Iowa Crisis Child Care: Care For Our Children During a Crisis

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Iowa Crisis Child CareCare For Our Children
During a Crisis
2008 National Lifespan Respite Conference
September 5th, 2008

• Iowa Crisis Child Care Provider Panel
• Brenda Ristvedt, Buchanan County
• Lou Ann Mowrey, Carroll County
• Ann McQuerry, Linn County
• Jana Enfield, Marshall County

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What are Crisis Nurseries?
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Federal Definition

• Temporary care for children who are at risk of
  abuse or neglect or who have experienced abuse or
  neglect.
• Offer child care free of charge for a maximum of
  30 days in any year.
• Usually available 24 hours a day.
• Accept children at any time, day or night, in
  order to relieve the potential or existing
  emergency in the family.
• (Arch Fact Sheet, 1, revised March
  1994)

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How do they prevent child maltreatment?

• Temporary placement
• Stabilize family and child crisis
• Provide family support and education
• Offer service linkages
• Create a system of support for families

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Why is Crisis Nursery Care Effective?

• Breaks the cycle of child abuse and neglect
• Keeps children out of the public system
• Offers proactive, preventative innovative care
• Reunification in shorter period of time
• Economic value at county, state and national level

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What is IowaCrisis Child Care?
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1989
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History

• 1991 - National Recognition
• Iowas Crisis Child Care projects are sited in
  Congressional Testimony as premier sites in the
  nation by Dr. Wade Horn, Commissioner of Children
  Youth and Families.

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1991
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History

• 1991 - Iowa Legislation establishing a special
  child care classification for Crisis Child Care.
• 1993 - Iowa Crisis Child Care personnel assisted
  the Iowa Department of Human Services in writing
  IAC 441-118 Crisis Child Care Providers.

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History

• 1992 - Evaluation
• Study conducted by Dr. Perle Slavik Cowen, Ph,D.,
  RN., University of Iowa.
• Study indicated a 13 decrease in the reported
  incidence of child abuse in the initial four
  pilot counties during the period of time
  following implementation of the Crisis Child Care
  program.

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History

• 1994 - Rural Regional Outreach
  Centers established
• Crisis Child Care services available in 31 Iowa
  counties
• 1997 - Iowa Crisis Child Care and Iowa Respite
  Coalition join to form the Iowa Respite and
  Crisis Care Coalition.

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Iowa Crisis Child Care

• Mission
• To prevent child abuse by alleviating
  
  
  parental stress during times of
• family crisis or emergency.
• Purpose
• Provide families with a temporary rest from the
  challenges of caring for children
• Provide temporary, safe environment for children

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Iowa Crisis Child Care

• Strategies
• Provide crisis intervention services
• Provide emergency childcare
• Provide family support
• Provide information and referrals

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Iowa Crisis Child Care GOALS

• To reduce parental stress
• To increase child safety
• To increase family stability

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Iowa Crisis Child Care

• Definitions
• Crisis means an emergency situation which may
  result in a child being abused or neglected.
• Crisis Child Care is available 24 hours a day,
  7 days a week for up to 72 hours per placement
  episode, not to exceed 30 days in any year.

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Iowa Crisis Child Care

• Definitions
• Crisis Child Care Provider means a licensed
  child care center or registered child development
  home.
• Eligible Child means any child living in the
  service area whose family is experiencing a
  crisis and whose parent or legal guardian
  voluntarily enrolls them.

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Provocation of Need

• Parental Stress
• Medical
• Mental Health
• Substance Abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Housing Issues
• Death in Family

Crisis?
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Iowa Crisis Child Care is

• NOT a substitute for routine child care
• NOT for local appointments
• NOT for children with extreme, aggressive
  behaviors fire-starters runaways, sexual
  perpetrators etc.

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Iowa Crisis Child Care

• Personnel
• Program Director
• 24-Hour Crisis Line Staff
• Childcare Providers

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Procedure

• Family Calls In
• Assess Need
• Assess Eligibility
• Gather Family Information
• Arrange Care with the Provider
• Finalize Arrangements with Family
• Complete Intake Process

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Procedure

• Transport to Provider
• Provide Childcare
• Reunite the Family
• Follow-up Services

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Crisis Child Care Providers

• Registered or licensed with State of Iowa
• Background checks
• Reference checks
• Bi-annual site visits (announced, unannounced)
• Additional training

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Involuntary Placement

• Iowa Code 239.79a Child without Adult
  Supervision
• A peace officer may take a child into custody or
  a physician treating a child may keep the child
  in custody without a court orderand without
  consent of the parent, guardian, or custodian
• The child is in a circumstance or condition that
  presents imminent danger to the childs life or
  health.

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Involuntary Placement

• Why would a physician remove?
• Suspected child abuse or neglect
• Concerned about caretakers ability to parent

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Involuntary Placement

• Why would law enforcement remove?
• Arrests
• Child with no caretaker
• Unsafe home environment

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Involuntary Placement
Drug Endangered Children (DEC)
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Removal Procedure

• Crisis Child Care contacted by law enforcement,
  physician or DHS
• Information secured
• Medical needs of child determined
• Removal signatures secured
• Childcare arranged with provider for up to 24
  hours

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Removal Procedure

• DHS determines placement
• (home or foster care)
• Law enforcement approves release of children

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Child-focused Care

• All children receive a Care Bag
• All children receive quality care that meets
  their individual needs

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Iowa Crisis Child Care

• Providing Emergency Care for Families since 1989