A7 - The Positive Impact of the Infant-Toddler Court Program in Supporting Child and Family Access to Services

The typed transcription of this session can be found HERE

Full Description: For families involved with the child welfare system (CWS), access to and timely receipt of services and supports is imperative to prevent a child’s removal, promote reunification with their family, and to address urgent developmental and family needs. This session will describe how infant-toddler court teams are a collaborative practice that integrates and coordinate systems and services for very young children and families in CWS. ITCP sites employ a ‘family team’ approach, with professionals supporting the family and ITCP Community Coordinator working with parents and other family members frequently through “family team meetings” to (a) expedite developmental screenings, health and mental health assessments, referrals, and linkages to economic and other supports, (b) identify and address new needs, and (c) foster an environment of compassion, transparency, and problem-solving that is responsive to the developmental needs of the child and holistic needs of the family.
Even in the face of considerable barriers associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, ITCP sites continue supporting child and family access to services. We compared families enrolled at ITCP sites between April 2019 and February 2020 with families enrolled the period of April 2020 to February 2021, analyzing services data through July 2021. Overall, the results showed that families were more likely to participate in a family team meeting within 30 or fewer days of the previous meeting during COVID compared to pre COVID (OR 1.7, CI: 1.0-2.8, p<.05). Additionally, both access (99% pre COVID, 97% during COVID) and time to receipt for services to address children’s health care needs was maintained during the first year of COVID (24 days pre-COVID and 18 days during COVID). Receipt in 30 days or less was significantly more likely during COVID (78%) compared to pre-COVID (64%; OR 3.8, CI: 1.6-8.9 p<.01). Children with special needs were more likely to receive health services within 30 or fewer days (OR 6.6, CI: 2.2-19.2, p<.001) and those with one or more areas of developmental concern were more likely to receive health services within 30 or fewer days (OR 3.5, CI: 1.1-11.3, p<.05).
The session will then move to hearing from two ITCP Community Coordinators who are housed in the public health unit of the Department of Health & Human Services of St. Louis County, Minnesota. They will describe the work taking place at their sites to connect families with prevention services and supports and treatment needs related to chemical dependency – including innovative support for families involved with child welfare system but before ‘foster care’ is court ordered. The presenters will describe the importance of being housed within public health in fostering a direct connection to prevention services and community supports and to public health nurse home visiting, the critical role of family team meetings, and of public health nurses in facilitating access to needed services.

Abbreviated Description: This workshop will describe the Infant-Toddler Court Program’s (ITCP) collaborative practice approach to integrate and coordinate systems and services for very young children and families who become involved with the child welfare system. Despite the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the ITCP demonstrated positive impacts in supporting child and family access to services during the first year of the pandemic. ITCP sites will reflect on their collaborative efforts to connect families with prevention services, supports, and treatment needs.