Family Practice Model

Family Practice Model

Diagram of Family Practice Model framework, featuring two parallel lists. On the left, under the Case Management heading, is listed Plan, Assess, and Engage. On the right, under the Workforce Development heading, is listed Resource, Prepare, and Support. Underneath it all is a foundation of DCYF agency values: Inclusion, Respect, Integrity, Compassion, and Transparency.

The Family Practice Model (FPM) is a response to DCYF's Strategic Initiative to Improve the Quality and Intention of Practice through operationalizing agency values. It is an organizing framework that provides equal value to:

  • Engaging, assessing, and planning with families
  • Agency and leadership commitments to resource, prepare, and support child welfare professionals, for success in working with children, youth, and families

The FPM supports a learning environment which recognizes that staff grow their skills and develop their practice over time.

The framework provides a consistent infrastructure for how external and internal changes, are implemented in child welfare practice and processes. This allows the workforce to build trust in their leadership and the system. So, as changes occur, staff are resourced, prepared, and supported to engage, assess, and plan with families through the identified changes.

Improving quality of practice is linked to availability of accessible and relevant tools for the child welfare workforce. A key component of successfully implementing the FPM framework is through creating an intuitive and practice focused hub of information on the child welfare intranet.

The framework impacts intention of practice through modeling and accountability by operationalizing agency values. The agency upholds this accountability through its commitment to adequately resource, prepare, and support staff. By building an environment grounded in compassion, inclusion, respect, and transparency, the agency:

  • Demonstrates integrity
  • Reinforces the model by promoting the utilization of the framework
  • Values in staff interactions with families

Additionally, both quality and intention of practice are reinforced by bringing workforce voice into decisions that impact child welfare practice. Co-design is a fundamental part of FPM development and continues to be essential in guiding practice change, through profile development and practice related forums and programmatic collaborations.

Agency Values

Inclusion – Seek and actively engage, encourage, and prioritize equitable participation within a family centered approach.

Respect – Value and honor another person for who they are, showing regard for their culture, rights, and traditions.

Compassion – The act of being respectful, empathetic, and encouraging to those we work and interact with.

Integrity – Self-awareness and being accountable, responsible, truthful, and actions are consistent with values.

Transparency – Interact in a way that everyone sees how and why actions are performed through open communication and accountability.

Improve Quality and Intention of Our Practice