Lewis County Table of Ten
In a spirit of partnership and collaboration our mission is to assure that each child in our community has a safe, stable, and permanent living environment that fosters a healthy and fulfilling life.
We value:
- supporting principles of sound permanent planning
-preserving and strengthening healthy relationships whenever possible
- recognizing the individuality of each family and child
- serving children and families on a timely and effective basis
- Engaging families early in assessments and services for timely and effective outcomes
- promoting access to family development resources
Core Strategies
1. Build a strong dependency alumni group and victim impact panel to help present Dependency 101.
2. Provide home based mentoring for healthy parenting.
3. Increase early and easy access to services.
4. Hold consistent and meaningful pre-fact finding Family Team Decision Meetings.
Critical Behaviors
1. Consistently hold meaningful Family Team Decision Meetings prior to the 1st set Fact Finding.
2. Provide meaningful opportunities for parents, support people chosen by parents, relatives, attorneys, GAL / CASA, service providers, social workers, and community supports to come together and help the family at the Family Team Decision Meeting.
3. At each Family Team Decision Meeting, address the family's strengths as well as things they need to work on. Develop a concrete plan for placement as well as a plan to meet the needs of both the child and the parents..
4. The Commissioner will encourage everyone to participate in the Family Team Decision Meeting as a means to reach agreement and avoid litigation. She will inquire at each first set fact finding hearing as to whether a Family Team Decision Meeting has been held, and if it has not, will inquire as to when one is scheduled.
Measure of Success
The county will measure success by examining the reduction of time in care with no completed plan. Base-line data points as of 9-24-08 are as follows:
Time in Care __ ____________Percentage of Total # of Children in Care
>2 mo. to 6 mo. .........................................11.4%
>6 mo. to 1 year.........................................11.4%
>1 to 2 years..............................................32.9%
>2 to 3 years.............................................17.1%
>3 to 4 years.............................................10.7%
>4 years...................................................16.4%
***** Note: numbers are unofficial and are not intended for any use beyond a Table of Ten tracking measure.