holistic strengths and needs assessment, including services and supports for all identified family members

Role of Facilitator

Community targeted case manager contracted by The Department of Behavioral & Developmental Services, trained in the wraparound process; the case manager facilitates process, participates in the development, implementation and monitoring of the plan, with the family.

 Meetings are co-facilitated by a DHS worker/supervisor or provider trained in Family Team Meeting facilitation. The facilitator prepares each member of the team to participate in the meeting.

Initial facilitation and coordination provided by a neutral & trained Family and Systems Teams Facilitator. Team works in partnership with the family to then identify Lead Case Coordinator to monitor plan.

Systems Coordination

Coordination and collaboration across formal human services systems and informal community supports.

Identification and Coordination of formal and informal supports including providers, friends, clergy, relatives, employers, etc.

Coordination across adult and children's service systems, as well as family systems (friends, neighbors, community supports).

Child and Family Teams

Family Team Meetings

Family & Systems Teams

Categorical Funding Requirements

Identified child and their family must be involved with contracted community Targeted Case Management agency to access the wraparound planning process. Categorical and non-categorical funding supports the child/family wraparound plan.

The family or youth are involved with BCFS in some way. Family Team Meetings are available to families who are involved in a Child Protective Assessment, prior to the child entering foster care or to work on reunification with parents when a child is already in care.  Foster and adoptive parents in their efforts to meet a child's needs may benefit from the FTM process. Older youth planning for adulthood may use the FTM process as well as Grandparents, or other extended family caring for kin.

Family and Systems Teams is accessible to all individuals and families and is most useful for those who are not able to access another type of comprehensive team meeting process due to categorical funding barriers.  FST can be accessed either through Regional Children's Cabinets and/or through the Department of Corrections.

Disciplinary Lens

Strengths based practices with expertise in child development, mental health, developmental disabilities, and social work.

Child Welfare: safety, permanency and well being incorporated with Strengths based Social Work practice.

Independent, Neutral, Family-Centered, Cross-Systems.

Referral Process

Through local BDS contracted targeted case management agencies. 

Through DHS, provider, or family request.

Varies according to Region and existing contracts. Contact Muskie for appropriate point of entry contact at number listed below.

Referral Criteria

Must meet eligibility criteria requirements for BDS contracted community case management services. The Wraparound Process is the cornerstone in the approach and delivery of BDS contracted community case management services.

Must have some connection to BCFS and a desire to participate.

·       Family/individual participation is voluntary.

·       Two or more publicly funded programs are providing services.

·       Significant issues exist in several life domains.

·       There is no comprehensive plan.

·       There is a lack of coordination between programs.

·       Systems (regulatory/statutory/budgetary) issues impact the development or implementation of a comprehensive plan.

Training Provided by

Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services and Center for Learning, Muskie School of Public Service and trained contracted community case management agencies

Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group (Initial pilots) and Muskie School of Public Service, Child Welfare Training Institute in partnership with BCFS (remaining training).

Muskie School of Public Service, Family and Systems Teams Program in partnership with the Maine Children's Cabinet and in partnership with DOC.

For More Information

Region I - Rachel Posner at 822-0246; RII- Kathy Alley at 287-7132; RIII- Teresa Barrows at 941-4363; or Kate Corbet at 626-5023

Contact Lee Hodgin at 287-5060, or Gretchen Robbins at 626-5224

Contact RuthAnne Spence at 626-5216 or Erica Hansen at 626-5046